WHEN WE GROW UP

We've had one joint resolution that has remained constant throughout our planning for retirement. Live somewhere warm in the winter!

We considered Mexico and did quite a bit of research, (30 years worth), we tried RV'ing (admittedly only 4 months) and we looked for houses.

We liked the Villages and toured several homes on several different visits. Then we looked for homes in the Mount Dora area and a few other places in Florida.

Finally we toured several homes in the Seminole Largo area, just South of Tampa. We were looking for 'magic'.

We found it. 'Bag End' is 1861 square feet on a channel leading to the inter coastal waterway. With the right kind of boat we can sail to Africa, not that we would sail to Africa but the thought that we could is intriguing. We plan on starting with kayaks (not for the Africa leg) and moving on to a fishing boat.

I'm certain our traveling days are not over but our winters (hopefully) are going to be spent at 'Bag End'. Every room needs to be painted and the house is without a single piece of furniture. I have 'projects' to keep me occupied for the next few years.

We have manatee, dolphins, pelicans and a plethora of birds and fish in the channel. Of the three bedrooms one has been designated as the guest room with a new queen size bed on the way and a fresh paint job. (My skills as a painter are not up to Joe and Steve's standards and Joel may have to de/bo some minor things.) But 'Bag end' is now open for guests.

Having gone slightly above our original budget to purchase the house we going garage saling and driving through the rich neighborhoods picking out furniture on 'trash day'. You would not believe the cool stuff people throw away.

We have left the trailer with Mike and Kelly and will be picking it up on our way back to Michigan. Otter is due on May 15th and we want to be home in time to welcome our new grandchild to the world so we will be leaving here the first of May.

We thank Kelli, Mike and Colton for putting up with us as we house hunted in central Florida and Valerie, Rob, Heaven and Karma for putting up with us on the gulf side. We have a lot of work to do at the house, but would like to invite family and friends to visit. For now, guests should bring their own plates, silverware and a chair. More later..

Another Day in the Yucatan

Cindy's Blog:

I lost at Gin Rummy, so it is my turn to do the Blog

Well, we are happily esconced in Merida. The weather is warm (Bo says "h0t ") and we are writing, reading, and wandering the markets while we talk about a future home in Florida. It is either a house in the Villages, a trailer next to Mike and Kelli, a house in Mt. Dora, or one

of several on/near the gulf of Mexico: chic house on the Intercoastal-(the fixer-upper has been sold), a condo on Treasure Island, a hippie hangout 3 miles from the gulf in Seminole (complete with condoms in the lanai), or a townhouse next door to Valerie and Rob). We haven't seen Ft. Myers yet.

This is the Hippie House

A few days ago, we took the bus to Progresso, a small town on the gulf of Mexico where we have looked for houses before, but we have decided that, though the beach is beautiful, there are a lot of Canadians and Americans here and we heard that when the cruise ships come in, the town is awash in drunken cruisers. So, here is Bo in a small restaurant contemplating a little house on the beach.

Yesterday we rented a car to visit the ruins of Uxmal and perhaps do some house hunting on the way. Driving in Merida is difficult without a map.

We passed this nice hacienda along the highway and stopped in for a visit. It is very nice, big enough for all the family, complete with pool, personal cenote (cave with water) and dis-

fibradora (machine that strips the sisal fibers from the leaves). It was a bit big for us, especially since we expect that few of our family or friends would come to visit.

Then we visited Uxmal. This is a great site that spans nearly 1500 years of habitation by the maya. Back when I was 20, I climbed this pyramid, but nothing could get me up those steps now. Luckily, they don't allow anyone on the pyramid any more, so Bo couldn't shame me into trying.

We found this little fixer-upper on the grounds of Uxmal that we really like. It is small and has a garden on the roof. It is government subsidized and we are guaranteed visitors every day. We thought it has possibilities!

We are back in Merida today and back into our routine. We went to the market today where Bo found a bathroom that, even by his standards (which are not as high as mine), was the worst one he had ever been in. this is saying a lot considering the fact that we have been in bathrooms in China that consisted of a trough or (for women) a hole in the ground.

