Many of our friends
Lake Michigan
The Lyric Opera
Lake Michigan
The Field Museum
Lake Michigan
The Art Institute
Lake Michigan
Dozens of wonderful theatres
Lake Michigan
The Museum of Contemporary Art
Lake Michigan
Fourth Presbyterian Church—because of what it does to help people in the community not because of the superstition
Lake Michigan
Excellent health facilities
Lake Michigan
All the hundreds of events many of which are even completely free.
The diverse community, even though we have been reported to be the most segregated city in the U.S. (I actually doubt that.)
Lake Michigan
Wonderful food and hundreds of ethnic restaurants
Lake Michigan
Four seasons, well, 3 and 1/4th anyway. Spring usually comes (and goes) on a Thursday.
Lake Michigan
Autumn in Chicago
Lake Michigan
Escaping from Chicago in January
Lake Michigan
Sailing (okay, so 4 months is better than none)
Lake Michigan
Friends who return from Granada to visit
Lake Michigan
Chicago Cultural Center with free art exhibits, music, photography exhibits, radio drama reenactments, the Gene Siscal film library
Lake Michigan
Chicago Blues, jazz, mariachis, rap and the next best thing
Lake Michigan
Oak Street, North Avenue beaches in the summer
Lake Michigan
And
Because I can drive to the lake to go sailing in just 15 minutes.
Because we can drive to the Loop in 15 minutes and park free (most nights) to see a play, the opera or other event.
The cultivation of my favorite fruit started some 5,000 years ago in India, where it is a symbol of love and friendship. Its name comes from the Dravidian language, later adapted by the Portuguese into mango and then into mango by the Italians sometime in the 16th century.
The first mango imports to the Americas came in the 17th century as pickle, since there was no way to preserve this delicate fruit.
There are a large number of cultivars on a variety of trees but the original variety grows on very large trees that can live and bear fruit for 300 years.
In addition to enjoying eating the fruit as is there are an infinite variety of ways to prepare mango dishes (see my recipes below).
The mango is very high in vitamin C as well as containing various other vitamins and minerals.
In the West Indies “to go mango walk” is to steal another person’s mangoes. This however is a somewhat moot point, as mango trees are everywhere, some around abandoned properties, some growing wild or mangoes that fall off trees into the road, picked by people before the animals (dogs love mangoes as do bats and birds) get them.
This is an ideal quick nutritious breakfast or a great dessert.
For each glass of smoothie, use ½ ripe mango peeled and cut into small chunks (it has to feel soft to the touch), ½ a small or ¼ of a large ripe avocado, scooped out into small chunks, ½ of a ripe banana, ½ a glass of coconut water (if coconut water, usually sold in Spanish grocery stores or if lucky even regular supermarkets, is not available, milk can be substituted. Throw ingredients into blender and blend on medium to high speed until creamy smooth.
MANGO LASSI
Ripe mango cut peeled and cut into chunks, butter milk or plain yogurt. The quantities will vary depending on the # or people to be served and the combination of the 2 ingredients will depend on individual tastes. I like ½ mango ½ buttermilk or yogurt.
RICE WITH MANGO
Cook your rice the usual way. When done, add some butter (quantity depends on the quantity of cooked rice, but enough so the kernels are lightly coated)
Chop up semi ripe mangoes into small squares. The mango should be ripe enough to allow peeling and removing the flesh easily but not soft)
Add chopped up mangoes to rice.
This is especially good with chicken or fish dishes.
A word about peeling mangoes: take the mango, cut from the narrowest part, down one side along the seed, turn over, do the same on the other side, now cut along the outside to remove the last of the flesh. This takes practice, so buy enough mangoes to allow you to practice.
Many of you will probably have experienced some or all of the things I’m about to discuss. Travel is one of the things that my husband and I look forward to in retirement but there are aspects of it that test our patience. Delays, crowded or cancelled flights are quite common. So, how does one cope & retain sanity and still enjoy traveling? Here are some of my strategies.
Delays
Through experience, I’ve learned to keep extra reading material, make sure all devices are fully charged or figure out where the charging spots near my gate are; if my trip involved connecting flights, I make sure to give myself at least 4 hours between flights. Better to sit around then to miss the flight.
Re-Booking
If despite all the precautions, the connecting flight is missed, no point arguing or getting upset with the airline personnel, they can’t do anything. Best to go directly to the re-booking desk, get checked in for the next available flight. If overnight stay is required, the airlines will pay for hotel, transportation and meals. HOWEVER, the hotel shuttle company may not be aware that you need to be picked up, so call & ask how long before the shuttle can come; be sure to check meal vouchers because in tiny print they tell you which meal with the maximum amount allowed per meal (never enough for a meal).
