This Is Why We Are Spending January in San Miguel, Mexico

Photo by the author

This photo is from last winter.

No, we didn’t fly the coop because of the deer.

Until yesterday, our little neck of the woods in northeast Iowa had been winter stormless.

Rebecca and I were worried. December had been warm, ending the warmest year on record.

Would global warming finally mean no snow in Iowa?

And yesterday was coolish at the end of our first week in San Miguel, Mexico, with a high of only 69.

Here’s the view from our third-floor balcony patio. Doesn’t it look cool?

Photo by the author

But should these snowbirds fly further south?

And then we got the good news this morning. A massive winter storm, with blizzard-like conditions, was pounding Iowa.

What a relief.

Last winter, Rebecca and I decided enough was enough.

Joint photo by Rebecca Wiese and me. She held the phone, and I pressed the button.

We are smiling for the camera. And are making do with what few pleasures snow and cold provide.

We decided one year ago today to spend next January in a warm place.

But where?

Most American snowbirds go to Texas, Arizona, or Florida. (source)

Texas was out because we regularly visit family in Houston.

Our Red friends love Florida too much, and so that cancels DeSantis-land.

Our Blue friends dig Arizona, but they live in a retirement community with many Canadians — too peaceful.

Friends Peter and Mary have spent many winter months in San Miguel and have talked it up for years. Their enthusiasm planted a seed.

It’s a city of 66,000 in central Mexico, with about 10,000 ex-pats, mainly Americans and Canadians.

The climate is suitable: low 70s during the day, sun most of the time. As far as we can tell, it is very safe and isolated from cartel violence.

With a thriving arts and literary community.

Here’s a snowbird’s eye view of San Miguel.

Photo by the author

We’ve met no ugly Americans yet.

There are no ugly Canadians.

We shared coffee yesterday in a tiny cafe with Hagar and Martin. Hagar is Jewish and an artist and dancer. Martin is English and a retired war correspondent and writer. They lived in Israel and raised three children. They’ve been residents of San Miguel off and on for 17 years. Tomorrow, Martin Fletcher will give a lecture on Hamas and Israel at Biblioteca de San Miguel, the local library.

Our Mexican neighbors have been kind and helpful.

Of course, we will miss the Iowa storms, including the Republican Caucus.

Está todo bien.