Tomorrow, we are going to Yaxkukul. We will be spending some time there. It is the fiesta, so it should be exciting and we will have the chance to catch up on our friends in the village and how their lives are changing.

So, we are having a great time, and staying warm. We are thinking of everyone. Love, Cindy and Bo.

MERIDA MEXICO

Due to the overwhelming response to my last post (thanks Valerie), I've decided to try hazard another.

We are staying in the hotel Montejo, two blocks from the central plaza. After our 7 am wake up call, Samuel serves us a fruit plate, toast and coffee in the Court Yard.

Then Cindy stays in our spacious room and writes and I walk one block to the library.

Around noon we give up for the morning and wander around.

If it's really hot we cool off in the pool.

Lunch, siesta, reading then back to the library for an hour or two.

The evenings are for walking, dinner and people watching.

For those of you who have been here before it hasn't changed (except for the Walmart on the paseo de Montejo, which aside from the spanish is exactly like the Walmart in Mount Dora or Big Rapids.)

The local beer (Leon) is dark and delicious. I'm pretty sure the hop's are not organic and it's nothing compared to Joel's home brew but to me it's perfect at an outdoor cafe as we watch the people go by.

For those of you who have not been here the main attraction is the people. Cindy and I are tall compared to the locals.

Walking is a constant hazard, with open manholes, narrow sidewalks and vehicals of all sizes driving hell bent for leather to make the next stop light. Sometimes they even stop.

Still if we survive the walk to the paseo Montejo or confine our selfves to the plaza we can have a nice stroll.

Street vendors and 'store hustlers' give us free Spanish lessons and the food is great. Life is good. Love Bo and Cindy

HOUSE HUNTING IN FLORIDA

This winter our two objectives were 1.) Finish a rough draft of our respective novels and 2). Find a winter home in Florida. As to our first goal we both seem to be chugging along (although Cindy seems to have chugged a lot further down the line than I).

The second objective has been a lot more problematic.

The process of house hunting by a couple married 38 years is not as easy as one may suppose. My dream and Cindy's seem miles apart. I want a two year project and she wants "move in ready". By consensus we have eliminated 'The Villiages' although this only happens when we're not there.

Thanks to Mike and Kelly we found a cute little town called Mount Dora in the center of the state which looks and feels a lot like Traverse City. Didn't find any houses there although we didn't spend much time looking.

Thanks to Val and Rob we did get a pretty good look in the Seminole area of Florida and found two that are definitely of interest.

The first one is a few blocks from the public beach and walking distance to a

host of bars and cafes on the coast. We both felt some good Karma about it although that may have been Rob's youngest daughter 'Karma' who we brought along to give us the 'grandchild perspective.'

The huge back yard is surround by a tall fence and filled with Live Oaks.

The second house is located on the intercoastal water and has access to the Gulf and a dock.

I saw these 'Sea Otter' floating off the back dock. This I took as a sign from God that this was the place. It's a bit above our budget but do-able especially since we learned Mike traded our trailer for a case of beer and a new karaoke machine.

Cindy and I disagree about the Otter, she swears it was a pelican, which was cool but hardly the epiphany necessary for house hunter desirous of seeing grandkids visit.

Family and friend input on our choices is requested. Likelihood that you would visit is one of our biggest factors.

Meanwhile we have landed in Merida. Temp. today was 87 but it is expected to dip into the mid 60's tonight. Forecast is for Temps in mid to high 80's for the rest of our stay.

Love to all Bo and Cindy

Life In A Trailer

After exactly one week on the road, life is settling into a routine. Up at 7 (one of us stays in bed until 7:30), write util about 10 and break for breakfast.

Back to writing (or blog posting) until around noon. Lunch then whatever. So far we've looked at houses in 'The Villages', toured Mount Dora, visited the McGormans', taken long walks, read and otherwise puttered around. No golf as yet but I'm sure that's coming.

The weather has been in the mid 70's, no rain and no mosquitoes.

Life is good.