YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE

Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico. Day 13, or is it 14, it depends on whether you count the travel day. We decided to donate to a worthy cause, to work first and play when time allowed, to live in the moment and find joy there. To that extent, we count it a great success. By my best calculations we have factored into the nurture and release of nearly 500 Olive Ridley sea turtles that never would have launched without help. If nobody helps, none of them ever get wet. It takes many volunteers and many days and nights to get one baby Ridley into the sea but the system works and we have played a small part in that adventure. Tomorrow will be our last day with Tortugueros Las Playitas and we’ll disengage at noon. 

Todos Santos is a dusty little town where big brown dogs really do sleep in the middle of bumpy, dirt streets and feral chickens prowl the neighborhoods. The couple who run the bakery take their little boy to work with them. He rides his bicycle with training wheels in the court yard between buildings and the bread is as good as you can buy anywhere. Workmen work at concrete and digging while venders pitch their wares. Fish tacos are the best ever, anywhere and lemonade is made from local lemons. I like the place. We will spend a couple of days in the high priced tourist trap, Cabo San Lucas and we will find the joy there as well but coming to Todos Santos was not a mistake. When you've been retired for a while there isn't much difference between work and play, it's what keepsyou busy in the moment.

From the first day we knew about the big hotel, Hotel California. It’s a high dollar place with expensive shops and luxury suites. But it took a day to realize it is the real deal, brick and mortar hotel the song was written about. In the 1960’s it was a mental institution. Crazies, drug addicts, “We are all prisoners here, of our own device.” Their gift shop has a great coffee mug that I may not be able to resist. “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” 

We had a send off for another volunteer last night at a nice restaurant. They serve thin toasted bread with pesto in lieu of chips and salsa. I arrived late, was handed chop sticks; the order already placed. Then came 6 big trays of sushi. I’d already eaten, passed on the sushi but helped the boss’s 8 year-old daughter with her chop sticks on little pieces of toast and pesto. 

Three new volunteers came in yesterday, two more today. We get the message. Most only stay for a week and our 14 days was appreciated. Boss lady made it a point to give us a lot of credit and that always makes one feel good. One of these days I’ll be trying to remember a detail about Baja or Tortuguros and it will all seem so far back in the mirror. But tonight I still have sand between my toes and tomorrow will be here too soon.