SECOND Wind

Yes, we’ve been here for nearly eight months now. We’ve crossed paths with a few friends, but it’s mostly been a series of familiar faces that we keep bumping into. It’s funny how it happens—one day, you decide to call them for a meet-up, and then, before you know it, they’re reaching out to you too. And just like that, you find yourself at an event, surrounded by even more people who seem like they could become part of your circle. It’s like a slow dance into new connections.

Finding your tribe later in life, especially after retirement, has its unique challenges. It’s a bit trickier, but in a place like Mazatlán, where so many are in the same boat, we tend to find each other—somehow, some way. There’s a natural ebb and flow here; plenty of folks head out during the scorching season, but then there are those of us who call this place home all year round, weather and all. We stay, and in that, we find our community.

Some of our first friends here were Sheila, the Editor of MazatlánLife, and her husband, Soren. Despite the slight age difference, we always have a blast together. Every Friday, without fail, we head to a charming spot called Patio Escobedo. We indulge in great food, soak in the music, and then end the night lounging on their cozy couches, wine in hand. Finding a couple where all four of us click isn’t easy, but with Sheila and Soren, we’ve hit the jackpot—it’s a rare and delightful connection.

The other evening, we went out with some fairly new friends, George and Gayle, a lively couple from Scotland who run a fantastic food delivery business. We first met them through their mouthwatering meals, and now we’re sharing adventures together. They took us to some local spots, the kind of places where the clientele is all Mexican, and we had an absolute blast—laughter echoed all night. It felt amazing! These little neighborhood bars were just around the corner from our place—who knew? George and Gayle seemed to know everyone there. They’ve been here long enough to be part of the fabric of the place; the staff greeted them like family, with hugs from the waitresses and warm smiles all around. It was like stepping into a scene where everyone’s in on the joy.

I found myself thinking, ‘This is my neighborhood, these are my new friends,’ and all we did all night was talk and laugh—it was perfect! It’s funny because this all happened on a Tuesday, but when you’re retired, every day feels like the weekend. And that’s a pretty sweet deal! So far, we haven’t really connected with any American friends here; most of our circle is from other parts of the world. And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way

I’m really grateful that we’re starting to settle in. Just yesterday, I had some beautiful plants delivered to my deck and bedroom—there’s definitely some nesting going on, even if we don’t have all our art and personal treasures from storage yet. Once we buy a place here, which is looking more and more likely, there’s going to be a big trip back to grab everything. I wish we could bring all our friends along too, but hey, we can be their vacation destination instead! We live in a luxurious condo, so just set it up, give us a call. We’ve always been the type to share our spaces.

I remember a saying from when I was a kid, one that stuck with me through all the moves we made because of my dad’s job. It goes like this: Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and one is gold. It’s a simple reminder that while new friendships sparkle with excitement, the old ones hold a deep, enduring value.