I'm late to the party here, but I think a Mexico section would be great. I've been living in central Mexico for over 12 years and interested in what others have to share. Mike Leavy over at Mexico Listo
Thanks for clarifying in a straightforward way - the difference between the midlife and old age issues. Opportunities verses relevance in so many cases seems to come down to state of mind, health, and finances. I really admire your goal of becoming conversational in Spanish as I have been interested in for decades - mainly because of my lack of opportunities. And it seems you have a huge one. The cliche - GO FOR IT - comes to mind.
When my mother entered an assisted care facility (which she did on her own at age 80, bless her!), she complained: "This place is full of old people." Well, I'm not 80 yet, but I suspect I have nevertheless begun to experience late-life crisis. I don't feel irrelevant, but I do feel my time shrinking. I'm trying to put that aside and just keep living and writing novels. As for Mexico, it has never called to me. I took Spanish in junior high and recently bought a "Great Courses" learning course, but I haven't been inspired to start it yet. So I have to vote Disinterested (meaning not biased, but also meaning uninterested, as in "meh").
I'd definitely be interested in Mexico writing ... mostly because if you're interested in that comes through in writing. But also because I've been brushing up on my Spanish a little and have hopes, if finances allow, to finally go to Mexico City for the first time in the next year or so.
Funny thing about my age - 48 - is that I'm supposed to be post-midlife crisis, or at least going through it, but I feel like I've already done that like 9 times so far. Being an entrepreneur means failing a lot, and freaking out once in a while. Hopefully the "freaking out" days are behind me now!
I suspect that I won't really lose relevance either as I get really old, although I will need to talk to other folks who understand my language. I think there's a pretty firm line in the sand between folks who were born and grew up before the internet, and those who grew up after. Kids today know only a world with the web, and kids born in the last few years will only know a world with generative AI.
Go to Mexico and write about it if you can! I have never been, but it's (of course) on my bucket list.
I love Mexico too! My dad lived there at the end of his life and I spent a lot of time outside Puerto Vallarta - when it was still a small town - and I've traveled pretty much everywhere in Mexico except the north.
I did the same thing you did: felt stupidly guilty about never learning Spanish, so I signed up for Duolingo. Unfortunately I lost my nice long streak when I was sick, and now it's hard to restart... but writing this now is convincing me that I should, right now.
I wish I could afford a 'paid' membership but I can't. I love Mexico and that area too... I hope to be able to read. Have not been down to that area or to Mexico since 2000. Much has changed, some for ill - but I love Michoacan, the Mexican people, I long to go back some day. I hope you do this 3rd part of your substack, even if I can't afford to read it!
Heck. I just said to heck with it all, spent 6 wonderful but very warm weeks in Panama with my son and his husband where I completed my paperwork for my Pensionado status. We are packing up as I write. I’m getting rid of much more than I’m sending. My house sold in a heartbeat and since my son and I are going one way, I sprung for first class tickets for us and my dog. As for my Spanish, it’s been 56 years since my classroom instruction but I found that a lot of it was just buried in the crevasses of my gray matter. Not worried about any of the rest. It will all work out.
leave for 18 days just after thanksgiving.
It sounds wonderful, Joyce! I would be interested in reading about your Mexico adventures! 💜
I'm late to the party here, but I think a Mexico section would be great. I've been living in central Mexico for over 12 years and interested in what others have to share. Mike Leavy over at Mexico Listo
https://www.mexicolisto.com
is one of my favorite reads.
I speak Spanish every day. Some places you can get by without much, but I'm not in one of those places.
Anyhow, sounds like a good idea on your part. Go for it!
Go for it! Buena suerte con los estidios!
Thanks for clarifying in a straightforward way - the difference between the midlife and old age issues. Opportunities verses relevance in so many cases seems to come down to state of mind, health, and finances. I really admire your goal of becoming conversational in Spanish as I have been interested in for decades - mainly because of my lack of opportunities. And it seems you have a huge one. The cliche - GO FOR IT - comes to mind.
When my mother entered an assisted care facility (which she did on her own at age 80, bless her!), she complained: "This place is full of old people." Well, I'm not 80 yet, but I suspect I have nevertheless begun to experience late-life crisis. I don't feel irrelevant, but I do feel my time shrinking. I'm trying to put that aside and just keep living and writing novels. As for Mexico, it has never called to me. I took Spanish in junior high and recently bought a "Great Courses" learning course, but I haven't been inspired to start it yet. So I have to vote Disinterested (meaning not biased, but also meaning uninterested, as in "meh").
I'd definitely be interested in Mexico writing ... mostly because if you're interested in that comes through in writing. But also because I've been brushing up on my Spanish a little and have hopes, if finances allow, to finally go to Mexico City for the first time in the next year or so.
Funny thing about my age - 48 - is that I'm supposed to be post-midlife crisis, or at least going through it, but I feel like I've already done that like 9 times so far. Being an entrepreneur means failing a lot, and freaking out once in a while. Hopefully the "freaking out" days are behind me now!
I suspect that I won't really lose relevance either as I get really old, although I will need to talk to other folks who understand my language. I think there's a pretty firm line in the sand between folks who were born and grew up before the internet, and those who grew up after. Kids today know only a world with the web, and kids born in the last few years will only know a world with generative AI.
Go to Mexico and write about it if you can! I have never been, but it's (of course) on my bucket list.
I just don't have the bandwidth to handle another Substack. I'm always happy to do Spanish language & cultural immersion field trips in CA.
I love Mexico too! My dad lived there at the end of his life and I spent a lot of time outside Puerto Vallarta - when it was still a small town - and I've traveled pretty much everywhere in Mexico except the north.
I did the same thing you did: felt stupidly guilty about never learning Spanish, so I signed up for Duolingo. Unfortunately I lost my nice long streak when I was sick, and now it's hard to restart... but writing this now is convincing me that I should, right now.
I wish I could afford a 'paid' membership but I can't. I love Mexico and that area too... I hope to be able to read. Have not been down to that area or to Mexico since 2000. Much has changed, some for ill - but I love Michoacan, the Mexican people, I long to go back some day. I hope you do this 3rd part of your substack, even if I can't afford to read it!
Heck. I just said to heck with it all, spent 6 wonderful but very warm weeks in Panama with my son and his husband where I completed my paperwork for my Pensionado status. We are packing up as I write. I’m getting rid of much more than I’m sending. My house sold in a heartbeat and since my son and I are going one way, I sprung for first class tickets for us and my dog. As for my Spanish, it’s been 56 years since my classroom instruction but I found that a lot of it was just buried in the crevasses of my gray matter. Not worried about any of the rest. It will all work out.
Now that’s faith or the way mine works at least.