A Tale of a Few Cities

In less than 24 hours we will be on our way to Cancun Airport headed home to Spokane via Denver. The past six months, since leaving the workforce have been challenging and frustrating, but even the times the ego brain tries to talk me into negativity are so much more.

I want to be receptive to ideas and concepts that might be causing conflict and struggle. I believe that friction and challenge are able to create distance that enables new perspective, and new perspective is a goal of our time travel. The essence of life is a crusade for new and broader horizons. As noted in previous posts, more than looking for some ideal location to “find” myself, I am in search of a situation that allows me a blank canvas and a full palette to create the person I want to be. Of course there has to be some struggle along the way, but the entire process has broadened my horizons. I am grateful for the opportunity.

We have become familiar with a few cities; Spokane, South Haven Michigan, San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca, Mazunte and Playa del Carmen. Each has afforded us opportunities to learn from nature, and cultures, and individuals. The overall impact is steps along the way to defining a direction for the remainder of life.  Mission accomplished.

Finally, a few observations about each of the places I listed. Spokane; home, exasperating, dirty. South Haven reinvented itself from the rust belt days when industry deserted them. Now it is a clean, active and pretty little city. San Miguel de Allende is an energetic town with high desert beauty, a great self image that allows it to integrate gringo with Mexican culture. I think I could live there. Oaxaca is a complex bigger city with a bit of an identity crisis that can detract from its incredible diverse cultures and fantastic architecture. Mazunte is a touristy Oaxacan state beach town, cute, but nearly year round oppressive combination of midday heat and humidity. Playa del Carmen is a grown up version of Mazunte where the temps are less oppressive, the sand is nicer (best I’ve been on), and for tourists into shopping and nightlife.