Moving Back to Mexico

Calling Isla Mujeres Mexico my Home!

Already a remote worker and familiar with the digital nomad lifestyle, when the pandemic hit, I was in Portugal with my girlfriend and made the abrupt decision to exit our month long plans to head back to Toronto. Entering into a 14 day quarantine when we landed on March 1 2020, and before our quarantine was over, it felt like the entire world shut down. I was locked down in a 480 square foot apartment for almost 2 years when it became apparent I had to get out.

There were reprieves, however, Toronto experienced what seemed like lockdown after lockdown which left me feeling depressed. Sure there were times we got out. Summer of 2020 we found socially distant ways to get out into the great areas around Ontario. The weekend warrior changes in surroundings helped a great deal. We visited Algonquin Park, staying at my favourite lake Cannisbay, (Yes it does kind of sound like that!) and explore some of the greater Muskoka area also camping at Arrowhead. One weekend we drove deep into the Bruce Peninsula hiking and exploring rapidly moving rivers. When the fall came we drove out into the Niagara escarpment around Hamilton exploring the colours of the fall starting to brighten up the forest canopies of fall. However winter was coming, which spoke to more lockdowns and socially isolated holiday festivities. Our plans to visit California were changed. It was just too risky to travel.

We made it through the holidays, I was still restless wanting to build a van or do something. My partner was as adamant as ever that building a van was not the right choice. Too many unknown variables during lockdown. We did find lots of new creative outlets. Tara edited her first short film in a long time and I was filming content. We bought tools to create more tangible things. Drawing and painting consumed me. However, by February, my partner insisted it was time for her to return to California to be with her parents. I was alone and still we were in a lockdown!

This is where I began to eat myself back up to almost the heaviest I have ever been. I was receiving eye injections every month for a burst vein and work was getting me down. with nobody to talk to some days I felt like I was slowly driving myself insane. Slowly but surely driving myself to the brink of more serious health concerns. Been down that path before and I don’t like it! More than ever, I knew it was time to change my surroundings. I wanted out of Toronto, I wanted to travel, interact with people and I wanted it yesterday. I was no longer happy with still. So I thought long and hard about what I really wanted to do.

I had 2 options that really resonated in my mind. The first was to be as trendy as eff and build my own van. Hell over the last 3 years Tara and I had gone back and forth on it so much there were plans, resources and many hours of builds watched. (Yes! We found ourselves often in the rabbit holes of our impetuous nature). My health condition at the time directed me as #SamSolo, building a van would be long expensive and arduous. (Turns out I am capable of more than you think an outta shape overweight 54 year old is capable of)

Instead I chose to move to Isla Mujeres, Mexico just a short trip off the coast of Cancun. This is not my first time living here. Spent nearly 4 years on the island in 2015. Leaving with Tara to try life together in the city. The pandemic has a way of reshaping your thought patterns and leaving was likely right for that time, returning was right for this time.

So I was living back in Mexico to escape the insanity of lockdowns and virus in Toronto. Here is a gallery of some of the journey from March 2020 until March 2022. Living now in Mexico since August of 2020 I feel I have made a fantastic home and cannot wait for life to open up more so I can explore myself and my passions a little more.

Viva la Mexico!!