Back in Florida - Loose Ends and Tying the Knot

Okay, it wasn't my wedding. It was a good title, though!

I've returned to the U.S. for the month of December for a few reasons. First, because Mike and I met up to go to his stepdaughter Andy's wedding; second, because I decided to sell my car and get rid of the rest of my stuff; and third, because it's nice to be home with family for Christmas!

Mike was here for a week, so we stayed in an Airbnb (my usual home now) and went to Andy and Alec's wedding on the weekend, which was very sweet. The best part was when Andy called Mike up for a surprise father-daughter type dance. Everyone was tearing up. And yes, I have a video. :)

Now Mike's back in the Caribbean and I'm focusing on my other goals while staying here in my sister Jac's spare room in St. Pete.

Jac and I at our old beach-bar haunt 

To get rid of my stuff, my mom and I are having a yard sale tomorrow. It was a little hard to decide what to part with, but my goal is to be able to fit all my stuff into my suitcase, with the exception of just a couple of bins of sentimental things at my parents' house. My car was also a tough one for me. At first, I didn't think I'd sell it. After all, it's the first new car I've ever bought! But now that I've thought about it and done some research, it seems like the only logical choice. I can always get another new Kia when I get back, whether that's a year from now, or two, or whenever. The reality is if I left it here, I'd have nowhere to keep it other than in my parents' garage (can't do that indefinitely) and I'd only be home to drive a couple of times a year.

The ironic thing is that just before I was about to list it on Craigslist, I had the misfortune of running it into a post while parking at Publix, and now it needs some body work. Sigh. Here's a pic of that. It goes in the shop on Monday for at least a week.  So it looks like I may have to stay longer in Florida if it doesn't sell by January 1.

Oops 

The plan after Florida is to return to Mexico. First I'll spend some time in Isla Mujeres since Mike will be passing through on his boat. We were talking about spending the month there together, which sounds nice, but we'll see if that pans out between selling the car and the difficulty I'm having finding a reliable place to work there. At the very least, I'll take a week's vacation there with him. It would actually be so nice not to have to worry about work!. Then, after Isla, I'll go back to Merida because I have to get my teeth fixed by that dentist (or maybe another). I've already reserved an Airbnb there for all of February ($450!). Let's hope I leave there with a nice, white smile this time around.

After Merida, I can't quite say yet what I'll do, but I'm hoping to go to San Miguel de Allende. I have a feeling that might be the Antigua-like happy place for me. If only there were some water so that Mike could sail Segue in and hang with me. The land gypsie/water gypsie struggle continues.