Vive Fiesta!

The Phil & Heidi Fiesta last Friday was a good example of this special winter community. To my mind Paamul is big enough and yet small enough.
Paamul is big enough to have all kinds of different activities, all kinds of subgroups. At the peak of winter, PM fills all of its 200 rv sites. There are the Paamulians of the North side of the park, and South side, the Beach fronters and the Jungle street folks. We mix it up on the beach, at the sports, walking our dogs. The restaurant is a popular meeting place, especially during the weekly or bi weekly karaoke nights. Most of the major holidays are observed with special menus and entertainment at the restaurant. There are several daily Happy Hour groups (and a weekly AA group).
I’ve previously mentioned the music and exercise groups. I hear tell about poker and other regular card games around. And yoga and bible study.
Then there are the divers. Paamul has a popular dive shop, with several dive masters and a loaded boat going out twice a day.

And PM is small enough for most of us to get together for special occasions.
The Thanksgiving potluck (US November dates) is held at our local church when it is a good time to meet our returning neighbors and friends.
The other mega-night is the Phil & Heidi Party, which recognizes their two birthdays and their wedding anniversary which all occur with a couple days in early March. P&H have been here for 12 years and have been involved in a lot of the goings on here. Heidi is a natural green thumb spreading her plants throughout the park. She also coordinates regular art shows. Phil is an unmistakable presence if not only because he is so tall, and vocal (loud) and old, but still playing horseshoes and volleyball. He is also the chief crab wrangler -- collecting and keeping the collection of hermit crabs run in the biweekly crab races.

The Phil & Heidi Party is a good time to celebrate the nearing end of the winter, maybe seeing some people for the last time.

The Sounds of Musica!

The hills (PM beach community) have been alive with the sounds of music.
When we first got here three years ago, I hooked up with a group of guitar players meeting once a week to share some songs and guitar licks. We were meeting for an hour or two at Kevin’s palapa. Kevin had been a working musician back in the day and had recorded and charted some tunes with a group. Kevin’s proficiency in finger picking is awesome. He tried to teach us “Travis picking” but I never cracked the code on that.
However, playing and singing with others re-ignited my strumming persona from my folk-singing youth. Back then I had been a busy fish in a small pond when it came to leading singalongs of the early 60’s traditional tunes. But I got tired of the repeats of “Tom Dooley” and gave it up.
The Paamul guitar group and the internet changed all that. I was now going to several web sites, downloading all kinds of lyrics and building a an all-new songbook.

Then last year we moved our group over to Butch’s palapa. Butch had been a working musician for most of his life, playing in various country bands throughout the bars of Southern Ontario. He favors Waylon, Willie and the boys, and it is a gas to strum in rhythm along with his country classics. This group, usually four or five - including Joe and Mike, have been meeting twice a week, playing and singing (sometimes saangin’).
Then it became time to step it up. One of our guys, Jim, is a fledgling bass guitar player. Jim and I got it into our minds to form a band (a first for both of us). We decided to work on a few songs that we could learn well enough to perform in public. The idea was to make our debut at a big annual party here in the park, Phil & Heidi’s fiesta. I also asked another neighbor, Sue-Ellen to join me for some harmonies. 

  
Well Friday was it. The fiesta was on and we were on the program. Our short five song set went by quite well it seemed -- no major mistakes at least, and we had fun. Susan says we did all right. So now the world looks different -- or maybe I’ve taken to wearing rose coloured glasses like Elton John.
Everywhere I turn, I am sponging up the guitar singer thing. Watching the Olympics closing ceremonies, there was good old Neil Young all alone putting out a simple, haunting “Long may you Run”. A few minutes later, I had captured the lyrics off the net. And with the Idol contestants playing with guitars, I am sitting with pen and paper at hand in case a good tune shows up. Who knows, I may soon turn the corner into the sounds of the 21st  century.

Deportes (Sports)

In case you were worried about us, life here is not all about working and watching TV or lying in the sun. Yesterday and today were lovely days for getting out there and working up a sweat.
This is especially meant for my blog readers from the cold north.

A typical sports menu here in Paamul:
7 a.m, horseshoes, where there are always a bunch of guys pichin’ the ‘shoes. Some day I might join in but not yet.
First thing in the morning, there are also groups doing yoga, arobics, and qi gong.

