Through It All

It's been six months now since the big move to Mexico, and I think I can safely say that I have finally adjusted.  Luckily my kids, ages six and two, adjusted immediately, but for me it was a different story.  Let me be sure to paint a clear picture; we are in Mexico.  Not one of those ex-pat or retirement communities for Americans and Canadians who are looking to live in the lap of luxury for a couple thousand dollars a month, but Mexico Mexico!  We live on the border of Mexico City and State in what I believe to be a very typical lower middle class Mexican community.  It is where my husband grew up and most of his family still lives.  I am by far the only American for miles around.  

It is the slow pace that took some getting used to, and although I was not quite living a life of luxury in San Francisco, I still had to adjust to the living conditions here.  My husband spent some time before we arrived remodelling a small apartment in his family home.  We have a kitchen, living/dining room, one bedroom, and a bathroom.  It is small but we don't mind as long as we have a space of our own.  Actually, in San Francisco we had a two bedroom apartment but for a majority of the time we shared the apartment with other family members, so we are used to small spaces. 

In San Francisco I had a full time career as a Realtor.  Now I am a stay at home mom, which definitely has its perks, but that alone is an adjustment.  I am grateful for the opportunity to get to spend so much time with my kids which I would have never been able to do in San Francisco due to the high cost of living.  Life here is very cheap, especially because we have no rent or house payment. 

There are certain things you just have to get used to, such as there are simply days that no water comes out of the pipes.  Luckily, my husband put a water tank on our roof that gives us a back up supply, but the main part of the house goes without water quite often.  Also, although the cost of living is low, the local wages are even lower.  My husband works a pretty strenuous full time job and makes about eighty dollars a week.  I have not yet found employment but am hoping to find something I can do from home.  Once I am working and the money is less of an issue, I hope to go in search of "My Mexican Paradise"!  But for the time being, things are pretty tight.

We will have been happily married for seven years this coming November, and I am very proud of that.  It is definitely work, and not always chocolates and roses, but in the end it all pays off, especially when you take a look at those sleeping children!  Yes, they are somehow more loveable when asleep.

I think we have both learned a very valuable lesson through all of this.  We are ok as long as we are happy together.  We don't need money or material wealth, although they would be welcome at our door anytime!  The point is, as long as we support each other and love each other, life is rich.  When we are poor and arguing, things seem unbearable. 

We went to bed one night, the boys were already sleeping, and we were talking for a bit before going to sleep.  At the end of the conversation, I said to my husband, "Te amo con todo que tengo", which for those of you who don't speak Spanish means "I love you with everything I have".  There was a moment of slience, and then I hear my husband say, "NADA!"  We both burst out laughing.  It is so true, I love him with everything and with nothing, and will continue doing so forever.