We’re getting close to our last month here, and apparently this is the stage where I start having all the feelings. I’m not sure I’m ready to leave. And that surprises me a little. Of course I miss my family—that’s the hardest part. But maybe what I’m realizing is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be one life or the other. Maybe there’s a way to have a little bit of both. Apparently spending a few months away from your regular life can be dangerous 😂You start realizing th

I’ve been thinking about something today. Ashley — technically my stepdaughter, but really more like a friend/sister who also happened to pop us out a grandbaby — and her husband are making plans to move from Alberta to Australia, while still keeping some sort of home base. Not next week. They have a one-year plan. There are still a lot of things that have to happen between here and there, and only a handful of people even know about it yet. But naturally, one of the first re

We went into Cabo today armed with a list and the confidence of people who apparently still haven’t learned. Costco. Walmart. Outdoor thermometer. Furnace filter—for one of Clint’s light bulb ideas. We came home with neither. Again. The furnace filter has been particularly entertaining because every time we show someone what we’re looking for, they stare at us. “What is it for? A window?” It took us an embarrassingly long time to realize: We are standing in Cabo San Lucas. In

It doesn't feel like a vacation anymore. I had that thought the other day, and at first it sounded a little sad. Like maybe the novelty had worn off. But that's not what I meant. It just feels like everyday life now. Everyday life with a million-dollar view outside my window, but everyday life still. There are groceries to buy, things that break, errands to run, dogs to take care of, floors to mop, clothes to hang, (we are 100% solar) and all the other mundane little things t

Clint knows I’m writing something about him. He just doesn’t know what. For the past little while, I have been secretly making notes every time he casually gives me another update about the neighbours, the construction workers, the Airbnb guests or some other complete stranger whose daily routine he has somehow memorized. He probably thinks I’m just looking at my phone. But I’m actually documenting him. Since we’ve been living here for the summer, I have discovered that nothi

There wasn't a single thing on our itinerary. No list of must-see attractions. No pressure to squeeze every minute out of the day. For eleven days, my sister and I simply shared life. Now, don't get me wrong—we weren't sitting around staring at each other for eleven days. We discovered that if you put sliced apples, cheese, and peanut butter on a plate, it somehow becomes a perfectly acceptable meal. We may have eaten it for breakfast, lunch, dinner… and possibly again as a s

Every morning starts pretty much the same. Coffee in one hand, dog treats in the other, and off we go. The three of them wait patiently at the gate. Well... "patiently" might be stretching it. Bear couldn't care less about the treats. He's already thinking about the beach. He's a simple guy. Run first. Ask questions never. Unfortunately, Luna knows this. Somehow she always makes it back before Bear, and his treat has a funny way of disappearing. You'd think they'd all enjoy t

Sometimes the biggest waves aren't the ones that crash onto the shore. They're the ones that quietly change the way you think. The other day here the ocean completely stole the show. The waves were enormous. Not just big... the kind that make you stop whatever you're doing and stare for a while. I was sitting on the balcony working on this blog. Every few minutes I'd glance up and think, I really need to get a picture of these waves. Then I'd look back at my laptop. "I'll go

Waking up in paradise felt surreal. I thought I would be filled with excitement, but instead I felt something completely unexpected—a surprising sense of calm. Maybe I was a beach bum in a past life or maybe I just finally found my natural habitat. I had imagined our first morning would be packed with plans and excitement. Instead, I found myself sitting quietly with a cup of coffee, listening to the waves rolling in and eating cheesecake for breakfast. Some people meditate.

Every adventure begins with a decision — Ours began long before we reached the airport Who would have thought that booking an Airbnb in the spring would lead us to spending three and a half months dog-sitting on a beach in Mexico? To be fair, when I clicked "Book Now," I wasn't expecting it to become this big of a decision. Honestly, it felt like the universe decided to throw us a curveball. If you ever want to know exactly how much stuff two adults can convince themselves is