A drawback of paradise...

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

1) The weather - for me that goes in this order: a. grey skies, b. rain, c. cold, d. snow. YUCK!

2) Frantic-ness (I made that word up.) Everyone is so concerned with making so much money so they can have so much stuff and have everything just SO that they're never just enjoying life (of course, when it's grey and rainy and cold and snowing, what's to enjoy?). Actually, even when they are enjoying life, that seems to be with a frantic desperation also. My friends in the US are so much less happy, it seems, than my friends here - particularly my poor, underpaid, shack-dwelling, luxury-deprived Mexican friends. Where did we ever get the idea that having more stuff equals being more happy? (I could rant on this topic endlessly so I'll spare you now.)

3) Overwhelming commercialism

4) Hesitant drivers

5) Christmas (which incorporates both 2 and 3 above, oh, and 4 also, and now that I'm finished, 7 below as well), a season seemingly created for the sole purpose of out-doing (your family, your neighbors, your co-workers, what you did last year, your ex, the other cookie-bakers at the church bazaar, your mother-in-law... STOP IT!)

6) The news, which I try to avoid if at all possible

7) Before I moved here, family was one of them, but now any encounter is short-lived and tolerable, mostly.

But, like PdS, I am happy too... I'm just happiER here than there.

Please forgive me my rant, but I'll blame PdS for it. But I'd hang out with ya anyway, PdS.

I like commercialism! One thing I really miss is discount shopping.

I am with you on numbers 2 and 4.

I used to live in the Washington D.C. area. Money-making and politics, 24/7. Even the garbageman thinks he is a congressman and will tell you his opinion on Senate Bill 243.

Here in Mexico, we drive on offense to be defensive. If you hesitate, you lose.

Susie, I am on vacation starting Saturday. I have family coming, but should be able to find some free time for that traffic-jammed, 10 minute drive.

[Susie Q Roo]

Originally Posted by PlayadelSoul

I like commercialism! One thing I really miss is discount shopping.

I am with you on numbers 2 and 4.

I used to live in the Washington D.C. area. Money-making and politics, 24/7. Even the garbageman thinks he is a congressman and will tell you his opinion on Senate Bill 243.

Here in Mexico, we drive on offense to be defensive. If you hesitate, you lose.

Susie, I am on vacation starting Saturday. I have family coming, but should be able to find some free time for that traffic-jammed, 10 minute drive.

I definitely agree with you on the discount shopping - TJMaxx, Marshalls, Big Lots, Dollar Stores, those are my entertainment when I go back to the states! Oh, and buying designer clothes for 25 cents!!! at Goodwill, too! (And then I get pissed at myself as I overstuff my suitcases and then have no space for any of it when I get back here!!!)

Just let me know when you're headed this way... maybe Paamul can be your "vacation destination" for a few hours.

[SarahB]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

I definitely agree with you on the discount shopping - TJMaxx, Marshalls, Big Lots, Dollar Stores, those are my entertainment when I go back to the states! Oh, and buying designer clothes for 25 cents!!! at Goodwill, too!...

Ah! I miss those places too! It's time consuming and you have to be in the mood to shop at those places, but you can find such great deals!! I am going to visit almost all that you listed tomorrow!! Can't wait!

[Tesla 573]

Originally Posted by SarahB

Maybe we need to plan get togethers for those that live here. Maybe something different than getting drunk at a bar, but dinner parties or happy hours at our houses or something? That could help with the occassional lonliness and provide a chance to meet new people living in Playa.

Sarah B that's a wonderful idea for all you local Peeps.
Cherish and cultivate the friendships you have there, all relationships have to be worked at.
Harold and I have a group of friends (four or five couples) here in LA (lower Alabama) and just about every week we call each other and plan on having dinner together (I'm usually the one who calls everyone). If someone does'nt do the calling people are dissapointed.

We all have dinner together about once a week, we attend parties together, and sometimes we vacation together.These friends are our family now.

I can't wait to show them Playa!

[NoAngelx]

Well there are enough of us that we can all rotate visting schedules so you don't need to be lonely

[Joana]

I totally know what you mean Susie!
Had the same experience when I lived down there- peeps coming and going. And most likely going all of a sudden after you really got to like them........

In fact when I left there was sort of an exodus going on amongst the crew I worked in.
A week before I left my former boss left to the Dominican Republic. Then I left. Then another instructor left a month after........as well as the supervisor of our jetskis etc., who left two months after to stay in Coz completely (he was going back and forth every day so I don't blame him).