Boredom/Tension Prevention
I have my airport routines and can recommend them with allowances for personal preferences. After I find my gate, I scope out the immediate area for food, stores, restrooms, reading materials. Since I’m multi lingual, I try to pick up at least two newspapers, one in German or Spanish, or if not available, The Economist (from England). Then I settle in to read for a while or work using my devices. After an hour, I get up and take a long walk. Since much of travel necessitates long periods of sitting, walking is body and soul. After the walk, if there’s still waiting, back to reading or people watching.
Accepting Things I Can’t Change
Ultimately, I tell myself not to get upset by things over which I have no control. Go with the flow, this too shall pass. Of course, if your budget can accommodate 1st class, the whole thing is much easier to endure, nice lounges, complimentary fruit, coffee, reading materials, etc. but if the plane isn’t taking off when scheduled, you’re still stuck.
I hope you find this helpful; I always welcome your feedback.
Bon Voyage.
Past Trips I Have Taken
St. Petersburg, Russia The Exquisite HermitageSouthwest Poland A Beautiful Retreat Property I ListedDublin, IrelandLuxembourg A Lovely Stroll
Many of us get introduced to the coconut in the form of the bagged, shredded coconut used in baking. That is too bad, as the coconut is one of the most amazing fruits in the world. Its nutritional value is such that people in areas where food is scarce, can survive by eating just coconuts. The great variety of minerals found in the fruit makes it useful in fighting infection and in re-hydrating people.
I have a personal story on the anti-bacterial properties of coconut water. Many years ago, while in Grenada, I developed a urinary tract infection. The people who took care of me gave me gallons of coconut water to drink. While I love the stuff, I was a bit dubious on the efficacy of it to fight the infection. I called my doctor and sure enough, he confirmed that this was true.
The many products made from coconut include supports for buildings, roofing thatch, rope, caulking, bowls as well as hats.
Coconuts are classified as either young or mature.
The young coconut is green or yellow on the outside, the mature one is brown. Young nuts contain a clear liquid inside, called coconut water which is drunk as a refreshing drink or as an antiviral drink or an immune system booster. Coconut water is available in the US in ethnic grocery stores
When the nut is a bit more mature, in addition to the water, the insides contain a jelly, delicious to eat, in many countries given to babies as their first semi solid food.
I know a young man who brings me water nuts or jelly nuts regularly and I can eat myself sick on the jelly.
The mature nut also contains the liquid but much less of it, more concentrated, sweeter. This is not to be confused with coconut milk, which is the liquid obtained by grating the meat of the mature coconut, adding water and pressing the liquid out. The resulting white, opaque liquid is the coconut milk, used in cooking. I add it to peas (which are a bit tougher than the peas we know) and in salt fish pie. It’s also one of the main ingredients of the national dish of Grenada –oil down- which has nothing to do with either oil or down or any other direction.
Coconut oil is also made by processing the meat from inside the mature nut. Of the commercially available products, care must be taken that the oil is processed without chemicals.
The coconut has a long history, going back some 3,000 years. As with many foods, there’s no agreement on where it originates but most agree it came from Malaysia, Indonesia, India and East Africa about the same time.
The explorer Marco Polo mentions it in the 13th century but it is Magellan who is generally credited with bringing the coconut to Europe in the early 16th century. The name comes from “coco” meaning goblin in Spanish, as there are 3 eyes at the bottom of the mature nut.
By the mid to late 19th century, there was a brisk trade in coconuts in Europe. However, it did not come to the US until 1895 when a baker in Philadelphia came up with the idea of shredding it and using it for baking.
The papaya or pawpaw where I live has been around much longer than commonly believed. It’s native to Central America from where Spanish & Portuguese explorers took them to India and the Philippines .The famous botanist Linneaus named it in 1753.
Papaya came to the US in the 1920’s and is now cultivated in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Like the banana, papaya can be eaten in a variety of ways. Most of us know the orange fruit with a soft interior containing black seeds. The seeds are generally scooped out & discarded but they can be used as a spice, a bit like peppercorns; the ripe fruit can be eaten as is or cut into small slices and used as a garnish for meat of fish dishes; the green fruit (a bit difficult to obtain in the continental US) can be used as a meat tenderizer in stews – just cut into small pieces and cooked with the meat; it can be grated and used in salads.
In addition to being delicious to eat, papaya, like banana, has a number of medicinal uses. A few examples:
Papaya leaves brewed as a tea is used as an antimalarial agent; a paste made from fermented papaya is used to aid healing for rashes, burns and cuts.
For more information, here are some web sites to visit:
As I look out on the four banana plants in my back yard that are now in various stages of flowering and bearing fruit, I wonder where they come from and how they got to be so popular.
The challenge for me and my neighbors as well as many Grenadians is what to do with such an overabundance.
