Life in Paradise

We've been in Todos Santos for two weeks, and daily life in has evolved (or perhaps more accurately, devolved) to a pleasant, stressless routine. Up with the sun to make coffee and do yesterday's dishes at our outdoor kitchen station, relax and read over breakfast. Andrew has discovered putting a teaspoon of Ovaltine in his coffee makes it taste like a "$7 Starbucks" (his words, not mine!).

Most days, we make a picnic lunch and head to the beach around 11 AM for more reading, some exercise, whale-spotting, and napping. Home by 4 for a shower, a few cold cervezas while playing cards, make dinner and watch TV on our laptop using DVDs we bought at the Friends of the Library book sale. Right now we're in the thick of "Mad Men".

There are always small housekeeping tasks to do each day, with the most vexing concerns of keeping sand out of the bed and tangles out of our hair, both hopelessly losing battles. We could take dirty clothes to a local laundromat but find it just as easy to occasionally swish buckets of laundry in our empty garbage can and hang items on a line to dry in the sun. Over the past week, Andrew tackled the huge task of cleaning all the mud and grime off the truck and trailer so they are now spotless. Hopefully we'll escape any further rain and mud bogs until March or later!

Now that all the food stocks from home have been completely depleted, we take small shopping forays into the local markets every other day or so to get a few veggies or some bread or whatever is needed that day to cobble together a meal. Or we treat ourselves to a meal out - pork tacos at the local stand, chiles rellenos at Miguel's, or a hamburger at our favourite expat hang-out Shut Up Franks, where we can also use the Wi-Fi to post these blogs and catch up on the outside world.

This being our third time here, we almost feel like locals and it must show - we've been asked for directions and help from lost gringos several times! Though we are still discovering new joys and finds. We honestly feel this could end up being our regular winter home - with the weather, beach and amenities we want, easy to reach, and affordable long-term - once we've exhausted our "travel itch". Will probably stay here another week and are deciding the next stop after that.