Morning thoughts-- Going Home Again

I am going home a little early from my house sitting job. It is very beautiful here and I love the dogs but as I have often said, There is No Place Like Home. I miss Chico. I even miss my little overcrowded casita. (Overcrowded with that beautiful handmade wooden furniture. What was I thinking?) I miss my morning walks with my friend and her dog. I miss walking to the Lake Chapala Society with Chico. I miss the Wednesday market.

I am spending the day cleaning and washing sheets and towels. Everyone has different standards of housework. Theirs is up at the top of the scale. This place was spotless when I arrived. The kitchen looked like it had never been used. It looks used now. Even though the maid was here for several hours, there are things she missed. So, I am doing some scrubbing today.

I am going to Portland to house sit for my son and daughter-in-law on June 6th and staying until the end of July. This will be the longest I will have stayed out of Mexico in seven years. And the longest I will have stayed with my family. They will be on two trips so I will have some time alone there.

It is funny to listen to people complain when they return from the States. After living in Mexico for awhile, the pressures that exist in the States are blaring. The thing that people mention the most is how hurried and unfriendly everyone is up there. I always notice my money quickly disappearing. Everything is so much more expensive in the States.

A friend from Portland came down a couple of months ago. She had been worried that she wouldn't know anyone here. The first day she was here, she met a group of expats. They invited her out to dinner and she walked into town and had breakfast with them at the Jardin restaurant almost every morning. She met a man through me that she hung out with for a couple of weeks. She extended her trip an extra month but half way through that she changed it again to leave earlier. Not that she hated being here. She was just homesick.

Homesickness. It is a powerful emotion. I hope it doesn't ruin my seven week visit to the States.

Well, off to work, cleaning this house. As I already mentioned, the couple I am house sitting for have extremely high standards. Their entire house looks like it is a model home instead of a place where people live. I am a lot more lax in my own living standards.

Before he left, the man said to me, "If you get bored and have nothing to do, you can take out one of these two vacuum cleaners and do the floors."  Then he showed me how they worked. I didn't want to say this, but I have NEVER gotten so bored that I would take out the vacuum cleaner just for something to do.   I can think of a lot more interesting things to do than vacuum the floors. But my standards are much lower.... Chico, I will be there soon.  Thank you Leslie for taking care of him.