Comments on: Sun’s so hot, I forgot to go home

By: Joana

Joana — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 20:28:49 +0000

I remember just too well how it felt living in Playa with folks coming and going- even if it was just for a little more over a year for me.
Luckily those who were closest to me then also moved when I moved- so I didn’t have to suffer the loss.

One thing that is so much nicer in Playa though is that you will see your friends so much more often, as it is a small community.

Here in Hamburg I have my old-time friends, the “monuments” as you call it- but as it takes me 40 mins to cross town and all of us have demanding job I often don’t see some of them more than twice a year. The rest are phonecalls.
When realizing that I keep thinking about Playa- were it is harder to find friends as folks come and go… but you do see people a lot more often.

By: JohnB

JohnB — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:28:26 +0000

Don’t feel blue – friends come, friends go.

When I left Chicago, I had a hard time the weeks leading up to our departure… lots of sleepless nights thinking about many of my friends (no quotes) that I’d probably never see again. But, it turned out to be just another step I took in life. Just like the many grade school friends I never associated with in high school. High school friends in college. College friends in the “big city”. On and on…

I totally agree with your assessment of people here in Playa. The revolving door mentality of people here requires much deeper analysis of what we call a friend. The cool thing about it is that Playa is a microcosm – with a population of 200,000, I now have friends from many different parts of the world, with many different backgrounds, etc. I think it’s kind of a good trade-off.

Even if you have a strong constitution, which I know you do, this adjustment is often difficult. You are not alone.

By: sans

sans — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:22:27 +0000

Funny, I was thinking about the friends thing myself lately. I was also lamenting the fact that I have met alot of friends since we have moved here, but no real ‘buddies’either. Of course I also realize that until I am more fluent in spanish, I am keeping my circle smaller, so in essence I am to blame!

By: heatherinparadise

heatherinparadise — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:31:38 +0000

Welcome, gabacha! I wish you still lived here, and Joyce, too. Cancun isn’t so far away, and maybe I’d have more friends. We’re all so busy, I guess it’s a good thing I only have a few good friends here. But if you’re ever in town, look me up.

By: gabachayucateca

gabachayucateca — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:14:50 +0000

I found my way here through the lovely Joyce, who I never got a chance to meet in person!

This post brought up so many thoughts for me. It took me a few years of living in Mexico before making a “real” friend, and it was unfortunately not long after that I moved back to the States.

It was VERY hard to make friends with expats…mostly because I didn’t see too many of them, despite being in Cancun!

But it sure got lonely, much like it does here in the place where I grew up.

Okay…time to stop before I get nostalgic and wax poetic commenting on a blog that I’d not visitied before today!

By: Joyce

Joyce — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:58:32 +0000

I’ll throw in my two cents and just say that I remain continually in respectful awe of those of you who have stayed longer than, oh, say 2 years in Mexico. My plan was very structured, a 16 month stint, with money in the bank and intention to return to the states at the end of it – and that’s what I did. Even though staying there for the long haul means being able to live in the tropics and a somewhat laid back culture, it also means lots of work (employment work), not a lot of time to take care of necessities (like bill-paying) and precious few afternoons of complete relaxation. I tell my good friend Mexico Way this regularly – so very few can do what you guys are doing, and it is an accomplishment that you have every right to be proud of – so think of that next time the frustration gets to you or when you’re feeling a little blue.

By: heatherinparadise

heatherinparadise — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:14:47 +0000

Thanks, Tony. You’re probably right; I was feeling a bit blue when I wrote this.

By: TeeZet

TeeZet — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:57:29 +0000

“There is just no way for us to really know one another.”
In that respect I think “Real Fake Friends” is kind of an appropriate term to use.

Heather, you’re obviously a social person (heck, I’ve “known” you as a RFF long enough to be able to say that), and I think that you, like all social people, appreciate it to interact with other people on many levels and that is just what you have been describing.
The problem is that you become lonely when you’re not able (for whatever reason) to interact on the level that you’d like to. You seem flexible enough to me, though, to find yourself a way out of that position, either with or without “a little help from a friend”.
Kudos,
Tony.

By: Teetle

Teetle — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:00:30 +0000

I’ve never been a great friend maker either. I don’t really have many here in AZ. I had a bunch…until I got married. Then the single ones drift away. Plus when I moved away from PHX I lost alot and everyone near me is a soccer mom so it sucks. All my friends live over an hour away so I rarely see them anymore. So move here and be my friend and neither of us will be lonely

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 03:55:53 +0000

It’s funny how attitudes change as experiences are gained. What once was so precious is now seen as cheap and losing it’s sparkle. Gold is still gold, however, malleable and unchanging at the same time. Gold beautifully wears it’s experiences while retaining it’s form. You’re gold to me.

I hope that made sense.