Reality Bites

One of the things I've been considering is a reality check after returning home. There are a few things I've started realizing after returning home. Just for reference, we didn't go to Mexico for vacation; we went to work. I would study my Spanish and Larry would work on his automated trading strategies. We happened to be by a beach, so we would take advantage of that as we could, but we didn't spend a ton of time there.

In Mexico, we had a pretty set schedule. If Wren woke up through the night, I would handle that. Then, Larry would get him at 6 AM, and I would sleep until about 8. After waking, I'd make breakfast for myself and feed Wren. Larry already had coffee made. We would then work from 8:30 to 10:30 AM.

From 11 AM to 1 PM, we would explore different areas, get our steps in, exercise Wren, find lunch, and browse various shops. We always tried to be back home by 1 PM for Wren's nap, which coincided with the hottest part of the day. During Wren’s nap from 1 to 4 PM, Larry and I would work. Sometimes we would watch TV or take a short nap, but mostly we worked.

At 5 PM, we would head back out for happy hour, meet others or people-watch, exercise Wren, and then find dinner. We aimed to be back home by 8 PM to put Wren to bed.

Obviously, there were days when our schedule wasn't perfect, like when Larry took his cooking class at Gabby's Restaurant or when we visited Yelapa, but these were exceptions.

Since arriving back home, I've been a mess. I'm exhausted! Now, some would say that I need to rest because we just traveled and need time to reset; however, I challenge that. I don't feel exhausted from that! I am completely drained from everyday tasks. Laundry, cleaning, exercising the dog, brushing the dog, running errands, driving, cleaning these white countertops that I so desperately wanted. The amount of trash is insane. I'm in front of my TV in the evenings and mindlessly scrolling social media.

It's like the Lacey in Mexico was a completely different person.

Is the reason I feel this amount of pressure because of the striking contrasts of the life I lived in Mexico? We didn't have a lot of furniture in Mexico, we didn't cook much because food was cheap and our routine had us eating lunch out, and we had plenty of ways to exercise and places to walk. How could I experience this drastic reality check after only 5 days of being home?

Reflecting on this has made me realize how different our lifestyle was in Mexico. We lived minimally, our routine was simple, and we were constantly active. Returning home, I’m overwhelmed by the chores and the demands of everyday life. The freedom and simplicity we enjoyed in Puerto Vallarta seem far removed from the busy and cluttered reality I’m facing now.

Maybe the key is to find a balance. Incorporate some of the simplicity and routine from our time in Mexico into our life here. Focus on what truly matters and try to declutter not just our home, but our daily schedule too. This adjustment period is tough, but it's also an opportunity to rethink how we live and find a way to bring a bit of that Mexican tranquility into our everyday life.