[bsievert]

My wife Angela and I are thrilled to join this Forum. We have been reading the posts here for some time and are looking forward to participating.
We started visiting Cancun 4 years ago and have made 5 visits/trips. The last was in March of this year when I had one of those "I can't take it any more" moments at work. Anyway, except for our first visit, we have spend a great deal of effort at striking out on our own rather then rely on the tour guides. We have done the rental-car-thing a few times and gone as far north of Cancun as we could and all the way down to Tulum. That's how we discovered PDC. We where intrigued by the differences with Cancun. Then we did the Ferry from PDC to Cozumel during another stay and found ourselves even more curious. Then this past March we made a day trip from our Cancun stay to meet with a guy we've gotten to know over the last two years as we tried to investigate the idea of buying a Condo. Anyway, we were convinced that PDC is the right place. But we didn't find a property. We don't want to go through the new-construction experience so we're looking at existing property. Good news is that we aren't in a rush. Just want to find something that we can rent out and use for ourselves until we can retire... hopefully in PDC.
Anyway, our ties to the area have grown quickly and became absolutely solid with Katrina. Up until then we had established a very close friendship with a local family in Cancun but when Katrina came through we had to reach out and help. We helped her get her home back in place and were on the phone with her every day until life became safe again. When we made it back this past March, we spent a great deal of time with our 'adoptive' family and have something that is very, very special.
So, as we get ready to return yet again on July 9th, we decided we wanted to stay in PDC. So we are renting a Condo so we can try out the other side of what we are planning to do (buy and rent out) just so we can learn more about it. Of course, it'll be VERY nice to just have to stay in PDC!!! So we'll be staying 6 nights at the Hacienda San Jose facility. Sure hope I picked a good one... I certainly spent enough hours searching on the internet!!
Anyway, I've got lots more research to do on this website to learn the best places to go, eat, drink, party, etc. We've already put in our order for the beads and are REALLY looking forward to making new friends. Sure hope there's a Peep Meet while we are in PDC.
Bob and Angela