I wanted to share this little snapshot of our final week in Todos Santos.
In 7 days, we’re packing up our little car and heading back to the US.
And then on to New Zealand, at some point.
But that’s another story.
Back to this story.
Our car is not little. It’s big. It just seems little when you’re trying to fit a year’s worth of stuff, one 9-year old, the ice cream maker, instant pot, 2 guitars, and one 80lb dog—who the vet told me is fat and not stocky like I’ve been telling people.
Nothing a few suitcases strapped to the top—next to the rooftop box and the extra gas can—can’t fix.
Spending a year in Todos Santos, Mexico, has been amazing.
It’s hard to believe it’s coming to an end.
We’re doing all the last minute things.
Returning stuff.
Throwing out stuff.
Washing stuff.
Getting the dog screened for Screwworm.
Finally finding the recycling center.
Giving away my jars because they really just won’t fit (I love you jars).
Implementing our cardboard box car-packing strategy.
Baking a multi-layered birthday cake for Aurelia to take to school.
Having a party a few days before we leave IS a little crazy.
But our house is perfect for parties, and we don’t usually have a house that is perfect for parties, so it feels like we really should do something.
It has a pool and a private pickleball court that has the most amazing views of the sea and the hills. And playing pickleball anytime, but especially at night when the sun is setting, is just about heaven.
And I wasn’t even into pickleball before the landlord built the damn court.
Now, of course, I completely get why people love it.
Anyway, there’s all that. And a trampoline, and a big old deck that was made for a large table to sit around.
I’ve moved a lot, but this is different
Franco works in TV and film and for a few years, we routinely hauled ourselves across the country at 48 hours notice, with a young kiddo.
But this time feels different.
The international move on the other end is part of it. And the fact that it’s not just me in this.
Then there’s the 110 degree heat in Tucson. Our storage unit without A/C. And a dog who can’t be left alone because she gets stressed inside a new place.
Every day I call my sister for 15 minutes.
She tells me things like, you’re doing great.
Just pick one thing to do.
And then I do, and I feel better.
I am a SubStacker
ONE of the things on my to-do-list has been to simplify my online presence. To close my old website.
So I thought, heck, why not make the weeks where we’re moving across three countries and one Pacific Ocean, the time when I finally do it.
Substack is my new home.
Where you’ll find essays, poems, meditation, observations, and the occasional story about getting stuck and getting unstuck.
The content will be less, “5 Ways to Move Country Like a Pro.” And more me just telling it how it is.
Emails from me will now come via SubStack.
They’ll look different.
But they’re still just me.
Feel free to unsubscribe if you’ve packed up your metaphorical car and moved on to other things.
I get it.
But lovely to have you here if you want to stay friends.
I’ll keep you posted on the move and other happenings.
Love Lisa
XX
PS: No suitcases were injured in the journey, and apart from a hairy border crossing (police were involved), it all went pretty smoothly. Tucson is hot and we definitely needed a couple of pajama days to recover!
