Enjoying slow, lazy days for our last two weeks in Pescadero before heading north. Camp life differs dramatically from home life and we relish its pace. Certain routines that are so time-consuming at home are non-existent here, while other tasks taken for granted at home thanks to automation and machines take up a large portion of the day.
Here, daily personal hygiene involves getting the dirt out of one's fingernails. No make-up, no coiffing of hair, no daily shower and shave. But when it is time to wash hair, especially mine, it is a big production. We've devised a system where I lay back in our beach chairs so Andrew can pour enough water over my head to get it soaked through. Andrew has found a good routine washing in the ocean, but I find the saltwater leaves my hair too tangley.
Despite walking barefoot on the sand all day (or maybe as a protective measure), our feet are covered with layers of built-up dead skin. I couldn't take it any longer and booked a pedicure...the poor tech was scrubbing and scrubbing, going through 3 foot buffers to get my feet smooth. I left a big tip ;-) Our friend Pablo recommends sandpaper!
Cooking, cleaning the trailer, and washing dishes take up a good chunk of the day. I love planning out our meals, especially as supplies dwindle and I have to get creative with whatever's on hand. The cleaning is less fun but a necessity - sleeping on a sandy mattress is asking for insomnia.
Still, there is lots of time to just chill. Who knew one could spend so many hours just watching the waves? It's absolute living-in-the-moment. Here, I actually take naps. And have read so many books thanks to our haul from the Friends of the Library book sale.
Coco got her last shots today and is scheduled to be spayed next week. It's great we can get it all taken care of here as vet bills are pennies here compared to Canada. Her rabies shot was $7 (necessary to cross the border) and her spay surgery will be $60! Overall, we have probably saved well over $1000 rescuing a Meximutt vs getting a puppy in Canada. Not that it matters - she is priceless! - but it's certainly a nice bonus ;-)
In that same vein, since we don't have dental coverage we investigated dentists in Todos Santos and are going in for cleanings next week with the top one. Again, $60 vs $300 in Kelowna. If all goes well, seeing the dentist will become part of our regular winter getaway.
As for other prices, most food and beverage seems around half of what we pay in BC, including at restaurants. Good wine is more expensive and hard to come by (woe is me!) but one would imagine beer and tequila are CHEAP - an 8-pack of Pacifico is $5 and a litre of mid-grade nice reposada is $18. Gas is slightly cheaper than home even after the new year's price hike from 13 pesos per litre to 16 (which caused riots and road blockades all over Baja) - just over $1 Cdn. Getting our 5 gallon water container refilled with potable aqua is 70 cents. Considering we've been free camping the majority of our time here, I think we've actually saved money vs staying at home to endure the harsh winter! Sorry!
No comments:
Post a Comment