Contentment Through Simplicity

My family does a good job at keeping my birthday very simple, yet meaningful. The only two gifts I received before I left for Mexico, came from my sisters. The one in particular was from Joben. She got an idea from her previous travels, to give a small, plastic magnetic picture frame with a photo of us being silly (below). It’s light, doesn’t take up any packing room, and is a constant reminder of my family. On the back she wrote something short and sweet without getting too mushy, even though she probably wanted to. 

Today, I reached into my computer bag and pulled out the picture frame, only to have it fall apart on my bed. I thought I ruined it and was pretty bummed, but as I successfully put it back together, I noticed for the first time, an insert from her daily devotional (whether or not she put it there on purpose, I’m not sure). It reads like this: 

“I say it is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind.” -Ecclesiastes 4:6

“When it comes to evaluating your life, God’s scales weigh differently than yours. Seeing through His eyes, the smallest things can bring you the deepest joy. When you embrace your life just as it is, you can lay down the struggle for what might be or might have been. You can feel the lessing of contentment that, for this moment, your life is the perfect starting place for the next step in the journey.” 

The smallest things can indeed bring me deepest joy. It’s easy for me to get caught up in the world I live in, forgetting to be thankful for the little things. I’m lucky enough to have a little sister who can remind me through a piece of paper of how great my life is right where it is - not where I’ve been, or where I’m going or not going. Right here, right now, watching “How I Met Your Mother” from a computer, in a motel, drinking a $4 bottle of Sangria from a gas station in Mexico, while the town dries out from a hurricane, is exactly where I’m supposed to be. 

I don’t have to worry about where my life is going because that’s already handled for me. This clever little sister of mine, also added a useful Bible verse after her short and sweet note: 

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” - Matthew 6:34 

Hurricane Paul, Conejo y Más

"He draws up the drops of water which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind." - Job 36:27

Baja brings much adventure, critters, waves, and most recently a hurricane. I just recently finished the book of Job, where I found this verse. The timing of finding this verse and Hurricane Paul was most amusing to me. We spent the last four days or so in Conejo and so far, that was my favorite wave. We heard there was a hurricane in Cabo and the waves improved immensely because of it. We took advantage of it, until one dark morning when gusts of wind and rain kicked us out of camp, bringing us to the flooded city of La Paz where we'll wait until Thursday to take the dreaded 18 hour ferry to mainland as I consume copious amounts of dramamine.

When we aren't surfing, our days ::ahem:: the boy's days consist of fishing, hunting kangaroo rats, turkey vultures, scorpions, and snakes, while I fight off mosquitos and do some reading, journaling, and yoga. It's been an adjustment without Todd here, but we're hoping he'll join us again next month. As you can see by all the photos, they are always getting into something exciting, and if it's not exciting, they will find a way to make it so.

Living with boys has taken some getting used to for me. So far, I've had to surrender my usual custom of one sponge for the dishes and one sponge for wiping off dirty surfaces, sleeping in, vanilla creamer, and taking showers on a regular basis. We now use one sponge for everything, wake up with the sun (or whenever Andrew wants everyone to wake up), use sugar instead of creamer, and shower in the ocean (as fresh water is not always available). These outdoor living, stinky, river boys are teaching me a thing or two about what it's like to really live dirtbag style.

Not being in constant communication with my family is also an adjustment for me. I usually talk to each of them at least once a day, so taking that down to once a week (if that) has taken a lot of getting used to for all of us. I miss my little nugget who doesn't quite understand how she can't feed me, hug me, or kiss me. All she knows is "Bebba Skype" means she gets to see me and talk to me on the computer, while she persistently tries to hug, kiss, and share her snacks with continuous interception from a screen.

We're looking forward to the days ahead in mainland spending time with family friends, hopeful kayaking in Puerto Vallarta, and doing some much needed laundry :) This will probably be my last post for a few weeks. Until then, the tortillas...

