We've lived here just a lil over a year and this is now our third home that we've lived in. Moving to El Nogalito was pretty much an impulse move, it was so beautiful, and so different than anything we'd had before, plus it was a fenced space for Bolt to roam around, so we jumped on it. Who doesn't wanna live in the jungle right? Me. The answer is me lol. I do not wanna live in the freakin jungle, well not anymore I don't. It was beautiful, it was peaceful, it was disconnected from the city. But it was also out of range for any type of delivery, full of creatures (a good and bad thing), when the power went out you're just screwed if you don't have a car, no cell service, and of course the number one reason we left it was unsafe. Now don't get me wrong it is not unsafe in general. The home we were living in became unsafe shortly after we got there. The owners are two guys from the United States, well one was actually born in Mexico but you wouldn't know it by his ignorance to Mexico and local life here. They have a dog, Dakota who is part wolf, part husky. She lives in the US part time, since the guys go back and forth a lot. We first met Dakota a few months after moving in. Upon meeting Bolt she attacked him. He did nothing to her, they were both just sniffing each other like normal dogs, then all of the sudden she attacked. Bolt is 12 and we are lucky he survived it. The owners never apologized. To be fair they did ask if Bolt was ok, but never showed remorse. They then started tying her up on their patio, but Dakota was always getting lose and they never bothered to ensure she couldn't get loose. So taking Bolt out to potty became a challenging situation. But we were dealing with it. Then it became a lot of texting and asking to tie Dakota up so Bolt can go out. That didn't last long until they just flat out started ignoring our text. Then one day the coast seemed clear so we were outside with Bolt so he could do his business when Dakota was loose and spotted us. She was quickly coming down the stairs and headed right for us. I told Bridget to get Bolt inside and I was calling Dakota to me since I knew she liked people. She stopped for a moment to get pet but then was off, still in a hurry to get to Bolt. I managed to grab ahold of her collar just in time as she let out a growl and lunged for Bolt. Bridget was still getting Bolt back into the house at this point and I was holding on to Dakota like my life depended on it, because it pretty much did. If she would have attacked Bolt this time her owner would not have been there to call her off like before and I'd have to get in there to try and save him. It would have been bad. Luckily I was able to hold on to her while Bridget and Bolt went inside. Then I waited for the door to be clear and got myself inside too. Now for the trippy part. I didn't realize it at the time, but when all that was taking place I had jumped out of my body. As I was sitting inside thinking about what had just happened my visual memories of holding Dakota by the collar and her trying to lung at Bolt were all from the front. I was holding her from behind. I have a clear memory of seeing myself holding her back. How is it my memory is of watching myself holding her? Because I was so scared I jumped out of my body. Talking with a friend later about it she said that I am Mexican, and Mexico is a deeply spiritual place. And that it was likely my ancestors that held me there, and held on to Dakota for me. That explanation makes a lot of sense to me, because what I do know is I watched it happen to me, so I had unseen help for sure. I also really like the thought that I am living in the land where my ancestors are from and that they are watching over me and here to help me. It's a trip to think about, but also a very comforting thought to live with. - Nolan

The last few days were strange.

There are moments that look small on paper but feel enormous in your chest.This was one of those:

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be getting a measles booster in a Mexican Costco parking lot, I would have had many follow-up questions.

I experienced my first earthquake while I was awake last week. I've been through plenty of earthquakes but somehow I was always asleep when they happened. So this was my first time actually experiencing it awake. That shit is a lil scary. It was super quick, and small, so I'm grateful for that. Nothing broke, no one was hurt. It was weird being perfectly and completely shaken. Not at all what I expected it would feel like, but also how do you even know what to expect to with something like that? Bolt did great! He was sleeping between me and Bridget and only lifted his head to see what was happening. He didn't get scared at all. Bridget of course has being for SoCal has been through plenty of earthquakes and it was no big deal to her. I don't think earthquakes happen here often, this was our first in a year. But either way me being me I plan to be more prepared for the next, because I know if we had needed to evacuate on this one I would not have been ready, and I'm all about planning and preparedness. - Nolan

One year living in Mexico was definitely not what I was expecting it to be. But at the same time I didn't know what to expect living in a country I've never been to where I don't speak the language. What I've discovered in that year is that there is a something very spiritual here that speaks to me. It goes far beyond the fact that this is the country where my dad was born. This is the land of my ancestors and on some level I feel that within me. I'm in a place that I don't know, but it knows me. It's been a good year over all, but not without its challenges. I cried a few times and wanted to want to go back, but at the same time I know I'm not ready to leave. Learning the culture and traditions has been amazing. I will admit that I hate that the majority of the traditions have been altered by religious colonization. But I love seeing how the traditions bring people together. We've made a few solid friends and I'm super grateful for that. Playa Listo is still finding its wings, but I see the potential and know it can be very successful.