Casa Corazon
It's amazing to me how much can change in just one year. August 2, 2019, just over one year ago 3 friends and I signed the final papers to buy a home together in Chapala Centro. We named it Casa Corazon. This comes as a great surprise to all of us. How did this happen? In May 2019 I had been visiting Langley and my family and friends. I was aware that Robert was not going to live much longer. As I thought about that I was suddenly very aware that I did not want to live alone for the rest of my life. The feeling was very strong and when I returned to Chapala I began talking about it with friends. Susan Lewis and I spent a day looking at homes that could accommodate several people in comfort. We saw several possibilities, but after looking in Ajijic and other villages we realized we wanted only to live in Chapala Centro. We thought it would take a long time to find a suitable house. But it didn't. Susan was walking past a little Real Estate office in our neighborhood and saw the photo of this house. That was in June. As soon as Susan and Bill and I walked into this house we knew it was right. We also knew we wanted Amanda to join us. We called her in Alaska where she was finishing her last year of work. We sent photos. She said "count me in." The only thing missing was a pool. The pool was started one week after final signing. Susan and Bill were traveling in Europe, Amanda was in Alaska but made plans to come for final signing, and I was back to Langley for half of August and early September. When I returned the pool was nearly finished and I got Fernando going on remodeling the self contained apartment that comes with the house. Lots of emails, phone calls, and photos back and forth and somehow we managed to collectively make decisions and our nest was getting feathered. Susan and Bill returned and we got busy having the fun of furnishing the whole place. What was an idea was suddenly a reality. We still can't believe we did it.
Let me tell you about Casa Corazon. It is a beautiful big home with 3 bedrooms complete with
fireplaces and terraces. Each bedroom has it's own bathroom. There is a great space on the main floor that is divided into several different areas. There is a game table, a man space for Bill and his computer and keyboards. There's a sunny area facing the pool we call the solarium, and another space with fireplace for tv watching. Add a beautiful big dining room, very easy to work in kitchen, a laundry and storage room and a powder room. There is room for us all to be together or be private. We enjoy the two fully furnished terraces, and I use part of one as a painting studio.
Dean and Paul had plans to come here for their annual Thanksgiving time visit, and Amanda came down for the holidays. On November 21st Amanda and I moved our stuff over from our apartments at QQ, and Dean and Paul arrived to stay in the newly completed apartment, Casa Corazoncita. That was our first night to sleep at Casa Corazon. I have been living here full time since then. Susan and Bill joined for Christmas and the house was full of people throughout the winter holidays. We had several dinners and parties. Special to us all was the Christmas Posada for all the people who worked on our house and who help us maintain it. Much tequila and laughter. This house is made for lots of people. In January Susan and Bill returned to Manzanillo and Amanda returned to Alaska. During the first months after Dean and Paul were here in the apartment we had a renter, then Faye and Truman for the month of February. Then Dave and Erin for the first week in March. And then COVID was here. Robert died on March 19 and the government closed everything down on March 20. And suddenly I was here alone.
Boomer our cat and I lived here alone until early July when Amanda arrived for good. COVID had helped her to decide to retire a half year earlier than she thought she would. Living here alone was probably perfectly timed. After Robert's death I was not interested in going anywhere or seeing many people. I was able to have almost everything delivered and I more or less did nothing for nearly 5 months. The one thing I did regularly was a work out in the pool every day for at least an hour. The temperature of the water remained around 90 degrees because of the solar panels we had installed. I love our pool.
Amanda arrived here on July 2. She quarantined in the apartment for 2 weeks and then moved into our forever home.
And so life in an intentional shared home has begun. Our intention and vision is to provide a supportive and caring home for each other for as long as we need it. It is amazing what you can get in Mexico when sharing 4 ways. The cost of running our home which includes Mago who cleans, Juan Carlo who cares for the pool, Manuel who cares for the plants, Fernando who fixes whatever needs fixing, and Victor who is our property manager and pays all our bills and taxes costs less than $200.00 U.S. each per month. That includes water, gas, electricity, internet, and tv. The apartment, Corazoncita, will be used for visiting friends and family, occasional renters, an infirmary if needed, or housing for caregivers some day. The house is very flexible. We will use it as we need to as needs arise.
This morning I got tears in my eyes because I smelled coffee brewing before I got up. Just the knowledge that someone else is making morning coffee after living alone for so long was so very comforting. I loved living alone as well.....until I knew I didn't want to do it the rest of my life.
Life seems full of miracles, and Casa Corazon is one of many. I'm so grateful for my life. And I look forward to being able to travel again. I look forward to seeing my kids and grandkids and friends and especially to attending the wedding of Dave and Erin in August.
