Redesigning Life

Adapting to life with the pandemic

I began by making two piles. One for the clothing I have not used since the pandemic began, due to my vastly reduced (read: eliminated) social schedule, and another for the clothes that I really didn’t need any more (read: stayed home too long and I no longer fit into them).

Enjoying my birthday flowers

This got me thinking about how much my life and the lives of those around me have changed since March of this year when everything first shut down for us in Mazatlán. I wondered how others have coped? How have their lives changed? How have people adapted as we continue through this vast change in our lives?

One thing is certain:  2020 is not going to go down quietly in the annals of history. Little has transpired since the start of this year to encourage much cheering from the masses. Starting with worldwide political unrest, and adding climate terrorism, along with a note of potential apocalypse, and topping it off with a chaser of pandemic chaos, it’s little wonder depression and suicide have seen record numbers!

In fact, it often felt like we were in a real life version of War of the Worlds (1953) or Mad Max (1979) or, more recently, as one of the characters in The Truman Show (1998).

Yet, here we are, tucked away in our little corner of paradise scrambling to figure out what our “new normal” will be as the snowbird season begins. Or will it begin? This year will certainly be different…but more on that in a minute.

Some of the 180 masks I made

In the early isolation months, many people rediscovered old hobbies or took up new ones like cooking or gardening. My return to sewing was inspired by a demand for face masks and I found that I am really enjoying sewing again.

Having a significant other to share the journey with seemed to help, though that much togetherness tested even the best of relationships!

With the gyms closed, several friends embarked on fitness routines starting with simple daily walks. Now some have made it an important part of their new healthy lifestyle. (Note to self: I may want to follow suit so I don’t have to get rid of those clothes.)

Interestingly, there was a large number of our demographic that scrambled to learn technologies they had long been resisting learning. Zoom and WhatsApp quickly became a household name, and through those, people were able to keep connected to their families in a more significant way than email ever did for them. Also, people became adept at ordering everything online, and now this seems to have become the norm.

After the third month of isolation coupled with the lack of beauty salon visits, I even managed to muster up the courage to attempt a self inflicted hair cut which I documented for posterity in a video. (You can catch that farce here: https://youtu.be/-BYOHfpnKZw)

Some of us that live here full time and normally go north to visit our families in the heaviness of the summer heat, had those plans dashed. With border closures and quarantine demands, it was just too complicated—that, and the uncertainty of where this was all going, kept us home.

There were snowbirds that, when this crisis began, found themselves here longer than expected due to the shortage of outgoing flights. There were several that ended up overstaying their 180-day tourist visa but fortunately Mexican Immigration created a special exception for those cases, and people were able to renew them within the country.

Then there were those that, in the spring, drove back to Canada in a mad rush and are now finding that they cannot do the same road trip back due to the US/Canada border closures. Instead they will fly in and leave their Mexican plated vehicle behind in Canada. That is, IF those flights don’t get cancelled, which is starting to be a familiar scenario.

But the most affected, of course, were the nationals. The people of Mexico. The sudden drop in income for families that already live a marginal life continues to be especially difficult. Hardest hit were the workers in the tourism industry who suffered a double whammy:  Hit not only with the economic effects, they were also overwhelmingly hit by the virus itself.

Community donations being delivered

But we have seen the truth of the saying, “where there’s darkness, there’s also light”. These difficult times have brought out the kindness of the foreign community as we’ve figured out ways to support our hotel workers, gardeners, servers and others that live on daily wages. Donations increased to local charities that ran food programs, and payments through Western Union were sent to our beloved helpers.

Now, some seven months into this experience, things seem to have found a rhythm. People are accustomed to not being able to enter a store without a face cover, to having their temperature taken and to being given a quick squirt of sanitizing gel. However, when out in public, you can still find many without masks or wearing them so poorly that they might as well not have them on.

To say this winter season will be different is an understatement. Several restaurants and small businesses did not survive the period of shut down and will never return. While others saw the opportunity in chaos and created new ways of connecting with customers. The fortunate few that have survived so far will find it to be touch and go as we see what this winter brings.

