A series of jarring juxtapositions brings to mind some fiscal concerns and perhaps a way to relieve some of them.
On my trip back to San Diego a week ago to prepare tax returns, sort through the mail and come face to face with all the unpleasant realities that are so easily forgotten here on the water, some money issues, over and above our lack of it, became apparent.
A quick burrito lunch with Archie at McDonald's owned Chipotle ... $20. Back in Melaque, dinner, outside on the Zocolo, of Pazole, a delicious hominy based stew with pork, chicken or beef, sort of like menudo without the tripe, plus plenty of beer ...110 pesos ($9).
We are now anchored off Las Hadas, of the movie "10" fame and again it's a little jarring. Suites go for upwards of $500 a night. That's more than most of the farmers and fishermen we have spent time amongst earn in a month and represents two weeks cruising kitty for us on Mandy. Rick, our good friend from the San Diego marina emailed us to recommend a restaurant here with a fine wine list. It turns out we are anchored right below it so we walked in to review the selection. Beautiful wines, even more beautifully presented, but each bottle would mean a week off the end of this adventure. Craving weeks more than wine we returned to Mandy and savoured our $2 a litre boxed Mexican special. Earthy, a bit young and lacking tannin, but with a lingering trace of more time on the sea.
Before, while "in harness" I always chose the finer bottle, devil take the hindmost, I'll either earn it or borrow it until I earn it. But now with a fixed fund and every expenditure accountable as time, I find myself becoming mean and miserly (Virginia nods head vigorously!)
Which brings me to a partial solution. Avid readers, should we be so lucky to have such, will notice the addition of banner ads to the blog. Technically we can't ask anyone specifically to click, but you should know that every click will cause freedom cents to flow to our Google account. So should you wish to window shop, please do it here and often, it's for the best cause I know.