Why Mexico Now?

I have a friend, Ken, whom I met on my first job out of college in 1974 (GE Aircraft Engine Group, Cincinnati). In the seven years we overlapped there, he instigated a number of jaunts my husband and I probably definitely wouldn’t have thought of: backpacking in the Red River Gorge in KY and rubber rafting on the New River in WV and on the Youghiogheny River in PA. Plus several canoe floats down the Little Miami river – generally featuring beer. I was sorry when he moved away.

Here’s Ken trying to light the fire at our campsite in the Red River Gorge (1976). Not quite the boy scout way.

We had occasional contact through the years and our various life stages. He ended up living in Tempe AZ and I in Arlington MA. Finally, in 2004 I hit the road – becoming a full time RVer with the intent of seeing more of the US and finding warmer winters. I found those winters in the Southwest so it was natural to reconnect and visit every winter. Then I settled back down again – in Michigan. With my sister living with me part time as she commutes a long way to work.

Early this year Ken called and asked “How would you like to go on a road trip to Tierra del Fuego?” My response was “Are you out of your mind?!! NO WAY!!” After several weeks of thinking about Mayan and Incan ruins, zip lining in tropical canopies, Galapagos Islands, winter warmth, when would I ever get there else, etc., (and my sister muttering about “trip of a lifetime” and “I’m here to take care of the house” and “Wow”), I caved. So we’re going from Tempe to Tierra del Fuego and points in between during the winter of 2012/13.

The original plan called for us just diving right in, but we came (a little bit) to our senses and added a trip to Mexico this winter to:

1. test the vehicle we plan on using (his concern),
2. check our long distance travel compatibility (my concern), and
3. work on our Spanish (both our concerns)

Towards the latter, we’ve signed up for a week of Intensive Spanish at the Universidad Internacional in Cuernavaca. I am very glad he suggested the trip.
And that’s why I’m going to Mexico now.

Ken and Mary Lou in Sedona AZ February 2006