HISTORY
There seems to be no one definitive history of the banana. Some sources cite evidence of them being cultivated in New Guinea as early as 8000BC while others credit Alexander the Great with discovering them in India in 327 BC and bringing them to the western world. There’s also no agreement where and how they were introduced to the United States. It appears that they arrived sometime around the late 1880’s
BENEFITS
Reading the list of benefits almost requires a degree in chemistry. Almost like mother’s chicken soup, it’s good for what ails you. The adage “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” might as well be changed to “A banana a day keeps the doctor away.” I’ve added a couple of web sites that detail all the benefits.
DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENJOY THE BANANA
The yellow, curved fruit is what we are used to, but bananas can be eaten in a variety of ways. I love to make a “potato” salad from cooked green bananas. While it’s not easy to peel them when green, the effort is well worth it. When they are a little riper, still green but less deep green, I like to peel, slice very thin, deep fry, salt a bit and eat them as a snack; when ripe, I use them the same way most everyone else does; when they are slightly on the overripe side, I use them to make banana smoothies, banana bread, puree and mix with peanut butter for sandwiches, peel and cut them in half lengthways, freeze them and when defrosted they taste like banana custard; I put them in a baking dish with nutmeg syrup ( any syrup or honey will do), put a few pats of butter on top and bake them briefly in a slow oven. Try these recipes and tell me how you liked them.
I don’t allow myself to get hungry. I have established an eating pattern that works for me and stick to it. I usually don’t allow myself to grab unhealthy snacks because I have skipped a meal.
I stay hydrated. This sounds simple but it’s a common error to not pay attention to our bodies. I have found that a glass of water, an apple (84% water) will silence hunger between meals.
I’ve discovered that there are no quick fixes, no miracles. Changing habits takes time and discipline. Keeping a food journal has helped me to make healthy changes.
We love the luscious fruit choices here in Grenada.
Other Approaches That Have Helped
I try to ignore the continuous barrage of food ads. They intentionally make us want to eat even if not hungry.
I try very hard to not handle stress by eating. I have found a quick walk, a stretch and some deep breathing or talking to a friend help me more.
I am not seduced by the Hollywood/Vogue Magazine beauty standards. Celebrities earn their living by looking/living the way their public wants them to. In my opinion, that is not a healthy life style.
For those who are not familiar with this wonderful Canadian magazine, take a look.
Fun to celebrate Thanksgiving with new friends. Turkey is available, but not part of the typical Grenada diet.We love our West Indies garden patch. It’s fertile all year long and we enjoy it very much.We enjoying buying the day’s catch at this local fish market.
Normal Size Grapefruit with a Grenada Size Avocado.
Now that I’m retired, and healthy and fit and happy with where I’ve chosen to live, I find myself wondering who I am. I’ve spent most of my life being someone’s daughter, wife, mother, employee, grandmother, REALTOR and friend. I’m still a wife, friend, step mom and grandmother but all the other roles are gone. The search now is to find out how I can still be of value to my world, how I can remain involved in the things that have always interested me? And finally, how to best communicate the new me to others…
At times I drive myself to find that new road ASAP, other times I find I just want to do nothing, maybe just curl up with a book. After all, I’m retired. Other times I ask myself why I feel this pressure. There are no longer any deadlines and no accountability to anyone but myself. Time has a new meaning to me now. Then, there are times when I think of the journey and what remains and become aware that the road ahead isn’t as long as it once was. At such times, the feeling of having to make the most of the time I have comes back.
As I look at my retired friends, I see both ends of the spectrum. Some do virtually nothing, watch TV, read, but that’s it. Most are OK with this, but some feel a vague sense of unease. Others have found something about which they have been passionate but never had the time to pursue. Yet others are involved in more things than they were before retirement. Still others feel they have to be on the move, cover all continents, see all national parks, drive cross-country or cross Europe. Some focus exclusively on family – being there for all at all times.
So what is the best way to re-define one’s self? Which route is best? Which is the most rewarding?
The answer for me is that there is no “best” way. I’m in search of what feels more comfortable and meaningful for me. Each one of us has to find what feels comfortable and meaningful. Time is what one defines for oneself, now, tomorrow, next month, next year, none is better than any other.
I’m finding the only “must” for me is to challenge my mind, to not lose touch with the world, with friends, and with trends. I also plan to stay physically active to the degree health permits.
I have found two helpful sites to share with you. Please click below for more information and ideas:
A Nutmeg Tree with Fruit Opening to Expose the Nut
Grenada is called the Spice Island because of the great variety of spices grown and used here. I’ll start with nutmeg which is such a fantastic plant/fruit.
The trees are medium height, have beautiful, shiny bright green leaves and dot the island everywhere. The fruit, from a distance looks like a peach. As it ripens, it opens up and the bright red lacey mace covering the nut appears. Once picked, the outer shell and the mace of are removed. The nut is then dried and packaged either with the outer hard shell intact or the shell removed.
