大咖福利影院

Since Aug 2014

Izamal, Yucatan, Mexico

I came to Izamal so that I could retire early and focus on some writing projects. It's a quiet small town with great sunsets, flowering trees, fruit trees, tropical birds, and just enough of a mercado to keep me going. I live on a large property with a friend, I have my own home (designed it, almost finished). I want to get to know the Yucatan, have traveled widely in Mexico for 20 years.
Writing is my current occupation. Working on a book project and writing short stories as I go. I've been anticipating this move for a long time, grateful to have this opportunity. I worked for decades as an occupational therapist, dealing mostly with adults with disability. As part of my doctoral work, I started a theatre project with disabled adults. It was supposed to be a one week endeavor, it lasted for 12 years. The chance to combine my extensive clinical knowledge with my love of literature totally opened my mind and heart, I haven't been the same since.
I like the slow pace and the tranquility here. And i was able to build a modest home that will serve me well for many years. I live on a quinta with my best friend only about 100 yards away. Perfect amount of support and social engagement with ample privacy, too. I like knowing the shopkeepers and the people who work in the restaurants, like discovering how resourceful people are with very little money. It's been good to reminded that my "low income" is an enviable income here.
Writing can be isolating, and small towns can be, too. I get stir crazy occasionally and venture into Merida to play and explore. Would like to do more of that, looking for people who want to get to know the city, or teach me about it. Would enjoy being able to explore the Yucatan with someone. One of the hard things about living here is that there is virtually no furniture to buy, there are no good hardware stores, you cannot buy a lamp or a lighting fixture unless you are willing to buy 1 or 2 styles that are carried locally, and many things I wanted in my house are not available locally. It was quite the ride to build the house from ground up!

Mexico

Jun 2005 - Nov 2005

Oaxaca, Mexico

I ran away to Oaxaca. I'd been visiting there regularly, spending 2 weeks at a time, for several years. I needed to get out of a difficult situation in the States, and I love Oaxaca. I had just sold a property as part of a divorce and I got an opportunity to rent a beautiful and inexpensive apartment in San Felipe del Agua from another expat, so I took it.
Writing, re-grouping, exploring Oaxaca city and the Oaxacan coast.
The art and architecture, the rich cultural history, the food, the consistently friendly people, the fabulous temperature .. all of it was intoxicating to me. I loved the place where I lived, I could see the lights in the whole Oaxacan valley every night and woke up to some killer sunrises, too. I put myself back together really quickly there, Oaxaca has always felt like home.
Nothing! I would live there now, but I could not afford to build there, and I wanted to live near my friend, who has been in the Yucatan since 2006. I am setting up a plan to spend at least 1 month a year in Oaxaca. Still have a couple of good friends who live near Teotitlan del Valle.

Aug 1971 - Dec 1972

Heddesheim, near Mannheim, Germany

I dropped out of college in 1971. I went to Germany initially because my parents were there. I was 19. It turned out to be quite the adventure. By the end of 1972 I was ready to take another run at deciding my future, so I returned to the states.
explorer!
Europe was totally new to me. Germany was a whole new frontier. Memories of the war were still circulating through the minds of the older adults while young people were attempting to chart a whole new course. Loved watching that unfold, enjoyed learning a bit of German, and saw a lot of Europe while I was there. Planning to go back there in the next 2 years.
I never got fluent enough to have meaningful relationships with my German friends. I missed being able to talk about things that mattered to me, missed having language serve me the way that English does. I couldn't get a job (visa) and I was young, so staying would have meant side-stepping decisions about my future.

USA