At this moment, it is difficult to predict with any sense of accuracy, the percentage of snowbirds that will be returning this year. In my circle, I estimate that about 40% – 50% will stay in their home countries this season. Some because of ongoing health issues and others because of the challenge in obtaining travel insurance. So, this makes it extra important for those of us that are here to try and support the businesses that normally depend on this annual influx of tourists.

Which makes it doubly important that we are vigilant about two things: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF and DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING. The city has established protocols for operating businesses, and while most places adhere to them, some are not as vigilant. Expecting authorities to be on top of all the enforcement, or expecting that everyone will follow the protocols, is to live in a fantasy land. At the risk of sounding like an old record: wear a mask when out in public, try to keep 6 feet away from others and wash your hands! Simple really.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Yes, you can go out and socialize—with limits. Many places have outdoor seating and are very well managed for distancing. Several have now returned with music. So it’s really up to each one of you to live your life, knowing the risks, and taking the precautions that WORK FOR YOU. Saludos y disfruta!

How has your life been impacted with this pandemic? Comment below!

Ana Fernandez

Sharing the beauty of life in Mazatlan!! Blogger, Web Designer along with some Mexico related side hustles! @AnaInMazatlan

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6 Responses

  1. Margaret Messinger says:

    Hello Ana! So happy I subscribed to this website. I am Canadian, from Vancouver, B.C., but have been living and working as a (Nanny/Governess) in London UK.
    I am 61 years old and have always loved Mexico, since my dad took my brother and I out of school in January and we drove in his new VW camper van. Our goal was Mazatlan, but we stopped in so many places on the way. Absolutely fell in love with the country, people, weather and food.
    That was in 1979, I was 16 years old.
    My love affair with Mexico has only intensified throughout the years.
    I have not been back to Mazatlan since, but have a curiosity about retiring there, part-time.
    I actually wanted to come out in April, for a month or longer. At the moment we, here, in the UK are not permitted international travel. I could go back to Canada, but since no one is allowed to travel to Mexico at the moment, I don’t think I want to risk being stuck there.

    I looked on some websites for short/long term rentals in Mazatlan, but everything is so expensive! I really could get by in a studio..1 bedroom apartment.
    I was under the impression Mazatlan is quite budget friendly. Even San Miguel de Allende is cheaper. You can rent a lovely very characterful 1 bed apt for $400 US pm. I love SM but really want to be close to the ocean.
    If you can shed some light on the current situation as far as property rentals are concerned, that would be fantastic.

    Thank you Ana for the very informative article re the Covid in Mazatlan.

    Kind regards
    Margaret (Maggie) Messinger

    • Ana Fernandez says:

      Hi Margaret…Thank you for your kind words. The rental properties business here is much like other areas of Mexico… it depends a lot on supply and demand. I have seen quite a change in the pricing of rentals here within the last two years, particularly on furnished rentals. I, myself, rent an unfurnished place which are becoming harder to find. However its not impossible to find a place reasonably priced but you really need “feet on the ground” to really see what’s available. What I suggest to most people is that when they first get here, they rent for at least 6 months to get a feel of the the different areas one can live in. Each has its own perspective and vibe. If you’d like to take a look a some options, there is a Facebook group you can join called “Mazatlan Snowbird Rentals”. Here you will find a large assortment of rentals, mostly catering to the short term tourist, but it’s a good start for you. Good Luck in your research and hope to see you one day in my little nook of Mexico!

  2. Karen says:

    Interesting read. I finally made it back to Leavenworth in September instead of April. My plan was to return to Canada next month but I have nowhere to quarantine. I still haven’t decided if I will return to Mexico this winter. Stay safe!

  3. Kate w says:

    Ann, you are a fabulous, smart, well organized writer. This is an excellent article and includes what is going on in MZT. This will assist me and others in making the decision to return for the winter. Thank you, Kate Williams

  4. Anonymous says:

    Excellent article Ana. Bravo!

  5. Connie McKenzie says:

    I loved your blog. Life certainly isn’t like it was. Everyone has been affected in some way. I am hoping to make it down there, if airlines cooperate.

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