Full moon shadows

The Church Bells began ringing yesterday afternoon.  People gathered in the Town Square.
"Jesus " was helped onto his donkey, and the Procession began. I didn't follow this year, but I have in years past, and it's a very serious affair, with many many people.  I'm sure there will be many pictures posted on Facebook, and maybe even Utube this year !!
Pollo Bollo stayed open this year, and we got there ahead of the rush ... much excitement, especially with " Jesus " in the room !! This is just the beginning. 

Stay away from PV this week, if you can.  It's one of the busiest times there.
Seems everyone heads to the Coast for their vacations, and who can blame them ...

There are big changes to the Immigration Laws here.  I don't have to renew my status as
Resident until October, but it's important to find out now, what the changes mean, especially if you have a car here, with USA plates, as we do.  If we go ahead and become Permanent
Residents, we will have to put Mexican Plates on the car, which is fine, except we have yet
to discover how much that will cost.  For people with a newer car, it will be very expensive, and some have chosen to drive out of the Country, and leave their car in the North.

If you chose to become Permanent, which I would like to do, ( they say it's good for life ?! )
you will NOT be able to drive a Forgien Plated car into the Country, ever again ??
That's an issue, because I know I would like to drive in again.  There are still belongings of mine in Reno, and in Vancouver that I would like to have here. 

There are ways around it, but it would involve having a friend drive with me.  Someone who
is just visiting, and receives 180 days Visa at the border, can drive their car across, but it
must be returned to the border, before the visa expires.  I think I could manoeuvre that, but
hard to know, for sure, at this point.  I like the idea of not having to renew every year.

The new Government here is making a lot of changes.  The crack down makes sense as there are many, many cars here with expired USA or Canadian Plates.  Nationals drive them
down, or buy them here from tourists, the " ex-pats " or visitors who don't want to drive back.  No more of that.

They have also changed the financial requirements, significantly, but if you already have an
FM3, and transfer to the new status, you don't have to meet the new rules.  We should be ok, but there are many people who won't qualify, and they will have to stick to the 180 day
visa.

I have already tried to do some research on the new rules, but it is going to take some time to get to the right source.  I thought the Canadian Consulate may point me in the right
direction, or the Car Insurance Company we have dealt with in Nogales. So far I've come up short.  There is an office of Motor Vehicles in PV, where we have tried before to get info.
with little success.  Craig will try there again today, since he's had to go in to see the dentist.

Many people are getting packed up and heading North again. I have a farewell lunch with
my Spanish teacher today.  Soon, all will be quiet again, and I'll have the little beach all to
myself, or at least with people I know. 

Water has been an issue already.  The black tank was half full only, and not filling up over night as it should.  Our man was on the job right away, and the tank is full now, but we are now on " Water Watch ".  There are only 5 houses on our water line, and each one is full of
people right now, for the next 10 - 14 days.  Once everyone goes home, the water issues will
dissipate, somewhat, until the river starts drying up ... it may not rain here for 3 months, and that could become an issue. 

We emptied the old cement tank a few months ago.  We kept that as reserve, and for watering the yard, but it was so old, and leaking, and there's no need for it anymore, since
we can purchase another black tank to sit on top.  It's really important to have that back-up,
so after the new roof, and after the new septic/toilet, we will have another tank hooked up.

SJ had some fish for Lily the other day, and since C. was away, he cleaned it for me, at his
small bodega at the bottom of my stairs.  He taught me how to take the meat off the skin , once it was cleaned, a couple of years ago, but he insists I can learn to clean it too.
I've had my doubts, and I really didn't want to learn how to do it, ( I can barely watch him do it ! ) but after this last time watching him, I agreed that this summer, I will learn !
  
Since I like to think of myself as somewhat of a Pioneer, like my ancestors were, I better
learn a trick or to about real survival. Learn to clean a fish is basic I suppose.
Perhaps I should also learn how to bait a hook.  I can't do that either !

I worked at Mimi's most of the week and have the Library much more organized.
The first " sections " that came together were " Cowboys , Indians and Native History "
which I named for LCV  ( it's very impressive, I think, ) and the Auto/Biography's, of which
there are less than a dozen.  I collected an old folding chair off the pathway, cleaned it up, and used it to hold a box of books. 

We are still a long way off, but Mimi and I share a vision, and are excited about the possibilities.  We know about hard work ( her more than me ) and commitment, and
survival.  We know anything is possible, if you really put your mind to it.

And that goes for us all ...

The sky is as clear as can be, and the moon will be, already is, spectacular.  I introduced two
adorable children to the Rabbit that appears on the moon's face here. 
They were mesmerized.

It's the little things that get us closer to where we want to be, don't you think ?

Enjoy ...

Love and Gratitude ..

k