Finding Paradise in the Detours

There’s a special kind of magic where the desert meets the Sea of Cortez, and Puerto Peñasco has been reminding us of that since the moment we arrived. It hasn’t just stolen our hearts; it’s checked off a few bucket list dreams. Most of all, it’s given us time to slow down and enjoy the things we love: quiet beach mornings, fishing adventures, lazy afternoons by the water, and golden sunsets that never get old. 

From competitive game days and palapa time upstairs to fresh sea-to-table dinners and treasure hunting at local bazaars, I am grateful every day for the blessings this life brings and I am so happy to be doing life with this guy.!

I make him crazy.....

... he makes me laugh! 

Since our last update, life has shifted once again. Of course it has! Both Jim and I decided to trust this nudge inside of us and for the second time, we canceled our July trip to Japan. Yes, all the accommodations, the tickets.... AGAIN!! 

At some point, when life keeps nudging you in a different direction, you stop resisting. You stop asking "why?" and start asking, "What if this is exactly where we're supposed to be?" So instead of Japan, we found ourselves settling into a little slice of paradise here in Peñasco for a bit.

Of course, paradise comes with unpacking, organizing, cleaning, moving furniture, and figuring out a whole new routine, one that is foreign to both of us. 

For the past six years our entire life has fit into backpacks and the Yoda. We've lived out of furnished rentals for a month at a time, so "moving in" usually meant walking in and deciding where to put our bags. The homes were ready to live in, everything was clean, comfortable, and most of the time compact.

Now suddenly I don't have to squeeze my life into 3.4-ounce bottles for awhile. I can own more than two outfits. In fact, let's be honest, half of you have probably followed us long enough to recognize our travel wardrobe from photos taken three countries and several years apart.

Adjusting to having space, options, and a place to settle into has been surprisingly strange. We're enjoying it, making it cozy, and letting ourselves exhale a little. We are not thinking of it as putting down roots, it's simply a pause. A beautiful pause that life has gifted us before the next adventure begins.

I have always dreamed of living by the sea, or waking up with the beach just beyond my doorstep. One of the things I love most about this life is that every new adventure gives us the freedom to choose not only where we go, but where we call home, even if it's only for a little while.

We've been fortunate enough to stay in some truly incredible places all over the world. Ironically, many of them have come in, right at or even under, our rental budget. It's a reminder that extraordinary experiences and places don't always come with an extraordinary price tag.

What makes this lifestyle so special is knowing that nothing is permanent. Each place becomes home for a season, and then we get to discover somewhere new. We have the rare privilege of experiencing so many different ways of living, collecting memories from places we once only dreamed about, while always having the freedom to choose the next adventure.

For now, I am soaking in everything this beachfront life brings, determined not to take a single moment of this time for granted. Having the sea just steps away, catching endless sunsets right from our rooftop, and falling asleep to the sound and view of the waves is simply beautiful.

Starlink Mission from the rooftop.

I know Jim is deeply enjoying it, as well. Being this close to the water has allowed him to dive headfirst into ocean fishing. He’s discovered it’s a whole different world from lake fishing; learning the rhythms of the tides, the weather patterns, the new species, and entirely different techniques. He even found a fantastic local tackle shop. He is learning everything he can to become the Master Baiter. (How could I not? 🤣)

My favorite part? His cooking! From leatherjackets and triggerfish (my personal favorite so far) to brown-spotted sand bass and a few mystery fish we're still identifying, he's turned fresh catches into incredible meals, mastering Ceviche. Watching him become both a skilled fisherman and an amazing cook has been one of my favorite parts of this adventure. 

Most everything he makes is delicious!

Most mornings our beach feels almost private. The busiest it gets is a handful of people walking the shoreline, collecting shells, fishing, or gathering snails from the sea, they say you can eat them....I am not brave enough yet, but I will let you know when I do. 

While Jim fishes, I sometimes join in, but often I just sit quietly beside the tide pools, watching tiny fish dart through the water, crabs scurry between rocks, and shells shift with the tide. It's like snorkeling without getting wet.

Hours disappear without us noticing.........

Always pack a lunch for days like these...

And just like that evening comes and the sun slowly melts into the horizon, everything turns gold. The tide slips quietly away. The sky changes color minute by minute. The noise of the world fades. Just the waves and stillness…..this is always a gentle reminder for me to slow down and be present....how could it not?

One of our favorite past times has been making our place in Las Conchas feel like home. That mostly involves wandering local bazaars looking for hidden gems and cheap treasures. One of our greatest victories? A very heavy eight-piece sectional sofa to accommodate the large living room. One tiny problem: no room in "the Yoda"and doubtful I could help Jim carry it up the two flights of stairs without someone getting hurt. 

Jim asked about delivery. Yes they do deliver for ten extra dollars. Only $10.00 extra dollars to deliver 15 minutes away, how is that possible? We immediately became suspicious. But sure enough, right on time, two delivery guys arrived and absolutely refused to let us help. Piece by piece, in the blazing Mexican heat, they carried every section up seventeen stairs including the giant motorized reclining pieces.

Before

After

Guadalupe and Siadd were amazing guys, Jim slipped them more than the delivery fee. They turned down the Cervezas I offered, but they happily accepted Jim's catch of the day. Their faces lit up instantly when they saw the fish. Sometimes the transactions that mean the most have nothing to do with money. Check them out if you are in town, Bazar Portillos.

