From the "Short and Sweet" Dept.

One of the things I haven't written much about is daily life in San Pedro.  So, in what will become a continuing series, I'll cover some of the day-to-day experiences of living in Guatemala.

A very small part of Lake Atitlan

San Pedro la Laguna is located on Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful places on the planet.  The lake is a mountain-top caldera surrounded by volcanos.  Despite San Pedro's elevation - 5,000 feet - it never gets too cold.  About 17,000 people live here and most are of Maya descent.  There are three Maya languages spoken around the lake.  Most indigenous people in San Pedro speak Tz'utujil and Spanish.  There is very little English spoken outside of the ex-pat and tourist communities.  Lake Atitlan itself is located in the southwestern part of the country with the Pacific ocean a few hours away by bus. Volcan San Pedro towers over the town and is, hopefully, dormant.

Weather:  Winter and spring are dry.  It seems it's always sunny.  Cool nights (mid-teens) and warm days (high-20s).  It gets warmer during the day as we get closer to summer. The summer and fall are wet.  The temperatures are warmer, but it rains every afternoon.  Last year it rained so much that there were a number of mudslides around the lake. This time of year is perfect - cool nights, warm days, no rain.  It's like groundhog day.

Banking:  There are two bank machines connected to the outside world.  There is now a third, but it is for local bank customers only.  You can take out 2000 quetzales per transaction.  That's about $250 at the official exchange rate of about $1-Q8.  Money is usually available, but sometimes there is a run on the weekend.  Luckily, I am able to run tabs at most businesses if I run out of cash.

Cost of Living:  I spend about $1000 a month.  That is actually high for living here, but not outrageous.  I am living in a hotel that costs about $190 a month.  The rest goes to eating out 2-3 times a day, a few groceries, coffee, laundry and general entertainment (beer).  If I had a kitchen, I could likely reduce my expenses by 30% if not more.  Last night I spent about Q150 ($18.75) at a local pub.  I was there for many hours using their internet and chewing the fat.  I had 2 imported Guinnesses, a couple of local beers and a plate of nigiri sushi.  My tab also included a 10% propina (tip).

In San Pedro you can eat cheaply (3 for 10Q tacos) or expensively (white table cloth dinner with wine $10). But at the end of the day, nothing is really expensive at all.

More to come...

Torn

Responsibility Looks Like This

Once again I find myself in the middle of a battle that I wish would just go away.  Freedom vs. Responsibility.

You may be aware of my long term life plan: To travel/live in the tropics during the Canadian winter and return home to enjoy the first half of summer in BC and the dog days (plus fall) in Nova Scotia.  Surprisingly, I'm on the road to doing just that.

But:  I still have a bit of a yoke around my neck in the form of debt.  This is no one's fault but my own.  It comes from trying to live the dream before having the financial base to make it easy.  But things are changing. I am now working as a digital nomad, making decent money.  There is now light at the end of the tunnel.

Over the last few months, everything has been going swell.  I'm in a comfortable, clean and reasonably quiet $6-a-night hotel.  I'm busy.  I'm earning.  I'm paying off debt.  Every day is sunny and warm.  Perfect!

Then opportunity knocks:  How would I like to spend the month of April in a Manhattan apartment for the low cost of $50 a night.  Would I?!

Then opportunity knocks again:  How would I like to spend eight weeks housesitting in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.  A seaside residence, complete with car.  Would I?!

My initial reaction to both offers was "Hell ya!"  I can use my freedom to live anywhere.  And those two anywheres sound perfectly perfect.

I jump on the internet in search of cheap airfares and/or points flights to make the dreams happen.  In moments I realize that there are none.  I ponder further and suddenly I see these opportunities come with price tags.  And they're not cheap.  Deflated, I decide that I can't take advantage of either of these opportunities.  At least, not yet.  Once there is no debt, there will be true freedom.  It's not far off, but it won't happen next week either.  The universe is delivering -- just a wee bit too early. 

Sober second thought allows me to see that these opportunities aren't perfect.  New York would be great, but expensive.  The good thing is that it isn't going anywhere.  And I'll be able to stay there again in the not-too-distant future.

As for Lunenburg:  While I desperately want to return to the sea-bound coast, I must be patient.  Nova Scotia's charms will wait.  Plus:  Do I really want to return at the end of February?  No.  I want to return in August.

A trip to my home and native land will happen.  I have to renew my passport and deal with my taxes.  I've also got my fingers crossed for a Gulf Islands (BC) housesit in July and August.  

So here I am, being responsible.  I've decided that it's better to live in a cheap tropical paradise than return to the cold.  There could be worse things.

Now the plan is this: I'll stay in Guatemala, likely until late April and then head north to Calgary.  If I'm lucky, I'll head to the west coast for a few months, then to the east coast for a few months, then hit the road again for the winter.  Not a bad rough plan.  I think I like being responsible.

PS: Know of someone seeking a housesitter in the Vancouver area this summer?  Or Nova Scotia?  Or both?  Let me know!