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FEB29
201220 COMMENTS AND 2 REACTIONSWRITTEN BY JOHN CALYPSO

A Typical Puerto Escondido Afternoon

We were basking in the warm sun yesterday afternoon. Swaying in one of our hammocks – there was a pleasurable mild breeze. It was about 81 F with perhaps a 74 degree wind chill factor. We could hear the waves landing on the beach. Mi guapa esposa asked a thought provoking question.

“Do you miss Xico?”

The question caught me off guard. I mean what could be better than Puerto Escondido in February – mild summer weather replete with gorgeous daily sunsets and the Pacific Ocean lulling you to sleep at night, wonderful day trip opportunities at hand, good food, and some entertainment thrown in. Come on what could be better?

I immediately remarked on how lucky we are to be able to move between locations driven by weather for the most part – kind of a rich man’s game – that which we are not. Doing this on the cheap is a tricky business; and perhaps why some of you are here – to read ‘how do they do it?’

Pondering the question we started to review in the head what we liked about Xico, drawing mental comparisons between our two principal locations.

After brief deliberation we realized we like both locations equally – and probably more so because we were able to do both.

Then this morning something came to mind via all that housing talk yesterday. Nearly every place we have lived in the last 50 years or so has been others vacation spots. Hollywood, California; Ashland, Oregon; Prescott, Arizona; Las Vegas Nevada; Ruidoso, New Mexico; Xico, Veracruz; and Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. All are vacation destinations. All have appeared on at least one or two or more “Best Places to Live” lists as well.

How did that happen coincidentally?

For starters since we left Hollywood back in 1976 each of the aforementioned living locations was a free choice – not work related driven. We should mention there was one 5 year stint in Klamath Falls, Oregon, hardly a vacation destination, but not a bad place to live – but we still maintained a place in Ashland. KFalls was work related. And there was Pueblo, Colorado. Well the outskirts. But even that was inspired by Colorado Springs and a Rocky Mountain high (or two). Pretty lucky inventory of residences.

The thing about living in a tourist destination is as a local you learn to live AROUND the tourist seasons and traffic. You kind of not want to be there when everyone else does. Truly we have avoided Xico’s most celebrated July hi-holiday for the last couple of years. We avoided Carnaval here in Puerto just this last weekend. Those times might have been part of what got you here – but, now that is left for the tourists.

Main Street Xico in July

Getting back to Anita’s question: yes, we miss Xico. After seven years it seems like home. We have good friends there. That is key. But, we have another month plus here in Puerto Escondido. We will just have to rough it enjoying the great weather, beautiful sunsets and the Pacific Ocean view that fills our balcony even as we write this. We will tough it out.

We see the fishermen heading out to their favorite holes. The palm trees are swaying to a gentle breeze as the sun climbs up behind us casting a rosy red glow on the west. Our friends in Xico will understand why they only see us half-time. Life is Good! Stay Tuned!