Mornings have always been my favorite time of day, and here in Mazatl\u00e1n, Mexico, where I moved to from California to retire in 2006, that's still the case.<\/p>\n
When the nesting swallows outside my bedroom windows start chirring at 6 a.m., I'm up \u2014 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I make coffee the night before so it's ready to pour into a glass with ice first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n
I slip into my flip-flops, and coffee in hand, walk half a block to the beach to check out the waves. If conditions are right, I'll go surfing. Otherwise, I might stroll on the beach or just go for a swim.<\/p>\n
Here's what the rest of my typical day \u2014 e.g., what I eat and do, how much I spend \u2014 looks like in Mazatl\u00e1n:<\/p>\n
Early in the day, there's a special camaraderie among folks out on the malec<\/em>\u00f3n<\/em>, Mazatl\u00e1n's 8-mile-long beachfront boardwalk. Joggers, dog-walkers, cyclists, fishermen, surfers and others all take advantage of the cool morning air before the sun comes up.<\/p>\n I love breakfast. My go-to meal at my favorite caf\u00e9 is juevos rancheros<\/em> con salsa verde<\/em>, usually with a second iced coffee. The total cost is so inexpensive (120 Mexican pesos\/$6 USD, including tip) that I often think, why cook?<\/em><\/p>\n Most places have free Wi-Fi, so I'll sometimes bring my laptop to check emails and maybe do some work. Although I'm retired, I still do some freelance writing about expat topics and also promote my book.<\/p>\n I do my food shopping a few times a week <\/strong>at several different places.<\/p>\n Basics include a liter of fresh orange juice (60 pesos\/$3) from a stand near my apartment, a loaf of fabulous whole grain sourdough bread (65 pesos\/$3) from a local bakery and fresh fish, like sea bass (50 pesos\/$2.50 per pound) \u2014 cleaned and filleted \u2014 at a stand on the beach where fishermen bring their catch.<\/p>\n The small grocery store in my neighborhood, called a tiendita<\/em>, offers almost everything you might need, from fresh produce to detergent to homemade tamales. It's so handy to be able to easily get any missing ingredients once you've decided what you want to make for dinner.<\/p>\n I also shop at the mercado<\/em>, a big outdoor <\/strong>market where about 75 vendors sell a wide variety of items, from fruits and veggies to bulk spices and canned goods.<\/p>\n When it's too hot to shop outside, I'll go to one of the air-conditioned big-box stores like Walmart and Sam's Club or Mexican chains like Sorianna and Ley.\u00a0<\/p>\n In May, I moved into a new apartment half a block from the ocean (rent is 8,500 pesos\/$428 per month). I'm still setting it up and just splurged on a gorgeous hand-woven, traditional Oaxacan rug (2,400 pesos\/$120).<\/p>\n With summer on its way, cooler clothes are in order, so I also got myself a dress of nubby homespun manta <\/em>cotton in a luscious jewel-tone purple (500 pesos\/$25).<\/p>\n I think plants are an easy way to add texture and color to a home, and they're pretty inexpensive here, so I bought a 4-ft. palm, a giant hanging fern and a lush spider plant (120 pesos\/$6 each).<\/p>\n All that shopping is tiring, but an afternoon snack of gelato on a cone (45 pesos\/$2.25) or an ice pop of fresh lime and mint (30 pesos\/$1.50) is a nice pick-me-up.<\/p>\n A glass of ice-cold Pacifico beer, served with fresh lime juice and a salted rim (30 pesos\/$1.50), hits the spot, especially when <\/strong>chips and salsa are complimentary. Sometimes I'll opt for a chilled Chardonnay (80 to 120 pesos\/$4 to $6).<\/p>\n There are <\/strong>several beautiful outdoor patios in restaurants set in renovated turn-of-the-century buildings I like to go to. Or I can sit on my own balcony and watch the sunset with my favorite beverage in hand.<\/p>\n Dinner, unless I decide to cook at home, often means tacos, so I'll head to Tacos Raymundo for a couple of carne asada tacos (25 pesos\/$1.25 each).<\/p>\n Or, I'll go for <\/strong>a papa loca, a fire-baked potato \u2014 split open, topped with butter, crema, guacamole, salsa Mexicana and carne asada (90 pesos\/$4.50). Fresh-made corn tortillas are used to scoop out the steaming-hot, delicious potato-y mess.<\/p>\n For dessert, a cup of homemade arroz con leche \u2014 rice pudding \u2014 hits the spot (25 pesos\/$1.25).<\/p>\n It might sound like all I do is wander around and spend money, but that's not the case at all! <\/p>\n Other than the basic necessities like rent, utilities, gas and groceries, I spend an average of $160 a month (3,180 pesos) on "extras" \u2014 e.g., eating out, going to the theater and the occasional whimsical purchase.<\/p>\n Recently, I've had to dip into my savings to furnish the new apartment.<\/p>\n Living mostly on my Social Security income, I'm actually more of a frugal homebody. Like many retirees, my daily routine includes lots of time putzing around the house, having friends over and studying Spanish and Italian.<\/p>\n It's glorious to be truly able to live a simple, happy life, and I'm grateful that Mexico allows me to do just that.<\/p>\n Janet Blaser<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0is a writer, editor and storyteller. She lives in Mazatl\u00e1n, Mexico and feels very fortunate to be able to write about great food, amazing places, fascinating people and unique events.\u00a0<\/em>"Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats"<\/em>\u00a0is her first book. Follow Janet on\u00a0<\/em>Facebook<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n Don't miss:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nGrocery shopping: Fabulous fruit and fresh fish<\/h2>\n
Midday fun: Gelato and setting up my new apartment<\/h2>\n
At the end of the day, Happy Hour beckons<\/h2>\n
Grateful for my simple, happy & affordable life<\/h2>\n