I’m constantly amazed by our surroundings here in the Sea of Cortez. The ocean is rich with plankton and the ecosystem is full of activity which we can appreciate even while sitting in a marina. Marinas are not my preferred place to be, but Puerto Escondido is absolutely breathtaking! We wake up to the slapping of mobula rays (on the surface of the water) echoing off the surrounding protective desert hills that are effortlessly dwarfed by the colossal Sierra de la Giganta mountain range to the west. In the span of a week we’ve seen a juvenile whale shark, tons of mobula (devil) rays, the largest sea turtle I’ve ever seen, spotted eagle rays, various starfish and huge schools of diverse tropical fish; and get this…none of us have been in the ocean since we arrived! We’ve seen it all from our boat or while out on walks with Quincy. Such a blessing to be here and stretch our legs again.
The kids asked me today in the marina shower (undoubtedly the best place for meaningful family conversations) “mama, when will coronavirus be over”? After I bluntly uttered probably never, they clarified with a few more questions: “No, I mean, when will we get to go to stores again? When will we have a vaccine? When will people go to the hospital with coronavirus and be given medicine to fix it”? All good questions which likely run through many of our minds. I don’t have the answers, but I know the world is forever changed and this won’t “be over” anytime soon, if ever. I wonder how much they understand about the dreadful impact this virus has had on humankind. Peering through lenses of mortality, sociology, economics, healthcare and environmentalism as an adult; I then realize, they are likely adapting just as kids do. They ask some probing questions and then run back to their mission at hand: What am I building in minecraft? What happens in the next chapter of my book? If I stall on my math problems can I outwit my mom, causing her to fold and cut my work in half? Will dad allow us to watch a movie with dinner tonight and who’s movie night is it to pick anyway? As parents it is our duty to prepare our kids for survival and success as self-reliant adults someday and part of that is providing opportunities for them to deal with adversity. I walk a fine line between inviting them into discussions on the overwhelming problems of the world that will soon be theirs to deal with and allowing them to be carefree, creative, downright silly kids. They’re little sponges with a hunger for knowledge, but how much do you expose them to?
For kids who normally live in remote areas in some degree of isolation here on the boat, the girls are somewhat sheltered from the drastic changes many have had to make to their daily lifestyle. By now back in the states, society has adjusted to virtual graduations, virtual conferences, and families working and schooling all under one roof simultaneously. Back here, the impact has been apparent only through the distancing from friends, the wearing of masks (but mom it’s so hot!!!), as well as the limits on shore excursions and water activities. I have flashbacks to being overseas during 9-11 and now my family and I are outside of the US during a no kidding, worldwide pandemic. There is a strong desire to be with loved ones back home. There is also a strong curiosity of what we will return to whenever we get there.
It is an odd time as many friends have headed back to the states – some who originally planned to due to impending hurricane season and others who didn’t plan for it at all. We all have our predictions and fears, but no one has clarity in their crystal ball to know exactly what the next few months hold here in Mexico, or anywhere else for that matter. We focus on what we CAN manage: keep everyone safe, healthy and happy….oh yeah….and prepare for hurricane season…there’s that. We try to take advantage of the opportunities wherever we are and here, that has meant the treasure of a nice warm shower…in a private stall…with a functioning drain (a luxury), nice long walks with Quincy and the rare opportunity to enjoy ice cream or gelato as the weather starts to heat up.
I’d love to see the beautiful Pueblo Mágico Loreto – to shop, eat and enjoy the best of small town Mexican culture, but now is not the time. I’m confident it will still be there, however when the time is right. We wish you all safety and well-being as we all are figuratively navigating new and uncharted territory.
It’s still Wednesday day as I post this…so we’re still getting this out today. I’m taken aback because one of our avid readers asked me today if we were, “illegal unemployed vagrants” here in Mexico….but I represent that…I mean…as of Monday we’re now legal unemployed vagrants here in Mexico. And that’s ok by me! But honestly..I’m sooo not unemployed. Try running a small sailing website and keeping it up for 5-years straight….and keeping that site going while you’re out cruising. I LOVE what I do and I hope you do too. We LOVE our followers and we hope you’ll continue to follow us!
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