SWEET MISTY a.k. LUCKY LUCY

One of the most meaningful parts of my time here has been a sweet stray dog I named Misty and the lessons I am learning from her.

The very first day we arrived in Puerto Peñasco, we noticed a large white shepherd mix near the end of our road. She looked exhausted, scarred, and deeply wary of people. I started leaving food and fresh water whenever we left the house. If you know me I am afraid of dogs, but I do love them.

I was terrified at first. The first few feedings I used to leave the truck door wide open, just in case she decided to attack. I would cautiously drop the food and water and run back to the safety of the truck to watch her eat. 

Slowly, though, trust began to grow. Eight months later, she now runs toward our truck the moment she hears us pulling up. If I call out for her, she comes bounding down from the hillside. During a recent visit, I sat right beside her while she ate. Every sudden sound still made her flinch, but she stayed close. At that moment, the trust went both ways and I was finally able to feed her right from my hands.

When she finished, I reached out and gently touched her nose for the very first time. It was only for a second. This visit felt like an enormous accomplishment for the both of us. Now I am able to sit and visit with her while I feed her. She's covered in lots of tics, scars, and clearly has lived a difficult life, but to me she's beautiful. And she is always so happy to see me. I hope we've given her a little comfort, a little trust and a whole lot of love.

Also I'm incredibly grateful for the group of wonderful women I've met here (who know her as Lucy Lucy) and help take care of her. You guys are ROCK STARS! 

There is an amazing rescue here in town called,  Barb’s Dog Rescue it is awesome. The Rescue is currently home to over 430 dogs, giving them a safe place until they can find homes. There are many volunteers that help make this place so special. The awesome thing is anyone can help. If you are coming here, before crossing the border you can stop at the gas station in Why and pick up a donated 50 lbs of dog food to bring to Barbs. One bag per vehicle. There are so many wonderfully ran volunteer programs here to be a part of. 

I love this!!

One of the sweetest surprises of slowing down has been having the time to pour into things that bring us purpose. We love helping out where we can, and since Jim absolutely loves to cook, "Monday Meals" was born. Every week, he takes charge of the main dish, I whip up dessert, and we team up on the sides to make ten home-cooked meals. Mondays have quickly become our favorite day, driving around to deliver the food and some cold water to people who could use it.

I adore this man because he holds nothing back, using the best and freshest ingredients making the most delicious meals, sometimes spending the whole day before in the kitchen. We nearly hit 100 meals a few weeks ago…nearly….unfortunately, the 100th meal (carried by Jim) hit the floor...but we are well over that and the number. 🥰

Monday Meals has become one of the highlights of our week, not only because it feels like we are helping but because of the conversations, laughter, gifts, smiles, and connections that happen around it. 

At the end of May we made our way toward El Paso, carrying one very important lesson: never cross the border on Memorial Day weekend. Ever! 

2.0 km from the border...one hour!

Along the way, we stopped in for a visit with mom.

It's funny how adulthood slowly becomes helping our parents with the same things they once did for us. The difference is that now it comes with a deeper appreciation, not an obligation, but a gratitude. The gratitude of being able to show up. Because one day I feel like I am going to wake up and realize that the little things were never little at all....every mile, every detour, every unexpected change has been worth it.

To keep costs down, we decided to camp our way to El Paso. Now, you all know my thoughts on braving the desert during the summer, but luckily, the weather was still cool enough to actually enjoy. Along the way, we stumbled upon some incredible spots to keep in mind for future trips, like the rugged Dragoon Mountains. But the absolute highlight of the journey? Camping at Cummings' Fort.

Dragoon Mountains

One hot papa! 🥰

Gratefully, we arrived in El Paso in perfect time to participate in the end of the school year events with our grandchildren and to offer our help to our awesome daughter in law. We were also blessed to be there to welcome our son home and our seventh grandchild, our sweet Charlotte. Like I shared, we are extremely grateful and blessed for time.

The road ahead.....

Life lately hasn’t gone according to plan. And honestly? It’s been even better. It’s taught me that happiness doesn't hide in the perfect plans...it lives in the spaces we finally have time to notice: quiet mornings, shared meals, laughter, new friendships, and the joy of helping where we can. It’s about staying open when life pivots and oh boy it pivots often!

As a life planner, I have to keep reminding myself that the best parts of our story are often the ones we never intended to write. Right now, we’re pouring our energy into what matters most, living in the absolute present, exploring every corner we find, and feeling so deeply grateful for this beautiful life.

Maybe that's the real gift in all of this: is for me to learn that when you give up control and learn to live with gratitude, compassion, and love; life has a beautiful way of unfolding exactly as it's meant to be.........

....and if life happens to take you down an unexpected road and you find yourself in Puerto Peñasco, look for two cheeky travelers. We'll happily share a cold beer and a sunset on the beach with you! (BYOB) 😉💚

Hey honey..that bird took my bait!

I really am a lot of help. 🤣

I got him to play along....and I won!

Beach pups getting shade.

I got this honey, you go ahead...

Ceviche with his homemade cilantro dressing.

See ya on the beach!