Party, Saturday, June 9

We were invited to a party by a couple we had met when we were here in November. Kelly and Helaine, at that time, were living in their one-bedroom casita while their big house on the mountainside was being built. Once we got here a few weeks ago, we'd heard that they had moved into their new house and two weeks later decided to sell it, buy a big boat and cruise the intracoastal waterway for two years. And they sold their house within a month, having flipped it for a profit (not sure how much). Anyway, we had been up to their house for a little while last week and Helaine invited us to dinner last night (Saturday). The house is just up the hill from the carretera by only a couple of blocks--very walkable to the village. But the vista is unbelievable. There's a 180 degree view of the lake and mountains beyond and the house is fantastic. But you just can't stop looking at the view. Really amazing. Anyway, there were several couples there, some we knew and some we hadn't met before. Everybody has the most interesting story about how they came to live (part time or permanently) in Mexico. Some are ordinary middle-class former professionals; others have much more bizarre stories. Most are our age, give or take a decade or two. (Wow--decades!) The house has an open living plan with pocket doors onto the terraza that disappear into the walls. You walk from the living room onto the terrace with the outdoor kitchen and pool and garden--no barriers. There's a constant breeze, so no mosquitos. Gorgeous. We had a good time. Kelly kept refilling my wine glass so that it never got empty, so I think I only had one glass of wine. (Bob says that's not so.)