Roaming Through Retirement




June--Thriving!
Our new goal in life is to not only survive COVID, but to thrive despite of it.  As businesses started closing here in Ajijic, Glorine knew that we had to do something to help our Mexican neighbors.  She learned of Christine, a Canadian (on the left) who started a Facebook group called CAREMONGERING (to counter all the scare mongering) to spread the good stories of people helping people.  She also learned of Paola, a Mexican (in the middle) who was thinking of how to help families of the newly unemployed. Together, these three became the founding mothers of FoodBank Lakeside.  Since we started, we have given out nearly 6,000 despensas (packages of enough nonperishable food for a family of four for a week).  Despite being only 12 weeks old, FoodBank Lakeside was awarded a Community Service award by Cynthia, president of the Chapala Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. As a bonus, they gave FBL $1,000 USD!!

Taking COVID seriously doesn't mean we don't socialize.  Once a week, we make a point to play cards with Wayne and Maureen.	We used ZOOM to stay in touch with family and friends who are not nearby.  Here we are visiting with Dennis and Nancy, near Tucson.
Larry meets with other members of the Lake Chapala Society to discuss plans for reopening the campus and how to keep the organization afloat during these trying times.	Glorine is meeting with her Volunteer team of FoodBank Lakeside to manage the nearly 70 volunteers that not only distribute food but raise funds and pay the bills.
We decided to expand this little used lawn area, which is mostly crab grass and clover, into an outdoor patio.	So we gifted our Meyers Lemon tree to El Parque, who were more than happy to replant it for us.
The appointment Glorine had in May with her neurologist lead her to San Javier, one of two hospitals in Mexico that can do non-intrusive radiosurgery using a technique called Gamma Knife.	The neurosurgeon, Dr. Méndez reviewed her past CT scans and MRIs and thinks her hematoma has healed itself and she may not need surgery but wants her back in a month for a final check.
To reduce the risk of spreading COVID among FoodBank volunteers, we use local wholesalers to purchase food in bulk and package it for us.	Here we are helping out to meet an emergency crisis by having our car filled with despensas that we will be delivering to a group in need of our help.
Cruz Roja (Red Cross) are the first responders for medical emergencies here at Lakeside.  This is a second job for most of their employees who lost their first job.	Yoli Martinez, President of Cruz Roja presented FoodBank Lakeside with a special certificate of appreciation for delivering 42 despensas to her staff.
The premiums for our Mexican health insurance skyrocketed, so we found an alternative, which will fly us to a hospital in the USA so we can use our Medicare in case a major medical issue arises.	The air conditioning units we installed in May caused our electric bill to nearly double.  While still relatively inexpensive, (about $37 per month) we decided to go green and install solar panels.
The pool, hot tub and gym reopened, but with restrictions--one person or couple at a time and requirements to sanitize all the equipment and other things we touch. Nice to have it back.	While we have added the gym to our weekly RICH-U-ALLs, we still enjoy our sunrise and sunset walks through El Parque.  It is great way to stay fit and enjoy life in the Rockies.

June's web page includes June 1 through June 30.