San Carlos Wrap Up/What's Next?

I've been back in California for two weeks now and back in El Dorado County for three days. Lots of driving under my belt has given me time to remember my time in San Carlos, Mexico and reflect a bit. It is my tendency to go into most new situations - be they as simple as a night out with friends or as unknown as a new country - without expectation. I'm inclined to have more of a "let's see what this is all about" attitude, come what may.

That being said, I realize I DID in fact have a few ideas of how it would be. As often happens, my expectations did not exactly match reality, which is not necessarily a bad thing. First off, I ended up being much more of a "tourist" than I had planned. Frances and I spent many happy hours exploring the different corners of San Carlos and a few of the surrounding areas. Our hands down favorite place was Soldier's Estuary Beach, where we went almost every day if we could. There was a special magic there and I think it was there just for us!

The Sea of Cortez is a fascinating, beautiful and unpredictable body of water which I would like to learn more about. I plan to pick up a copy of Steinbeck's "Sea of Cortez" soon. This body of water takes up the slack for any shortcomings that San Carlos may have. She is rich in biodiversity, her tides and currents are irregular and surprising. She has a winter face and a summer face. The sea is surrounded by desert and mountains. Geographically it is a stunning place and I'm honored and thrilled to have been introduced. If nothing else pleasing existed in San Carlos, this would be enough.

And that is a fortunate thing for me since much that I would otherwise desire was somewhat lacking in San Carlos, especially in the arts. By the time I left, I was feeling starved for music, art, dance, theatre, etc. Since returning to the states I've been on an "art binge", and have attended four art shows, three music concerts, one dance concert, and a lecture by author David Sedaris. I attended dance class, and next week will be submitting a photo or two for the next El Dorado Arts Council show. Whew! Thank you California!

From a more social aspect, San Carlos left me with a feeling of discomfort and awkwardness, primarily due to what I experienced as the "them and us" attitude which I ran across with a fair amount of frequency. I suppose it is because the origin of San Carlos was as a "snowbird" town that sets it up to be this way, with the northerners living in the better parts of town while the Mexicans work as labor or domestic help. I cringed every time I heard someone complain about their maid or gardner and "how it is here," or "how they are." !! It was embarrassing to hear complaints when local laws, customs or the general "way of life" didn't offer the same protections, privileges or restrictions as USA laws - or even more obnoxious - that San Carlos wasn't "Mexican enough" and needed to be improved upon. ACK!

But - as a dog lover, I miss being able to take Frances into restaurants. As someone who doesn't really grasp the concept of "borders," I was perturbed when the State of Arizona pulled me over outside of Tucson so a dog could inspect my car. The next time I kayak on the sea in the states, I will resent having to wear a life jacket and possibly even a helmet. Stupid!

As a beer snob I am happy to be home in the land of the microbrewery in every downtown. As a coffee snob... hah! Need I say more? As someone with an old car and old feet, I am happy to be back on well paved roads for my tires and suspension, and even surfaces for my feet. I've already commenced with acupuncture for cobblestone inflicted foot injuries. My care suffered a broken headlight, two turn signal lights and a tail light from the jarring roads. As a lifelong dieter, I am happy to once again buy food that is meticulously labeled with the ingredients and nutrition content.

I realized that as much as I have grown to dislike the sometimes heavy snows of Pollock Pines, that I also like a little bit more variety in the weather. I will miss the incredible warmth and helpfulness of the Mexican people.

I won't miss the gnats.

I already miss the sunsets. And the birds, the birds, the birds. Especially the brown pelicans and the frigates.

My hopes of returning home after two months rested, healthy and with some writing under my belt did not come to pass. I came home exhausted, not feeling well, and with only a bit of writing accomplished. The environment wasn't suited to those endeavors.

Except for the Estuary Beach.

In case you missed it in my previous blog, here is my Youtube of the sunset on my final night in San Carlos. It was a grand finale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u0Z0m4yRio

All of the sunsets were beautiful, but this one was spectacular. I felt like I was being given permission to leave. My time in San Carlos was complete, and all stops were pulled out for this one last sunset.

Will I return to San Carlos? Probably not although I never say never. I enjoyed my many travels throughout the area, and in two months was able to see a great deal of splendor. My host, Betsy, gave me this fabulous opportunity to visit San Carlos, and in the end, all was at it was meant to be. Now however, there are other places in the world to explore.

So what's next?

I'm already regaining my stamina and health, It must be the arts binge and good coffee - haha. But with the exception of a couple of days here and there this summer, I will mostly remain away from El Dorado County until the end of August.

I will be spending the summer primarily in San Jose with my family. While in Mexico we learned that my sister's husbands throat cancer metasticized to both lungs. We thought he had it beat. It is now deemed "incurable." There is time though. But my sister is full time day care for her 9 month old granddaughter. I will be taking over that roll four-five days a week over the summer so that she can spend time and take some vacations with her husband while he still feels relatively well. And while in San Jose, will give my other sister a few breaks and help her out with the care of my elderly, ailing Dad.

On my days off I'll come up to Placerville, or take some day trips. I've never been to the Gilroy Garlic Festival and plan to go on July 23 - with or without baby Arabella. While at the Grand Canyon I learned that Pinnacles - just outside of San Jose - is another release site for the California Condor, as well as other wildlife settings. Moss Landing - between Santa Cruz and Monterey - has an estuary that needs to be explored by kayak (without a helmet hopefully.) There is a long list of acoustic jam sessions in the San Jose/Los Gatos area (bluegrass and/or Celtic.) I'm saving my pennies for a new mandolin.

I will be up to music direct "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" during the first part of July at Fair Oaks. I'm looking forward to attending the American River Acoustic Music Camp in August - this time as a "camper" rather than as a volunteer. Finally, around August 23, I will return to El Dorado County to work and play as per the last 30 years.

I will be posting one last blog here within a week (hopefully). It will be a lengthy write-up on the Olivas Adobe, a historic site in Ventura. My friend Rosalee Calvillo is a docent there and I was allowed to photograph some of the school field trips that come through. Then I will close out "San Carlos Sojournal."

A few folks have asked if I will continue blogging. I will crosspost the Olivas Adobe blog on my new blog "Tortuga Traveler." In Native American Culture the Tortuga (turtle in Spanish) represents Mother Earth. So as I continue to visit great and small sites and events here on my home planet du jour - at my increasingly turtlesque pace - I will photograph and write about them, although probably not as frequently as before. In writing the San Carlos SoJournal, I learned of the magic in the everyday and "ordinary." I hope to continue to find that. There is certainly no shortage of fascinating things to explore.

Cheers!