2007-07-13 22:28:44

Hola family and amigos,
Talk about allot happening these past months!!! Our world has been turned upside down. After living aboard TEXAN since 2000, cruising the Pacific and Sea of Cortez, we decided to find ourselves a land base and plant our feet for a while. Don’t get me wrong, we have totally loved our cruising life over these years. We have had so many truly remarkable experiences and have met some extraordinary people and developed a good number of close relationships with many. We feel truly blessed in being able to experience these past 7 years and wouldn’t have missed it for the world. But now…..another experience.

After visiting the small village of Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico….population 500….we fell in love with the place. It is about 74 kilometers SE of Mazatlan in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range that runs the length of Mexico. At about 2,500 feet elevation, we have a wonderful climate, both in the winter and summer. We are only one of three “gringos” living in the community but have been accepted easily by the long time resident population. Copala dates back to 1565 and was once a thriving gold and silver mining town of about 10,000 people in it’s prime days before the Spanish arrived. Today, it’s just a sleepy village with most all families scraping a living with what little tourist traffic comes through town and tending to their cattle, pigs, corn growing etc. We are blessed to have dependable electricity, water and daily delivery of all things one needs to live…..veggies, meat, shrimp, bottled water, propane gas, glass, shoes, fruit etc. Our hillside location of our “new to us” small casa, overlooks the town, church and community square where dances are held every other Saturday night until the wee hours of the morning. Our days are commonly spent on the veranda, in the hammock with a good book. (Of course after our daily chores are done)

We have put TEXAN into a slip at Isla Mazatlan, which is a 1 1/2 hour drive from the house. Our visits have been infrequent these past 6 months as we have been spending our time on remodeling the house and property in preparation for the summer rainy season. We plan on heading back out on TEXAN for a 3 month sail back up in the Sea of Cortez come this February/March. It certainly was one of the highlights of our cruising a few years ago, with the past two sailing seasons spent on the Mexican Riviera. (Mazatlan to Acapulco)

So, we’re now again proud owners of a car, a truck and a house…..in addition to our sailboat. Gee, seems like full circle. And what a grand life it is!!!!!!! Our only regrets are the miles between our family and friends in the United States. We sure want to be certain you are welcome at our casa any time at all. The jets fly both ways between the states and Mazatlan airport. In fact, Lois and I are heading back to California to visit with my (Gary’s) Mom in California for a couple of weeks when our daughter, Rene’ will be coming out from Austin to visit with us there. Do put Mexico on your “to do” list. We’d love being your hosts.

We hope all is well in your families and thanks for the patience in our not communicating very well lately. (By the way, there is no phone or internet service in Copala so it’s only when we travel to a town 30 minutes away when we can access the internet) Perhaps someday we’ll put in a dish for airborne service. Take care of yourselves and each other. Life is great!!!

Love,
Gary, Lois and now Shanghai the Shih Tzu too

P.S. Click on the Casa de Colores Link to take a look at our new digs. (And turn up your volume too)