My love affair with Mexico began in the sixties, and my discovery of this quirky, endearing, imperfect little village of Sayulita, in the eighties, led me to a series of experiences, I never dreamed would happen, especially writing this column.

What started as a “fishy little sleeping village” has become a cosmic bus stop, with a distinct flavor and cache of its own.

It attracts the interesting, the colorful, the conscious, the good, the bad, and the world wanderers.

In the early days, we had a saying, that nobody here had a last name, but everyone had a story.

What I want to express here, is bits and pieces of daily life, chisme, (gossip), sightings, rants, stories both past and present, and introduce you to people who have made Sayuita what it is today.

Fond memories will crop up from time to time, as well as the dark side, and I will do my best to share them with you.
As I do my daily “walkabout”, I try to take in the sights, sounds, smells, and mood of the puebla, and give you something to think about and talk about, sort of a short -attention span theatre.

Since I have recently purchased a piece of land, and intend to start construction on my long held dream of a little “jewel box” house in Mexico, I finally feel like a citizen, and a denizen of our community.

I will weave in stories of the building process here, its frustrations, its absurdities, and its rewards.

My first offering starts with the New Year, and all of its freshness and hope, in addition to some review, and response to events of last year.

I do hope that the Dengue plague has passed, by the time I return, since I managed to export a case of it when I went north for Christmas. I guess the NAFTA agreement allowed the trade of afflictions as well.

Sooooo, what are my hopes and dreams for 2010? Solving our garbage problems, paving or cobbling more streets, providing better security against break-ins, keeping our new palm trees alive, along the entry to town, persuading people to drive more slowly , actually getting building permits, and from the softest part of my heart, finding a way to save Sayulitanimals.
The mass abdication of the clinic just before Christmas has left the organization, Sara Briner, and her supporters, valiantly trying to restructure and continue the beneficial, and necessary work of reducing the unwanted animal population and the public health problems it creates, to say nothing of the suffering of these animals.

More than anything, right now, Sayulitanimals needs time to regroup; an absence of rumor, blame and judgment, and the presence of volunteers to help with all programs, including a spay and neuter clinic that will be held in late January.

I have been in Sayulita off and on for the past year, and have some visual and heartening images that come to mind, as I sit here, in front of the fireplace, enjoying the warmth of home and family on Christmas day.

The local women who came to me in the plaza and helped me make an altar to my recently deceased mother, for the day of the dead celebration.

The winter season, when the town is full and a seat at Rollies on Sunday morning is a much desired scarcity. While you are waiting, you can talk to the beautiful, Argentine lady, Alejandra, who sells her unique jewelry in front of the restaurant.

The many fund-raisers that are held to benefit the community are also good for the social life. I can remember when the town had three restaurants; and a bonfire on the beach, drinking beer and talking was an event.

This summer was my first, but definitely not my last. The entire canvas changes, the town is empty, and slows to a heat and humidity driven crawl. The torrential rains in the afternoons give way to a green patina, with the glow of moisture on everything. The environment is wrapped in sound; of birds, frogs, bugs, and distant thunder. Everything is alive, and growing.

The ocean changes like a multiple personality.

There are days when it is tepid and pond-like, and just barely licks the shore with the tip of its tongue, only to turn into ten foot waves in November, and December, when riled by storms in the Pacific. I do go on, don’t I?

There will be more of everything in the weeks to come, and I want to hear from you. Opinions, feedback, bits and pieces that I can use, and anything that can add to the picture I hope to paint here.