HAPPY 2026 to everyone! May it be a good year, even with all the craziness in the world. Try to find peace, and take care of the people you care about.
I had a lovely Christmas and New Year with friends.To welcome the new year, my first project is to try scaling down my living costs. It is very difficult to live on a Canadian Pension. So, I will be moving out of the hotel into another situation where I will have a kitchen. Eating out in Ajijic has become very expensive. People who know me realize that cooking isn’t my thing, but I think I can manage breakfast etc. I may be moving to the next town which is five minutes away. San Antonia is lovely—and cheaper.
It looks as if I will move into abeautiful home owned by a Canadian that lives in Alberta and leaves her home here for six months. I would have a bedroom, bathroom, outdoor kitchen…and a swimming pool—and act as her House Manager looking after the housekeeper, gardener and pool people. I think I can manage that!
Regarding the new friend I met at the beach, we have been in touch almost every day. He lives on the big island of Hawaii but is talking about visiting Mexico again.
So far I have seen seven of the Oscar-nominated movies. Please watch Train Dreams on Netflix; it is very special.
I will receive my Permanent Resident card on February 25…exciting!
I want to.give a very special shout out to the friends in Canada, UK and Mexico who care about me and watch over me.
I AM VERY LUCKY!
The Nomadic Intern 
Hi Betty,
Happy New Year! Not so happy here in the U.S. I’m thrilled to hear that you are feeling great, doing great, and that you have found new living accommodations which sound wonderful. That must be a relief.
As for me, we had full-price plus “as is” offer over Christmas on our house and two days later I received a request from a competition I had enrolled my play in months previously that I passed the first go-round of competition. This group asked me to send the entire play (they had only read ten pages for submission) and now I am waiting to hear (which will not be for a while) if they will be performing a reading of it over the summer with invited producers. So, we turned down the sale as I must be a resident of the Hudson Valley to stay in the competition and it is unaffordable to try and get a rental here. Two weeks later Trump accelerated his evil ways so I can’t help but wonder if I made a big mistake to stay. The play means a great deal to me because it’s about the impact of suicide on those left behind.
This year has been a very cold and snowy winter. We are finally coming out of the single digit temperatures into the twenty’s so it feels like a wave. Anyway, I’m joining various groups that are fighting back against this administration, volunteering and continuing to live like my country isn’t being taken over by a racist pig but some days it becomes really difficult for me emotionally.
Sending all my love and hugs to you. You look fantastic as always! xoxoxo Kathy
Betty – Good to hear from you. I’m far behind in my correspondence. Good luck with your move. I hope it works out for you. May you be blessed with good health and happiness in the future. All the best, Mary Lou