Reality check

We have decided that although we are enjoying our visit to Mexico we would rather find somewhere in BC to settle than make the trip down here each winter. So to that end I contacted a friend who is a mortgage broker to see how much we are good for. The reality is that we don't get enough pention to be a good risk even though we have an excellent credit rating. The next suggestion was put 35% of our savings down and we still found the monthly payments a bit much. We weren't looking for anything fancy just a lot further south. Dave thought he might like to build a small house on a lot or put a mobile on it but it seems that is not possible without totally overextending ourselves. Not an option.

So we have decided that a mobile home in a park is the answer to getting out of Granisle. We have chosen Merritt, BC to be the focus of our search. Merritt is in the only desert area of Canada, in fact the same Sonoran desert that is surrounding us now here in San Carlos extends to Merritt. Merritt is a lot warmer than Granisle and has significantly shorter winters. I don't think I will have to worry about bears and there are probably a lot fewer flies. What is more there is a choice of churches, a museum, hospital and stuff to do.

When we leave Mexico at the end of April we are going to have a quick visit with sons 2 and 3 in Calgary and then on home. We will then put the place there with a realtor and head down to Merritt to see what we can find. I have already been checking out the MLS listings and it looks qiuite feasible. Fortunately we can afford to buy a place without a mortgage or waiting until the place in Granisle is sold, so we hope we can work it out to be out of Granisle before winter this year even if the place we own there is not sold.

I have been realizing the last year or two that I am lonely and a bit depressed. Dave has his good bachelor buddy Sid close by, Sid is also planning to move, probably close to wherever we go. Dave and Sid go fishing a lot and do odd fix-it jobs together around Granisle so I do spend a lot of time by myself and I have not found another woman to hang out with, plus there is absolutely nothing to do or go in Granisle. Although I am quite comfortable with my own company for long periods it would be nice to have a friend close by and maybe volunteer for something. I think I would like to hold the babies that need holding or help in an animal shelter. So that is the latest thoughts.

Meanwhile here in San Carlos it is incredibly windy, I think we are getting the tail end of the storm that has been beating up Southern California. We went out to some view points today to see the big waves rolling in and I could hardly stand up. In the little village Dave has been working to help build small homes for the Mexicans who lost everything in the tropical storm last September they get very frightened when the weather is like this as they fear it happening again. Otherwise life is much the same as usual except it is warmer. Sid arrived last week so I have two 71 year old deliquents to keep in order same as at home.

Heads or Tail - Sweet or Sour

Barb started a meme called Heads or Tails and the topic today is Heads Sweet or Tails Sour.

When we go shopping in the the large grocery store in Guayams they have wonderful desserts and baking on display and in covered containers have samples to try. Since I am not able to eat sweets I take a few crumbs from each just to taste. As tiny as that is that satisfies my sweet urge.

Mind you I get a bit sour when Dave takes his varied selection to the checkout and then demolishes them after supper. Somehow plain yogurt isn't the same.

Heads or Tails - Square

Barb started a meme called Heads or Tails and the topic today is Square.

Google Squared allows your search results can appear on a spreadsheet, you can remove content, add suggested columns of your own, and even save your squares. Google Squared is really just your normal search results in column and row form, so it is best to use if searching for groups of items. TV shows, dog breeds, planets, and so on. You can save your Squares, which is useful for for research. Probably a useful tool for school students.

Cactus for breakfast

We went shopping yesterday in Guyamas and in the store a man was slicing off the sharp spines from prickly pear cactus, called Nopales, and then chopping the cactus up and putting it into little bags. I decided to try some against Dave's better judgement. He is so suspicious of anything not usually on an Englishman's plate. I sauted some with my scrambled eggs this morning and they taste like a cross between green beans and asparagus, not bad at all. Apparently the Mexicans use them for salads, steam them, grill them and stew them and they grow everywhere. The Mexicans use Nopales to poultice bruises and dress wounds. They also boil and crush the pads, then add the sticky juice to mortar or whitewash to increase adhesiveness. Nopales have been a food source in Mexico for hundreds of years. Recently, they have gained popularity in the United States as well. So on tomorrow's menu we will be having ground beef a la cactus. I will throw in a few hot peppers as well. I like hot and spicy food but some of the peppers here could peel your skin off so I have to be careful with them.

Dave is making a pig of himself with the Mexican baked goods which are very good. He has been buying two and three cakes at a time for his dessert. I have been sticking to my small serving of papaya with plain yogurt. We are both making pigs of ourselves with the avocados though, something I just love. Dave was given a great big bag of oranges which he juiced. I don't like oranges so he has it all for himself. There are oranges and lemons on trees in the neighbourhood around us and our neighbour has a papaya tree which he said would have ripe fruit on it fairly soon. This is a picture of a papaya tree.

We were invited to dinner last night with our neighbour and met his Mexican half of the family. He is an American from Michigan and she is Mexican. He speaks hardly any Spanish and she doesn't speak much English. She has never been to school and doesn't read or write and he is a retired business man who owns several properties here and in the US. An unlikely couple one would think but they seem very happy. He is very involved with the reconstruction of the little village I told you about that was destroyed by the tropical storm in September.

I have not been visiting much since my connection is off and on all the time. I can write this and my emails while offline and then send them winging on their way when I get online. Sometimes they all don't make it until next time, but when the connection is on it is faster than my satellite dish at home. Fireworks still going on tonight even though New Year has been and gone. Hoping everyone has a prosperous and happy new year.