The Monkey
Two months ago a sick baby spider monkey arrived in my village in need of care. My neighbor Lynn decided to be the new monkey mama, and I filled in sometimes as the monkey's uncle. That was an interesting experience - not the sort of thing most people would want to do (very messy), but definately 24/7 entertainment value. The very needy baby recovered quickly though, and last week moved to an excellent reserve created especially for wayward monkeys. Lynn now has her life back again, but she's definately missing her baby!

Hurricane Wilma
Details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Wilma
You probably heard more news then I did about the path of Wilma, but I will give you a local perspective. First we had to, once again, take down twenty solar panels and generally prepare the village as well as we could. Then came three days of rain and wind up to 140 mph, eighteen people in a small very leaky house with water everywhere, me sleeping in a hammock with my two dogs, Lynn sleeping in her room with a hyperactive monkey and three cats, flying trees deflected by the leaky but sturdy house, lots of anxiety . . . I was taking notes on house design for future reference. When the wind stopped, the village was surreal - lots of debris and only a few leaves left on the remaining trees. Thankfully none of our neighbors were hurt. The government and volunteers responded immediately and, with the brief exception of some cases of looting, much of the city was back in business in just a few days. With the twenty solar panels quickly back up, thanks to my great Mayan and Mexican friends Walter, Cecilio, and Juan Carlos, we had power in the village before much of the city did. The minor damage to the grass roof of my house was repaired by a work crew in two days. Now, almost two months later, the trees are green again, and the city is back to the normal pace of rapid growth construction. I wish I could say the same for my broadband internet connection which I am still waiting for . . . oh well, dialup is painful but better than nothing. I think my website clients are being patient. My last remaining job is to fix the wind turbine generator whose blades blew off and controller was toasted during the high winds.
After Wilma:
Two Months Later:

My Village Property
Just before Wilma, my lot had been cleaned up and looked like a nice little park. Now, after a month of part-time work by my crew, it looks like a park again - minus several big trees. The next landscaping step is to add some contour walls going up the slope to support stepped planting areas. I am clearing a site for my new house and I also have a couple of good house designs that have been evolving and are close to being set in motion. Here is one of the residents at my current house:

Visitors
Finally! My dear friend (and previous Portland sailing crew) Kim didn't believe the mass media reports that the region had been destroyed, so one week after Wilma she came to visit. What a great excuse to go for some visits to the ruins at Coba and Chichen Iza, snorkeling and hanging out at the secluded Tulum beaches, and generally being away from storm recovery work. She also got a chance to do some cavern diving in an extensive cenote system. Kim quickly adjusted to the local pace and climate, and I'm sure she was entertained by the collection of characters here.

Mexican Business
Well, I am not much closer to having a legally operating business here now than I was last year. Not that I have a lack of opportunities for revenue. I can't believe that I am trying so hard to be able to pay taxes, but it would help to establish my credentials here. Whenever the government finally gets the approvals in order I will be able to get going with a business process and maybe even hire some local workers. I'm not holding my breath while I wait though. Who wants to come and help me start up a microbrewery in the caribbean?

Holiday Season
The high season is starting here now, so La Quinta Avenida is a parade of sunburnt gringos and its harder to find a seat in my favorite eateries. It is getting colder - below 60F at night which calls for one blanket on the bed. If it gets much colder I will have to dig out the fleece!

Well, that's all the news for now. Take care, and write soon!

Bill Barton