And I don't mean Tequila! I turned 65 this month so now I can join the stampede to find a double-dose COVID vaccination, and be covered by Medicare. Two reasons to be thankful I’ve made it this far!
I was hoping for a family gathering on a beach somewhere to celebrate. But we all know what happened to plans like those. So I will put off a birthday bash until next year when I turn 66. Our son Alistair and his wife Jenny bought a spectacular second home in Palm Springs (now on Airbnb). Maybe the party starts there and becomes a short road trip! It would be fun to drive part of Route 66 and end up at a vintage motel with a cactus-shaped swimming pool and retro-rooms for everyone! Suggestions welcome.
Meanwhile, Michael and I are enjoying life in San Miguel de Allende in the same house where we celebrated my 64th Birthday. Last year, I baked myself a Betty Crocker Funfetti Cake slathered with a tub of frosting and lots of rainbow sprinkles. It felt like a suitable American-style way to celebrate during a lockdown.
In the spirit of tradition, I did that again this year. So either I have a weakness for boxed cake mix and teeth-hurting-sweet frosting, or I feel the preservatives are helpful at my age. Either way, it was scrumptious.
2020 and 2021 “Covid” cakes side by side! As much as I love it here, I am okay if there isn’t a matching 2022 photo. Although I am sure I will be gobbling up Birthday Cake somewhere in the world!
We arrived here on January 7th, and we are happy to be back. Our house is secluded and private so most days we just putter, doing whatever fills up the day. On average we walk about 3 miles a day as we explore the many colorful "Colonias" (neighborhoods) here.
The temperature has steadily risen to the mid-80s in the afternoon, so the walks are getting later in the day, or in the morning. The nights are still pleasantly cool with lows in the high-40s overnight. And best of all, we wake up to blue skies and sunshine every day.
The pace has slowed considerably here in San Miguel de Allende over the past year. But tourists are returning, shops are open and restaurants can serve at half-capacity. The weekends are “dry” so no alcohol sales from Friday at 5:00 pm until Monday at noon.
Two great murals in our neighborhood. Since last March when we got stuck here for a few months, mask-wearing wasn’t really taken seriously. Now, one year later it is much closer to 100% compliance.
If you read the previous blog, you know I committed to using this downtime to sort through thousands of photographs. In response, a reader kindly offered professional help as I comb through my dumpster of digital images. Yikes. I guess I don’t have any excuses now. His name is David Wagner, a very talented digital photography expert, also known as Light Room Guy. He has already been a big help! I’ll keep you posted on our progress - you might be inspired to do the same.
Meanwhile, Michael has turned his attention to learning French! He made the commitment back in December when we were at The Modern Elder Academy. One of the sessions was about mindset - fixed and growth. He concluded he had a “fixed” mindset that he could never learn to speak French. So he changed his thinking right then and there. Now he has a new mindset, “I don’t speak French…….YET” He’s using an online tutorial program called Duolingo and has studied an hour a day ever since. Yesterday was day #90. I occasionally hear him swear in perfect English when he's frustrated, but also detect a bit of understandable French coming from behind the closed door.
Michael’s goal is to be able to read our grandchildren’s favorite books in French. Fortunately, they all speak excellent English so they will be able to help him along the way.
Michael keeps us watered, I keep us fed. The larder is full and the garden is in bloom - it’s a lovely place to call home … for now.
This is Floyd - our foster kitten from the animal shelter where I volunteer. He tested positive for Feline Leukemia in early February and required a month of isolation away from the other cats before he can be tested again. We’ve put that test off for now, and we can keep him until we leave. He is a wonderful cat - he’s even won over Mr. Campbell :)
Having said all that, we will no doubt return here once we are vaccinated and enjoyed a nice visit with our family in Los Angeles. But we will do our best to avoid purchasing any more “stuff”. We are anxious to pick up our Senior Nomads lifestyle again.
If you’ve dreamed about traveling more once this wretched pandemic lifts, visit our Senior Nomads Facebook Group. You’ll find dozens of inspiring stories and great travel tips from over 1,300 fellow nomads. Please feel free to join as well - just be sure and answer the questions so I can approve your request. We wish you happy and safe travels soon!
Thanks for following along,
Debbie and Michael Campbell
The Senior Nomads
P.S. Thanks to everyone who commented on the 2020 Bookshelf blog and left great book suggestions. One of our dedicated followers is a retired librarian and she created a Senior Nomads Goodreads Group where you can leave and receive recommendations on books set in places you’ve visited, or hope to visit someday.