Two or three times a week, around 8:15 we go into town for tennis. There are two public sports parks “Unidad Deportiva”  in Playa with tennis courts. Usually we get on right away and play for a couple of hours until it gets too hot.

Susan is not a tennis player but joins the dozens of morning walkers, some even without dogs. She often checks out the water, to see the wave action and then returns for a snorkel trip out to the reef.

The most regular sport here in the afternoon is volleyball ,which happens every day at 3. We have two man- made courts, each with a modest coat of sand which eventually packs down until we dig it up and or add more sand. There are usually enough players to make up three, and sometimes four teams. It’s a good work-out and can be hard on my arthritic joints. With the help of a couple anti-inflamatories I try not to miss playing.

Then every other Tuesday morning, we v’ballers convoy about 15 minutes south to another beach, Xpu-Ha, where they have a nice wide beach of soft sand. We set up our portable net and ropes, and play, swim, play, eat, and play some more. Yesterday we had 8 matches, ending aroud 3 p.m. I really enjoy it, though I’m too short to spike. I can set pretty well, but am struggling with the bump. (volleyball talk).
So that leaves but a little time in the day for working, eating, reading and napping. Oh, yes and music.

Young Glory!!!

Susan is a big figure skating fan. For years she has followed all the main competitions going at least as far back as Toller Cranston. (you know we saw his house in San Miguel de Allende, where he lives now and does his art?) The Kurt Browning years were transcendent, and we lived and died with Sale & Peltier, and their drama at the Salt Lake Olympics.
So last night we stayed up ‘til near midnight to catch the Free Dance finals where our couple, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir had a chance ( they were 2nd after the compulsory dance, and had a narrow lead after the original )
How wonderful! It was magic! It was perfection! The young elfin couple, who had skated together since they were 7 and 9 years old twirled and glided like feathers on a breeze.
Their scores were a resounding first, and we were clapping and cheering as though we were there.
Some of you know that I was a pro photographer for our years in Vancouver, where I covered many events. Just capturing a few images off our tv screen, brought me right back to the feeling that I was there.
Yes, our hockey teams have a chance, and both our men’s and ladies’ curling teams are leading the round robins, but Susan says we can relax now. It may not get any better than this.

Paamulians go for Gold...

The Yucatan got into the Olympic spirit Monday as the Paamul Olympics joined the Games of Vancouver 2010.
Our IOC organizing committee, Dale, Sue, Ron, Sandy, Dave and Brenda put in many hours devising and designing the afternoon of competition and fun. In addition there were another dozen volunteer IOC officials who kept scores, and tried to keep the order.
In all there were 80 players divided into 8 “countries”, along with several cheer leading squads.  Each team had a t-shirt colour and a came up with a fictitious country name such as Rango Tango (orange), Thongo (white), Turtleonia (green), ROOF - Republic of old Farts (pink), Principality of Merlot (red), Blue Paradise (blue), Terra Nova (yellow), and our team the Pirates of Neverland (black).
As well each team added to their costumes, designed a flag, and brought an anthem or cheer.
The Games began with the arrival of the torch, carried by Richard, one of the oldest residents of Paamul, who then led us on a parade around the park, and then to the events:

1. Snow Plowing Relay Race (grabbing a handful of sand from your bucket, racing back and passing it hand to hand, then back to try filling your wine bottle)
2. Harpoon throw (with those spongy swimming noodles)
3. X Country skiing (in tandem groups of 5 strapped to long 2x4 boards)
4. Snowball Toss (a snowbird rv park classic - golf balls on a string tossed at the ‘ladder’ - they always fly off)
5. Hockey shot (another snowbird classic - washers toss)
6 Curling (with bumpy coconuts)
7. Icicle Melt (a team effort to run a frozen balloon on a string through all your team’s clothing, top to bottom, and all the way out again)
8. Aerials (throwing and catching small balloons filled with water, oops- splash)

All afternoon the park was ringing with chants and cheers as team spirit, fueled with a little of the other spirits swept through our participants and fans. The competitions were mostly on the silly side -- I have spent many hours on a curling rink growing up in Saskatchewan, but was dismayed when my rock (triangular coconut) did not reach the rings. Well, we had no sweepers, eh.
Can you imagine trying to get distance with those flimsy curved swimming floats in the Harpoon Toss?  Even the “classics” like the golf ball toss and washers take way more luck than skill, I’m convinced. ie. I scored no points on those.