Nothing of the fruit is wasted, the shell is used for jams and jellies, the mace as a milder form of the nutmeg seasoning, the hard outer shell is used for mulching. Nutmeg is used in the various ways throughout the world. One of my favorite uses is nutmeg ice cream.
It all started in 1973 when my father Jim Bates took me on a trip as a high school graduation present! We flew to Mexico City and Acapulco. I clearly, no pun intended, remember the smog in the city as it burned my eyes and made breathing difficult. Furthermore, the Popsicle that I had enjoyed at the bull fight made me bedridden with Montezuma’s revenge at the Sheraton Maria Isabel. We then made our way to Acapulco and I saw a Mexican beach for the first time, stood in line at Carlos and Charlie’s in its heyday and sampled grilled Red Snapper on Condesa Beach. I was hooked.
During the 80’s, as an adult, I returned to Acapulco many times with friends and also sampled Cancun a few times. In ’88 I was introduced to Puerto Vallarta when I took a trip with my mom. It was a bit different than anything else I had experienced. It had a traditional Mexican village flavor to it and the people were genuinely warm and friendly. The food was great and I thought that Banderas Bay was strikingly beautiful. Nothing has changed for me to this day.
Eight years ago on June 30th, I boarded a United Airlines flight with Lillian my cat; it was the first and only time that I had purchased a one way ticket. As the plane roared down the runway my personal effects were on a Mayflower van somewhere on a Texas border; there was no turning back now. Puerto Vallarta or bust! Any fears I had carried with me for the last year dissolved into a sense of freedom and I realized that I was on the ride of my life. When we landed in Puerto Vallarta I was greeted not only by my friend German but by summer in the tropics; it was 95 degrees and extremely humid. Something I would learn to deal with for several months before the heat broke. I was however very excited to start my new life, to say the least.
They say the training program lasts five years for an expat locating to Mexico. The adjustments are many, so are the rewards. You continue to evolve significantly though, after the first five years. We newbies used to periodically have “We hate Mexico days” which would include a tirade on everything about Mexico that we hated. Gradually the comparisons of wherever we came from and our new reality here have faded. We have more “We are fortunate to be here” days and they become the norm.
I have a developed a sense of gratitude about life here. I don’t complaint anymore about stuff I can’t control, like waiting in line for an hour at the bank. I choose to appreciate the bounty that we all enjoy, instead: great fresh fruits and vegetables, everyone greets you on the street, people are kind and patient, it’s easy to meet wonderful friends, world class restaurants, the beach, the many interesting and eccentric people, the weather most of the time, the way the mountains meet the sea, the low cost of living and a slower pace of life; less stress.
There are many practical reasons to move to Puerto Vallarta as well. Flights to and from Canada and the US are plentiful making a visit to see the grandkids just a few hours away. Immigration is lenient; you are welcome to stay up to 180 days every time you enter the country. Want to stay permanently; the process to obtain a residential visa is quick, simple and inexpensive. Purchasing property in Vallarta is facilitated through a bank trust called a Fideicomiso. Properties pass directly to your beneficiaries avoiding the Mexican court system and the resulting inheritance taxes. Real estate taxes are very inexpensive, only $100 dollars a year for each $100,000 in assessed value. Our infrastructure aside for the cobblestone streets is quite modern; you might want to consider a Jeep! Phone, electrical and water is pretty much what you are used to north of the border; our water is sanitary to drink but a good filter makes it taste better. Shopping is very good! Super Centers are in abundance and we do have a local branch of Liverpool in the Gallerias Mall, think Macy’s! Friends coming down to visit frequently ask, what can I bring you? My response to that is well thanks but I don’t need anything! If you could bring me a corned beef on rye from Manny’s that would be terrific!!
Why did I move to Mexico? A chance at age 51, to turn the clock back and live in a simpler time!
While fitness and health are crucial elements of an enjoyable retirement defining the two concepts is not an easy task. There are infinite variables depending on age, physical limitations, motivation, environment, etc.
Two things, however, are irrefutable. Activity of any level should be a primary goal and eating a healthy diet are critical.
On this page I will address both health and fitness on various levels. I will provide links, articles, ideas and recommendations for maintaining a fitness regimen regardless of limitations as well as a variety of way to ensure healthy eating habits.
Movement – Consistency and Commitment
The idea of movement can encompass any number of activities. At the very basic level, all ambulatory people should begin and maintain a regimen of walking. Starting with modest goals is the secret. Twenty minutes of walking as vigorously as physical condition allows, at least 3 times a week should be the starting point. This can be accomplished either outdoors or indoors, no matter what climate or weather. Once this becomes a habit, minutes and frequency can be increased. Consistency and a commitment to maintain that consistency is the key to success.
