Galletas Cálida con un Perseguidor de Tequila

After a month of lying awake staring at the ceiling in the darkness of pre-dawn and running scenario after scenario through our thoughts, voicing them to one another, the decision has been made.

We are moving to Mexico.

This is not a decision taken lightly, nor is it one just decided upon after only a month.  Our family has been going down to beautiful Baja Malibu for many years, in fact decades, with our friend Nancy.  I've written many many blog posts about our trips south of the border to enjoy time at her little "Bird Nest on the Ground" in Campo Torres at K22.  We've enjoyed celebrating many happy occasions there.  It has become a second home.

When we first started traveling there, it certainly was just a dream to sit on the patio or on the beach and think about the "What ifs".  But here we are today, after decades of joyful days looking out on the horizon and watching the sun set behind the Coronados, thinking about owning our own home at K22.  Only now it's not just thinking.  It is not just dreaming. It is the new journey of our lives.

Where once we watched Averie, Caris, and Bryson play in the sand, surf, enjoy the company of friends, and imagined that we would one day retire, the days of simply dreaming are over.  We're taking the necessary steps to finally make our dreams come true. There are many other reasons that the time feels so right to move forward in this journey; not the least of which is ironically, to feel safer.  Especially for ME to feel safer after 4 years of feeling less and less safe in the city I basically grew up in.  However, many more reasons will be shared as we move along.  

We expect friends and family members to run the gamut of reactions; surprise, shock, disdain, discomfort.  But we hope more than anything that they will be happy for us.  Of course, we hope for their excitement and support for our decision.  However, we don't really need it.  This is our life, and we're ready to enjoy the life we dreamed of  together.  We've always told our kids to pursue their dreams and we've supported each one of them as they worked toward their goals.  Now it's our turn.  It's time for us to realize and work toward our dream. Truth of the matter is, not only do we love Mexico and the people of Mexico, but realistically for us, it's what we can afford. For us, the dream of retiring is not attainable in the US. If we have any hope of enjoying whatever time we have together in the future where we are not still chained to jobs until we die, then we have to go.  

It seems especially fitting to come to place of deciding so close to the eve of my 60th birthday.  Again, it's never too late to blossom into the life you want for yourself.  I've wanted this a long, long time.  I'm overjoyed Charlie is now, completely onboard.  They say that the journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step, and though our destination is a mere 100 kilometers (give or take), we expect this journey's timeline to take between one to two years to be finalized.  We're taking you along with us by chronicling our adventures here, as always.  As it was in the beginning of Warm Cookies, so it shall be with Galletas Calida.

We're ready to take flight and say "Adios Estados Unidos!  Hola Mexico! Vamonos!