Abreojos and Scorpion Bay

Since internet is very random, I've been journaling every day and when I post blogs from now on, they are probably a few days, maybe even weeks old but you'll get the picture. This is from October 11. If you want to see all the photos, keep checking into the Baja Album

We are currently sitting at la Taqueria de Cristi in Scorpion Bay where I’m playing with Abraham and his 2 week old puppy, Bobby. Abraham is 5 and is fascinated with the computer camera and all the different effects. Even his grandmother (Cristi, owner of the taqueria) came out to have a look. Last night we brought in 3 large filets of corvina fish for her to make into tacos while we sat and enjoyed the gringo watching. Lots of retirees and LHB’s as my girls in Long Beach like to say. LHB’s are “leather hand bags” and it’s what people look like after too many years in the sun. I saw one lady who looked like Laird Hamilton, and you could imagine her not being the most feminine.  

Scorpion Bay is not the most convenient place to get to. You have to go down and back up the peninsula a few hours, but when there is swell, it’s world class and people come in from all over to get one of the longest rights. There are three main points and some say when 
it’s good, you can catch it from the 3rd point down to the 1st point, but I don’t think that’s happening on this trip. I’ve been practicing walking on the long board with all the old men and fat children who populate this small town. We’re in for another couple days, hoping the swell comes through tomorrow, and if not, we’re out maybe to Conejo. 

We’re now sitting on the side of the road, losing one of our crew, as Todd tries to hitch hike his way back home to a girlfriend in Montana we all hope is still there. Todd is the neutralizer in the group. He’s mellow and reminds everyone how easy life is. This morning, I woke up on the beach (first time sleeping outside for me) and Todd walks up and says:

“Good morning, seniorita. Welcome to the restaurant of dirtbags. Today we have coffee and oats. If you don’t like oats, there’s peanut butter. If you don’t like peanut butter, we have a bag of candy... for the kids...” 

Before Scorpion Bay was Abreojos. What a great spot, except those damn flies. The point was fun, but broke right over rocks, which of course  was a bit of a deterrent for me. My favorite spot was Petequi’s (not sure how to spell it). It’s also a right that goes forever, and on a 5’9 fish was one of the funnest waves I’ve ever ridden. The first time I went was with Kelsey from Santa Cruz. Her husband was surfing the point, and both of us looked at each other and said “hell no” since it was double over head and sketchy. So we ditched the boys for a couple hours and surfed Petequi’s with no one out except us. Surfing with her made me miss surfing with my girls back home. We were screaming for each other on every wave, even though they were only about shoulder high. The guys on the beach got a kick out of it and appreciated our energy. One guy Miguel, finally paddled out and commented on the girl’s heat taking over. 

The next day, I brought the boys back out to the point so Todd and Chris could surf. They’re both new to surfing so the inside was perfect for them. On our way back to drop Andrew off at Razors (no thank you sharp, shallow reef), Todd forgot his sandal so I drove us back to Petequi’s to get it. No big deal, except when the hard dirt turned into soft sand. We were stuck, and had about an hour left of good daylight. After 5 failed attempts, Todd looks at me and says “you got your running shoes?” I decided instead of running back to camp which was 3-4 miles on soft sand, I’d take my chances with the only two guys camping at Petequi’s who had a big 4x4 and were only two miles away. Luckily, I made friends with one of them, Jim, earlier in the water. I ran up and his friend Paul was just cracking a beer as he looked up and said “lemme guess, you’re stuck?” The three of us loaded into his truck, with a shovel, a rope that Jim found in the back of his bronco back in 1974, and three beers for the road.

Rewind for a minute. Earlier that morning, we found a guy who was also stuck pretty bad. We pushed him out and the last thing he said to us was “thanks guys, that’s good karma for your day.” Jim and Paul laughed hearing that and I assured them I wouldn’t wish them good karma on their trip because they would probably get stuck too. 

So we pulled up to a sweaty Todd who had another few failed attempts, but was happy to see his success in sending the girl in a bikini to run for help. I gave him my beer and within minutes, we were out of there. I left those guys some beer the next day with a note that said “cheers to good karma.” 

So Todd just got picked up and is on his way back home. There are now only three in the wolf pack, myself, Andrew, and Chris who will be with us until December(ish). Surf is small, cloud cover just rolled in, breeze picked up and we are out of beer. Looks like the whole town is mourning Todd’s departure.