FM3 Another step

Well it happen. I am the very proud owner of a Mexico FM3 Visa. I am on my way to becoming a real life ex pat. Wow who would have thought it right?
I thought it was very exciting and wanted to open some champagne or maybe a mountin dew or something. But that will have to wait for another day. For now I am busy getting ready for three weeks in my adopted home of Mexico.

Another suitcase...or two

Did you ever wonder why I call this blog One Suitcase at a Time? Because for the last three years we have been moving to Mexico. Every time we head south I pack up two bags each (and really big bags too) and off we go to the airport. In these times when folks are bringing "the carry on" Paul and I are schlepping four huge bags through the airport. But look folks this is important stuff, stuff I can not live without. High thread count sheets, good towels, and all my cooking toys that I can not get in Mexico. One must always have a kitchen tourch for the love of God!
This time is no different, although I am not going with Paul this time I have packed two suitcases full of stuff. A water purification system, baby clothes for the local village, meds for the stray dogs, mini springform pans, a good cheese knife, and several Christmas presents for our local friends. I know Paul would rather just have a little carry on, but how would we ever get all this stuff to our house if we thought like that?
PS The photo has nothing to do with the post, I just laugh everytime I see Paul (taken about 30 years ago)in this photo. I guess I thought if you did not like the post you might like his picture!

Your Best Life

Every one of us is called upon, probably many times to start an new life.
A frightening diagnosis, a marriage, a move, loss of a job...
And onward full tilt we go,
Pitched and wrecked and absurdly
resolute, driven in spite of
everything to make good on a new shore.
To be hopeful, to
embrace one possibility after another-that is surely the basic
instinct....crying out: HIGH TIDE!
Time to move out into the glorious debris.
Time to take
this life for what it is.

Barbara Kingsolver
from High Tide in Tucson

FM3 Application

So Paul has had his FM3 for over a year now. At the time he got it, I did not really think it was a big deal if I did not get mine. And really it has not been a big deal. Paul has to jump through some hoops at the airport before we leave, but other than that and a couple of trips to Tepic for renewal it has been fine. Well we decided that I now need to get mine. If we are to retire there it is a document that will make me legal. Although the paperwork should be pretty simple and we have all the documents that I nee, I was missing the passport photos. So no problem right? Wrong! I figured WalMart had this service and it would be fast and easy. I was wrong. It took me over an hour to get the photos taken and printed. I think at one time they had five people at the computer trying to work through the passport photo requirements. I really started to worry that it was my photo, but it turned out they had no idea what they were doing.....go figure. Well I have them now and so next week I am off to Denver to get my Mexican FM3, first step on this journey. Wish me luck!

Happy to share my life with him

Sometimes I am amazed how much Paul and I love each other. There is not a day that goes by that we are reminded how lucky we are to be walking this path of our lives together. It seems like we are always on the same page when it comes to our future. We know the time is drawing near for us to start our new adventure in Mexico. We talk about it all the time, when we will pull the trigger, how we will do it and last but not least what the hell are we going to do with all our "stuff"? It has taken over 30 years for us to get all this stuff and now in the next year or so we have to figure out how to get rid of it! I know that might sound simple to some but there is so many things that mean something to us. Most stuff is simple, furniture will go to a guy that needs it, some will be sold. But what about the stuff that we can't let go of? We really don't want to store these things, our kids don't want them, so what do we do? I am sure the answer to this and many other questions will get answered in the next year. But we have started and nothing is going to stop us as we hold each close and look forward to many sunsets over the Pacific. We have a dream and we have each other and that is the only thing that has ever mattered to me. I hope you share our adventure with us.....you never know what will happen.

A Time to Think

One of the most wonderful things about our home on the ocean is the time to think. It never fails to amaze me how caught up in "stuff" we get here in the states. We get so busy running to work, the store, the gym, activities with our kids, and nights out with friends. I think for most of us the "me" time gets lost. We have been so lucky to spend hours walking the beach at our home in Mexico. Putting the priorities of our lives back in order. Watching the sea birds flying over head while we comb the beach for shells. It is such a beautiful peaceful time for us. We are also lucky enough to share these times with our friends. This photo was taken of our friend Tammy as she strolled along Turtle Beach just savoring the afternoon. And as you can see we do not live near a lot of crowds. Most evenings we are the only ones there. What a surrel experience it is.......

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