I think one of the probs for those working in the tourist industry is that some jobs are not jobs you want to do for the rest of your life (like- as much as I loved diving I knew I wouldn't have done it forever due to long working hours and the job being stressy in its own way.... or think of entertainment staff at the hotels.....) and other jobs just don't seem super secure or don't seem to have enough possibilities.
So I guess many of those jobs go into the category of "want to do it for a few years but then need to do something else".
Which leads to fluctuation.

During my time in Playa I found the change of peeps around me thrilling for the most part. But that was only for a bit over a year- I guess had it been longer I wouldn't have found it that thrilling after all.

[Anna]

I've seen many many good friends leave. But I've also seen many of them come back year after year, for short visits or longer stays. It's a transitional place, Playa. It's very international - any time we have a party we have like ten nationalities represented (just this weekend I was over at a friends house, we were nine people from the following countries: the US, Canada, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and South Africa).

Nowadays, I have to admit I've become a bit cynical, if that's the word, and I want to feel people out first before I make an effort to get to know them. If someone's planning to stay only a short time, I'm more reluctant to invest a lot of time in them. Hard? Maybe. Necessary? I think so. You meet sooo many people here, see so many people come and go, so you kind of have to choose sometimes. For your own sake.

[Daddy B]

[quote=Anna](just this weekend I was over at a friends house, we were nine people from the following countries: the US, Canada, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and South Africa).QUOTE]

Sounds like one of Matt's dinner parties...

[NorthMinnesota]

Originally Posted by SarahB

Ah! I miss those places too! It's time consuming and you have to be in the mood to shop at those places, but you can find such great deals!! I am going to visit almost all that you listed tomorrow!! Can't wait!

Found a great stash of designer purse at TJ Maxx this week!! Had BCBG, Coach, Juicy Couture, Dooney and Burke! Had 7 jeans, too. Take a look and see if they're at your store!

[SarahB]

Anna, that definitely makes sense. Doesn't sound hard, just realistic.

Originally Posted by NorthMinnesota

Found a great stash of designer purse at TJ Maxx this week!! Had BCBG, Coach, Juicy Couture, Dooney and Burke! Had 7 jeans, too. Take a look and see if they're at your store!

Well...I would go today like I had planned...if it wasn't for this freaking snow. Ugh!! Maybe tomorrow! I did go to the Dollar General store down the street and stock up on things to take back!

[Shammy]

Awww Susie, I understand everything you said but...

I do want you to know that I consider you one of my "real" friends! I have very few friends here - I dumped my two oldest and bestest friends because I took a look at how those friendships were going and couldn't stand what I saw. They were too one sided and for a few other reasons, just not making me happy. One should not stay in a "relationship" if one is not happy! It's been weird not being able to pick up the phone and chat, but in the long run, it was the healthiest thing for me to do.

As it stands now, I think I might have more friends here or in Playa than I do in Joisey! And YOU are someone who I would do just about anything for. Girl, you should be happy I don't live there, I'd corrupt you with all my smokin and drankin!

But even though we're not always close enough to see each other, and that I come and go, always know that I care a TON about you!

{{{SUSIE}}}

[Elote el Rey]

Hey Susie,
I will be back in about a week or so. I am inviting you over for some dinner, if you can walk over. I will even crack open a good bottle of wine. Cheer up!!!!!

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by Tony&Cheri

Without getting too maudlin, we´re beginning to feel like you guys might be...family. Not the scream at each other over Thanksgiving dinner kind of family. The other kind. The ones you actually like to be with.

You can choose your friends, but you can´t choose who your relatives are going to be.

[roni]

Originally Posted by Jesus

You can choose your friends, but you can´t choose who your relatives are going to be.

But you can chose who your extended family of choice will be. We have one, and none of them are genetic relatives . They do, however, fulfill many of the same functions of family.

It was a 60's thing. Today many people, particularly women, are forming small groups of old friends who are moving in together in retirement ( some are widows) and being family for each other.

So, Jesus is right, you cannot choose who your relatives will be, but you can choose - actually it is a mutual choosing - who will fulfill the functions of family in your life.

And that is the truth. It can even be a goat.

Ron

[Banzoomba]

How many peeps do you think will have a tear or two on their check flying home from Peep Fest