The Icicle Melt brought our team closer, as we ended up tied together running a single string through all our shirts and shorts -- just following the rules, ya know?
The cross country skiing was a challenge, but a little planning and good team coordination with our coach calling out the ‘left’, “right” our Pirates easily prevailed in our heat. A couple of our members who had never played washers before tossed in 5’s adding big points to oour score. I think we won the Harpoon Toss and placed in a couple others too. Which brings us to the Finale and Awards.

We gathered back at the Centre for BBQ and more fellowship as the Ceremonies. Somehow each team got a congeniality award, as in best song, flag, costume, cheer, most enthusiastic, most obnoxious, etc. All good fun.

And now for the real hardware, the medals for total team scores:
    Bronze: Rango Tango
    Silver: Principality of Merlot
    and GOLD to THE PIRATES OF NEVERLAND
    Hey, that was us!
    “We never give up! We never lose! We never grow up!  We’re the Pirates of Never, Never, Neverland!” “-- Arrgh, Argrh, Arrrgrh!!!”

We're in the movies...

This little film was made about a year ago. It shows a fair picture of our winter home. Yes it is a lovely beach, a good pool, restaurant, and they didn't include our well-regarded dive shop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mTDCJHYmO8&feature=related

If the above link doesn't go through, go to YouTube and search for:
Paamul Rv Park
www.youtube.com

Measure twice, cut once...

I have chosen to build the doors for the cabinets and drawers. A bunch more work, but -- in for a penny...etc. 

It actually came down to style. We spent a morning touring several of our neighbors’ kitchens to get a few ideas and inspiration. Then I was reading out Ikea catalogue and realized that what we wanted was different to anything we had seen. So a few sketches and after more visits to our local lumber yards, I built a sample and we were off.
Once again learning on the go, especially about careful measuring, and accurate cutting. Measure twice, etc.
My little cordless circular saw did great service, but the key tools came borrowed from our handyman neighbors, Bob, Guy, Dale and Don. It could not have happened without their contributions of clamps and straight edges, sanders and especially Guy’s new chop saw. Adding the thin strips of border each of the 23 doors could only happen by being able to cut the precise lengths on each of the strips of wood. Yay, chop saw.
Susan has been away for a week, in Ontario visiting the kids and new granddaughter. Most of the mess will be cleared up for her return tomorrow. We hope.

January gone...

Somehow the month slipped away with no more posting. A lot going on, some relaxing, some fun, but I’ll start with a work report.
Have now built all our kitchen cabinets, adding three more over the stove. They each have recessed lighting under their lower lips.
And I built drawers, two banks of drawers, one on each side of the sink. This was the first time I had ever done drawers. Had to learn how they all went together. Only three of the seven drawers are cutlery-sized, the other four are quite large, so I went with heavy duty all-metal sliders. And I learned how they had to be built within tight tolerances for the slides to work -- like within a 1/16 of an inch side to side.  With a lot of measuring, and a little shimming, they work!
We're not done yet, as we haven’t designed / chosen / built or ordered to be built the cabinet doors and drawer fronts. We have spoken to a local cabinet maker (Marcos, the guy who last year built and installed our doors). I’m sure he would give it a dandy final look, but somehow I am reluctant to give up, having brought the project this far myself.

But no parkas...

