What does one do when she retires? Lots of people plan and plan for retirement. The only planning I did was financial. That’s the good news, right? Yes, yes it is.

I was always a typical Type A personality when it came to working. I worked long hours most weeks, but I always made time for vacation. I was never one of those people that had hours and weeks of vacation time “on the books.” Not me. I traveled extensively and loved it. But still most people that knew me, were convinced that I would be bored if I did “nothing” when I retired.

Now that I’ve been in Mexico for almost 2.5 years, I can tell you that I am not bored. Not one bit. I have been in my latest location, Bucerias, Nayarit, for 6 months and live in a very quiet condominium. There are 54 units in two buildings and a lovely pool. It’s located in a gated community with security and two large supermarkets only a 10 minute walk away.

How do I spend my days? I did purchase a car shortly after I arrived in Mexico, so getting around is fairly easy (more on that later). And staying in is also a pleasure. During this “winter” season (November – March) it’s cool at night and in the mornings. So keeping the terrace door, windows and front door (all with screens) open is lovely. The cool temperatures in the morning & evening (17-20* C / mid to high 60’s F) are wonderful.

Sitting by the pool is also a frequent pastime for me. A cool drink, a book and a towel are all I need. I have a good size TV in my apartment, so watching streaming channels like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBOMax and others is also a favorite way to spend time.

Last year was not a good year for me with regards to staying on my feet. Well, in the span of a year, I fell three times and ended up in the emergency room each time. Injuries? Scratched and bruised knees, a terrible ankle sprain, bruised ribs and a muscle tear in my upper leg were the result of the falls. Fortunately, I didn’t break anything, but I was home bound for many weeks, barely getting around and not exercising much.

I was determined to start this New Year focusing on my stability (the roads and sidewalks in Mexico are a danger to humans & cars). I am taking exercise classes Monday – Friday at 9am. Two days I take a Total BodyFit class with elastic bands, two days I attend a water aerobics class and one day I take Zumba (“light”).

This year is starting off great! I’m staying active! Yay! I enjoy the exercise classes and am meeting new people. Always a plus. I have also met some new friends living in my condominium. Many owners only visit during “season”. That’s November through March or April. These are what we affectionately call “snow birds.” Americans and (mostly) Canadians spending winters in Mexico. Other owners rent out to a couple of annual leases (like me) or to temporary AirBnB-type rentals. So some new friends will leave later this Spring, as the summers are just too hot for many. (Not for me!)

I attend a local Farmer’s Market once a week and there are others as well that I visit once every couple of weeks. I visit the local Costco to see “what’s new” and post regularly on a Costco Lover’s Facebook page so that people know what items have arrived or are availalbe on any given day. It’s fun! I have my fans.

I also travel “home” to Los Angeles every 3-4 months to visit my family. So that keeps me busy. Twice late last year, my kitty Lola traveled with me. She does well on the trip, including the airplane.

Am I bored? Not at all. Some days are quiet, stay-at-home days, other days are more action-packed. I volunteer at my local Petco store with the cat adoptions. I do that once a week and love it. I am part of a rescue organization, Purr Project that brings cats to Petco and my bilingual skills help families find a new fur baby. On Sundays I attend service at a local Catholic Church that has English mass for all the visitors. I never did learn my prayers in Spanish. Sorry, mother!

I love retired life and can’t imagine working right now. Not in this environment (USA). So for those of you who doubted, don’t. I am good. I am happy. Onward!