Friday, January 1, 2016

Morning Thoughts

It is the first day of 2016. I never thought I would live this long. Everyone in my family except my mother died of heart attacks in their 50s. So I thought I would go like that. But here I am.....  Last night I went out to a dinner at my friend Loretta's house. She believes she lives on the noisiest corner in Ajijic, right downtown but she hasn't been to my house on a holiday evening. I had a great time visiting with a few women friends and a couple of women I had never seen before last night. Our conversation was mostly about the ins and outs of living in Mexico. Several of us have been here for years and several had just recently arrived. We are all single women.  It was the first time I have been out on New Year's Eve and I was home in bed by ten thirty. I am not a party girl. Never have been. Trying to force a good time doesn't work for me. Party hats and booze, not my thing. 

But I really enjoyed last night and maybe this year I will go out again when New Year's Eve rolls around, IF I am still here, in Ajijic and still alive. Part of our conversation last night was about friends who had died since coming down here. In our age group, that can be expected. 

And we talked about our goals for this coming year. Mine included getting my knee healed, swimming, going out at night, inviting friends to my house, and being more social. I have become too reclusive since hurting my knee. Not having a car makes it difficult to get around with a hurt knee. But I am hoping the swimming will heal it. 

We also talked about all the changes we have seen in Ajijic in the past few years, not always for the better. Too crowded, prices going up. But this is also expected for a beautiful retirement area like Ajijic. I feel lucky to have found such a great place to live. I will never forget all the encouragement from readers during that hard time after I fell down the stairs, was in bed, with nowhere to go.....  I didn't believe that a better place was in store for me. I must learn to have more faith......   People kept writing to me that something better would show up. Their faith kept me going when I had none.  This blog has been a blessing for me in that way. To my extended family out there in cyberspace--Thank you. And I wish you all a wonderful coming year. 


16 comments:

  1. What a thoughtful post. Sometimes I really have to force myself to go out and then I wonder why I was so reluctant. Hope the knee continues to improve.
    All the best for health and happiness in 2016!
    Cathy

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    1. Thank you Cathy. Wishing good things for you this year too.... I appreciate your comments. P

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  2. Happy New Year to you Patricia ! I love the pictures of your new home. I would like living there too. And that price, is that very typical for something similar in a Mexican neighborhood? Or did you get the best deal in town? Forgive me for asking, but did you go to a Doctor after hurting your knee? Connie in Washington

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    1. Hi Connie, This price is typical for Mexican rentals but I also did a lot of work to fix it up. It was totally unfurnished. I did go to the doctor. I need to get an x Ray but I have been putting it off.... Happy New Year, p

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  3. Thank you for the good wishes, and Happy New Year to you, as well! I so enjoy reading your posts and looking at your pictures!
    Karen In VA

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  4. Patricia, you sound so much more relaxed and happy now that you're in your new home. I wish you even more happiness in 2016!

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    1. Yes. You are right.i am happy. Thank you for your good wishes. Happiness to you too. P

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  5. I am happy for you to get out and socialize more, it's one of my goals as well! I feel your pain to with having a bad knee, both of mine are excruciatingly painful which is why I am so housebound here in Ajijic. Once I own a car my life will greatly improve! I can't handle the bus, the step up is too much for my knees! I couldn't live in a place like your in, way to small for me and no grass, but I couldn't have stood living like you did all those years with the guy you moved around and rented from either. So you are in a much better situation now, way improved from the several apartment hovels you were in before! You sure don't require much for your comfort zone and you are very unique in this way. I am so happy that you are loving your new home, may it last for you as long as you want to stay here! I love it here and feel it's truly a most spiritual jewel!

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  6. Hi Pam, I have been thinking about you. I want to get together with you. P

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  7. Happy New Year to you, Pat! Sounds like things are really looking up for you (and Chico looks quite content). I am hoping that I can be there in the fall of 2017. And hey, what do you mean "at our age that is to be expected"????? I'm 62 and I'm hoping that when I arrive I'll be on the tennis courts at least every other day!!

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  8. Hi Lorrie, Thanks for writing. Looking forward to seeing you. I was doing great at 62, walking everywhere, etc. But after 70 my body hasn't cooperated.... P

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  9. Hello, just stumbled on your site through a Lake Chapala web search. First, greetings from very cold Michigan. Second, I have enjoyed reading several of your posts.
    My wife and are planning a Mexico retirement and are torn between the Lake Chapala area and San
    Miguel de Allende. We have some Mexico living experience. We lived in Rosarito ans east Tijuana for three years, but had to return home due so some family issues. We still maintain contact with friends there, but that area is not really Mexico.
    Now, ten years later, we are ready to move permanently. It will take us about a year to settle things here, but come we will. We are both in our mid sixties and money should not be an issue as we live modestly now. Any thoughts you would have would be appreciated.

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    1. Thank you for commenting. Of course I like it here better. But you should check out both places. See for yourselves. P

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  10. Hi again, thanks for the reply. We know we need to visit. In fact we were in the Lake Chapala area and stayed in the west Guadalajara area for two weeks. I was attending a class there. It was a wonderful experience. We had time to visit several tourist "traps" like Talaquepac (spelled that wrong) after classes.
    The weather in both places appears to be very similar, just no lake in San Miguel. The other thing making me lean more to the Chapala area is the proximity to Guadalajara. I am quite healthy, but my wife has some issues. We are hoping that getting out of the cold and the US will improve her health. She is probably going to need a knee in the near future for one thing. Allergies are also a big issue for her. But I was thinking that medical needs would be better cared for near Guadalajara than San Miguel. Would you agree with that thought?

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    1. I was only in San Miguel for a few weeks many years ago. In the winter. I think it gets colder there than here in the winter. I don't know anything about the health care there. Sorry. I think it is more expensive there too. P

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