For our recent visitors, my sister and her husband from Alberta, the weather was just right. They were more afraid of it being TOO hot. So the sub-60F (15C) mornings were fine for them. They are not drawn into the water either, though we did find one lovely afternoon for a stroll and a brief dip into the sea along Yan Ten.  And it was good weather for sight-seeing without getting wilted.
Even on 5th Ave, most people were in jackets.
They chose two major outings - a day at Xcaret, and a bus tour to Chichen Itza.
Xcaret is just a couple kilometers from Paamul, so we dropped them off and they took a taxi home. They loved it, lots to see, lots to read about, lots to eat ( they indulged a bit at the buffet, and while they are small eaters, they sampled almost everything). The highlight for them, as it was for us last year, was the evening show. It is a two hour musical extravaganza with a cast of hundreds depicting the whole history of the country and its culture.
The bus tour to Chichen Itza worked out well too. I dropped them off at a pickup point in Playacar at 8:20 and they rode in a big comfortable bus. The price included an entertaining commentary along the ride, a stop for a buffet lunch, with some dance entertainment, guided tour of the famous Mayan ruin, and a stop at a cenote on the way back. Return to Playa was about 7:30.
Just in time for a late dinner at one of our favorite Mexican eateries, El Fogon.

Winter, here too...

In the two weeks since I wrote about perfect weather, the cold that has been drifting down the Atlantic coast reached us and settled in for a spell. We were in long pants and sweaters for days on end. When the sun was out, we went for walks, or moved our chairs out into the yard and absorbed the rays.
It was reassuring some to know that we were not alone in this, that we were not singled out for this chill.
From last week’s news:
“...travelers emerging from Miami airport were hit with 2.2C temperatures, beating an 82-year-old record on the 10th consecutive day of startling lows in South Florida.”
And in other parts of Mexico -
“The state-run National Meteorology Service (SMN) has forecast that temperatures would be as low as minus 8 degrees Celsius in the northern states of Durango and Chihuahua....Freezing weather has killed at least 22 people across the nation since last week, including deaths caused by hypothermia and gas poisoning.”

Have some madera... (my dear)

I am building more cabinets, and thought I would add some more detail of our local supply of wood/ lumber (in Spanish: MADERA).

There are at least a half dozen lumber marts in Playa. Each one has a variety of dimension lumber and plywood -- each with slightly different variety and qualities. I think the prices are comparable to those up north. Following are some examples:  (I’ve converted to Canadian dollars, for US discount another 5%)
Dimension lumber: Mexican lumber seem amazing for their quality and variety. I remember looking through piles of lumber in Canadian lumber stores to find anything that was straight and not full of knots.
In these madera stores, the main lumber supply is pino (Mexican pine). Their “prime” quality in very clear, with very few if any knots.
The boards start out coarsely cut to full dimension. ie, a 1x6 is fully 1” x 6”. They are then run through two planers -- the first to straighten any irregularities along the edges, then through a planer to smooth the flat sides. Then, if you buy a board, they will run it through a table saw to any width or variety of widths. Today, I bought a 1x6, and had it cut down to 4 narrow pieces, of different widths - more trim pieces for more cabinets. All the planing and cutting is included in the price of the lumber.
These prime dimension lumber boards seem to all come about 8 1/4 feet. 1x6 $4.75; 1x10 $7.20; 2x4 $5.20; 2x6 $9.60.

Plywood: There are at least as many choices in plywood with construction grades and fine finishes as I remember from our Canadian lumber stores.
(plywood comes in 4’ x 8’ but are in mm thicknesses just like Canada)  These are good G1S sanded paint grade.
6mm $14.80; 12mm $22.40; 15mm $25.15; 18mm $32.80

Did you want to know all this?
Some wood I guess. Others woodn’t.

Some like it Hot.

What makes perfect winter weather? This past week and the beginning of this new year the days and nights have been great. The days drift into the low 80’s (27+C) and the nights dip into the high 60’s (20C). We have been sleeping in the loft and with a light breeze, it is like sleeping on a cloud. This morning it was 68F and it felt cool. I remember when 68 / 20C was promoted as an ideal room temp. Not warm enough for me.
Yeah, temperature is quite subjective, but very real.
I grew up on a small farm on the Canadian prairies. Up to my teenage years, in the winter we got to town with horses. Even when snowplows cleared the roads, and block heaters helped get the cars running, winter existence was dealing with the cold. Though I came from hardy nordic stock on both sides of my family, I have often wondered what happened to me. I have never liked the cold.
A couple of years ago, I was speculating with Susan about our future and how we might find somewhere nice to settle, like in a winterized cabin on a lake in Southern Ontario. Near enough to a town for our essentials, etc. Susan’s response was clear. “I’m not living through winter in Canada.” Perfect answer. Now we live the winters in Mexico, how great.