The Reports of my Death are Greatly Exaggerated
As they are wont to do in a small town, the so-called “coconut wireless” has been abuzz with news of our departure. Gawd, what a dicky sentence. What am I, the Pope? Actually, I’m pretty sure no one has noticed our plans to leave, since following our year’s hiatus, no one really reads this blog anymore. It is now mainly made up of Jillian and I writing to each other via a server in Texas, rather than simply talking across the room. But a few friends have been asking questions about our future and our plans, and so I assume others may be wondering, too.
Myth #1: Malcolm and Jillian hate Mexico, are snotty little shits, and are leaving forever.
As much as we may complain, we still find a lot to love about living here, and will continue returning to the area seasonally, whether in a new, smaller house of our own, or in a rental in the beach or in the big city. And, of course, if our house hasn’t sold, we’ll continue to use it on visits back. After nearly four years of living here, after turning our house from a crackershack on the beach into a fully-functional, contemporary home, we just need to see what is next, whether it’s a farmhouse in Maine, or a hotel in Spain.* We never meant to live here, or anywhere for that matter, forever. That’s a very long time, and it’s a great big world out there. That being said, however, we are kind of snotty.
That reminds me, and this is totally an aside, but do you think people are pulling back from us slightly because we’re leaving? Is it like being a patient with a terminal illness, and no one wants to invest too much in you anymore? Or is it a perceived rejection of the dreams of others? I dunno, just spitballing here.
Myth #2: Yolisto will be shut down/given away/abandoned/sold to Russians.
Though still not entirely embraced by expats living in Merida, for reasons that remain unclear to me, I am incredibly proud of the site we have built and the community that powers it. I think that we have also built a resource that will continue to hopefully be bigger than the people behind it. When Merida Insider closed its doors, I was baffled that it could just be taken offline. At a certain point, you have a responsibility to the people that count on your site for information, communication, or whatever other needs you have set out to fill, and I take that responsibility very seriously.
Obviously, there will be some changes, but I think they will benefit the site. Being slightly separate will allow me to focus less on the personalities involved in the site, and more on what I should be doing, which is moderating disputes, answering questions, and developing features. You can expect that I will fade into the background a little bit, but the site will hopefully become stronger as a result.
Myth #3: Malcolm and Jillian are leaving in March, and DroppedIn will go back on hiatus.
Nah. Right now, our plan is to load up the truck, and drive north on or around June 18th, taking our time, and arriving in Washington D.C. in time for the fourth of July. Frigin’ patriotic, right? It’s my favorite holiday, and I think having it there will be one helluva “welcome back.” This is tentative and prone to change, but it’s where we’ve landed for right now.
Though we may get involved in other projects, I have a feeling that we’ll continue to blather on here on DroppedIn. When we shut it down the first time, it was with the idea that since the Mexico chapter was closed, the site was closed, too. Now, we’re less sure that’s what it’s about. For some reason, writing here has always been easiest for us; has always felt more intimate and more honest. I think we’ll keep updating it, even as things change yet again, and I hope that anyone that wants to follow along as we continue to develop this life of ours, will stick around for the ride.
*We do not currently have plans to open a hotel in Spain.
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Comment by Missy on 10 March 2010:
Truth be told, we’re having a hard time fathoming life here without you. Living on this sandy outpost west of Progreso together–like being in battle together or stuck in an elevator together or assigned the same dorm room freshman year of college together–forges an unbreakable bond. On the contrary, it’s more like the four of us have survived a terminal illness together. Whether you’re in Portland, Spain, Scotland, or Outer Mongolia- we get the privilege of knowing you now forever, like you once said. I don’t know what kind of crazy karma we share, but I am ever thankful that we had the great fortune of meeting and befriending you (instead of fighting you, which was the alternate option).
It’s going to be hard to see you go, very hard. But knowing how ready you are to start this new chapter, to be anything other than happy and excited and supportive of you would be just selfish.
Malden hearts Malcolm and Jillian 4-ever.
Comment by Nan Logan on 10 March 2010:
We will really miss you two and hope you will not stay too much in the background at Yolisto. I am glad to hear that Dropped in will continue too as it will feel as if we can still talk to you occasionally. You spent your childhoold wandering Malaacolm and I think that once you live in different places you develop ‘itchy feet’ and other places always seem so interesting. We plan to always be here , but I must admit Ecuador looks interesting……
I see you are leaving on my birthday to avoid giveing me a gift. We wish you and JIllian all the best and look forward to seeing you in Chelem seasonally – perhaps with a little Malcolm or Jillian along.
Comment by Mom on 14 March 2010:
This is all making me cry, I guess I’m going to have to go with you.
Comment by CoyoteMan on 15 March 2010:
I read this blog and all the others on the Yolisto news page religiously. I knew you were leaving from the moment you started writing about it.
Thanks for clearing up the myths. I think you’ve built a nice little site here and should be congratulated for it. If there are some ex-pats who have not embraced it, don’t worry: some are posting on their own blogs and don’t have the time, I suspect, to devote to a board like Yolisto; some of it is still Merida Insider hangover; and some of it, I think, is that there is a schism in the ex-pat community between those who have come to Yucatan because it’s cheap and warm, and those who have come down to live in the embrace of culture that is Yucatan.
I don’t think any board can serve both those audiences.
Good luck with your move. If you get to New England, look me up.
– Josh
Comment by Malcolm on 16 March 2010:
Hi Josh,
Thanks for reading! You make some great points, that I actually want to address in a separate entry. Stay tuned.
Comment by Malcolm on 16 March 2010:
Awe, gosh Missy, thanks for such a nice comment. As you mentioned, though, the “where” will likely become the least significant part of our friendship…we look forward to way more adventures and giggles with you two.
Comment by Theresa in Merida on 17 March 2010:
I have been away from the internet, so this comment comes a tad late. I think Josh has it right on or pretty close to right on. I got a bit burnt out on forums while MI was still around, I started blogging because I could say what I wanted to say without having to defend myself. I also got tired of answering the same questions(so rather than be rude like some people seemed to think was a fair response,I chose to give someone else the chance to step up) or I simply didn’t know the answers to other questions.
I think that people who move to the beach have different needs than city people. It was the same when I lived in the country, country folk look at things very differently than city folk. While I would love to move to a more rural life, the beach holds few attractions for me, too cold, too windy. I need more plants and less ocean to be happy.
I also think that the character of a forum changes over time, new people find it and are excited and ask many questions. People settle into their lives and are very busy, then people lose some of the excitement of discovery and wander off.
I am almost writing a blog post of my own here, I guess I have been away from the keyboard too long.
I wish you the best in your new adventure.
regards,
Theresa
Comment by Brian on 28 April 2010:
My two cents on the exodus — people may not like the reality that once a dream is achieved, it may not be happily ever after, that it’s time to move onto the next goal. We come here to escape, live vicariously, dream that we are your neighbors, away from our daily U.S. routine. We hope and wish we could do what you did — escape.
I think you’ll have a new-found audience in those who want to see how you gauge your new life against the past, and hopefully open our eyes to the opportunities around us that we may not fully appreciate.
Comment by Malcolm on 29 April 2010:
Wow, thanks for the comment, Brian.
Comment by Debbie on 15 May 2010:
I’m just catching up for a moment on unread posts and threads – too busy with work/school/stuff in recent weeks. But I wanted to wish you luck and say how much I appreciate your work on Yolisto and the great writing and insights on the blog. They played a huge part in providing me the answers and comfort level we needed to take the plunge last fall and buy a house in Merida. I’ve also connected with and met a bunch of great people through Yolisto and the meet-up last October. So thanks!