The Beginnings of My Unexpected Adventure

On February 25th, 2017 I was visiting my friends in Manzanillo, Mexico. They were asking after Robert, my husband who has Lewy Body Dementia and was living in an assisted living facility in Oak Harbor Washington. I told them his needs were becoming more than assisted living had to offer and I did not know what I would do next. Suzie said "bring him to Ajijic! They have excellent long term care for very affordable costs." I asked how far it was to Ajijic and she said it was a 4 hour drive. We made a road trip to Ajijic and looked at and interviewed facilities. I liked what I saw and felt. It felt like a bold, but viable alternative to spending our retirement funds for extended care in the U.S. A week later I returned to take a 6 day seminar on "everything you need to know to move to Ajijic." I was one of 4 women in a course led once a month called Retiring Lakeside in Mexico (www.retiringlakesideinmexico@yahoo.com) led by Earl French and John McWilliams. While there I further investigated facilities and decided La Casa Nostra (lacasanostra.com) was the right fit for Robert. It is the most expensive home I looked at. The cost is $1,800.00 U.S. per month and will not go up. Earl and John had a friend who had lived there during the last part of his life, and they had the highest praise for the facility and staff. After taking the seminar I felt confident I could do what was needed to make the move. It seems impossible to me now, but on May 10 we arrived in Guadalajara with two fabulous friends, George Parks and Kate Forster, and began the journey of living in Mexico. 
There were many difficult things to leave. I loved my life in Langley. I wanted to participate in one more Art Walk before leaving. Most of you have seen the email I sent regarding this last Art Walk, but since I'm looking at this blog as a sort of shared journal and history of this move, I will publish it here. 

It was a super successful Art Walk, both joyful and extremely sad for me, and marked the end of my art life in Langley. For now anyway. Studio 106 was a haven and a workplace like none other. Two watercolorists have joined Faye Castle and Barb Barry. Studio 106 is changed, and lives on! 
I did not burn any bridges. My condo, car, and motorhome are being well looked after in my absence. My dear cat, Arthur, is in a loving home and now has two cat brothers for playmates. I really thought Langley was the final home in my life, and was delighted with that notion. Life is full of surprises! So now we live in Mexico. Who would have thought? Let the Adventure begin.