Dirt & Cactus
Snow Day
on OCTOBER 16, 2021
#originally written sans wifi on October 12, 2021 near Temple Mountain, Utah
That title may be a bit hyperbolic, but true none-the-less. I’m currently nestled in wool, down and alpaca listening to the light sprinkles of tiny sleet balls falling … Read More
Road Tripping Blues
on OCTOBER 8, 2021
Reflecting on past travels, road tripping has been a mainstay for us and the safest and most comfortable way to travel. We started out our travel journey with road trips because at that point, we didn’t have the funds available … Read More
on APRIL 28, 2021
I was so unacclimated to the seasons when we moved here. They were so different than what I was used to, that I had to make up my own taxonomy. Here in Pescadero, I would say we’re about mid-Winter, which … Read More
Waiting Game
on MARCH 16, 2021
Yes. Although I feel we have all been collectively holding our breath, here we are still waiting – waiting for the anxiety to dissipate, waiting for our turn for the vaccine, waiting for the world to open back up, and … Read More
on FEBRUARY 1, 2021
Hello Dirt and Cactus fans! I’m back to blogging after a brief creative hiatus to reflect and refocus. The beginning of the year – and particularly this our year of 2021 – was more reflective than others for me. I’m … Read More
on DECEMBER 7, 2020
I wanted to start this post with “gone are the cloudy skies of summer,” but it seems we may get a few sprinkles this next Thursday. Regardless, the days are warmer and sunny, and the skies generally clear at night … Read More
Here we go again
on NOVEMBER 18, 2020
Although intellectually we knew that the pandemic times would be intensifying come winter, we’re still disappointed that they are. With the amount of tourist travel from the US, even though we haven’t heard of a massive outbreak yet, we’ve heard … Read More
on NOVEMBER 3, 2020
Summer has finally broken – at least the humidity, that is. Many full-timers are breathing a sigh of relief with this transition, and I, for one, am thrilled that my knees and eyelids are no longer sweating. Cooler nights and … Read More
on OCTOBER 13, 2020
I’m not sure if you are as tired as I am with the seemingly endless turmoil wafting back and forth across our collective consciousness like unwanted flotsam, but I’m guessing you are. Even if you are super human and can … Read More
Shit’s Bananas!
on SEPTEMBER 14, 2020
As the days pass by, each oddly similar to the other, I realized it had been a while since I posted. The anxiety that comes from social media feeds filled with COVID doom, continually exasperating political news, orange skies from … Read More
Illegal Alien (almost)
on AUGUST 10, 2020
Things are heating up here in many ways, some more welcome than others. The first is physical. Summer has arrived with it’s humidity and increased temperatures. As I type this at 11am, it is 84 degrees and 63% humidity (feels … Read More
Cochinita Pibil
on JULY 29, 2020
I love Mexican food, but I have a serious soft spot for Yucatean cuisine. We have spent a fair amount of time wandering the ruins of the peninsula and the beautiful cobblestone streets of Mérida. If you followed the blog … Read More
What’s your dirt doin’ in my ditch?
on JULY 1, 2020
I realized I hadn’t penned a post for a while. If you are still sheltering in place like we are, life is pretty mundane (luckily). Things are opening up here, which freaks me out. The population of ex-pats that is … Read More
Experiments
on JUNE 8, 2020
I haven’t spoken much about retirement lately. For me, it is a sensitive topic right now with so many out of work. I feel for all those who have been fighting to make ends meet. While we are not living … Read More
Greens
on JUNE 17, 2020
It’s time for a garden update! Everything is growing like gangbusters. In fact, I haven’t purchased a CSA box in four weeks because we have enough coming from the garden right now. The radishes have all been harvested and consumed, … Read More
Essential Activities
on JUNE 1, 2020
I’ve been struggling a bit about how to keep going with this blog and still be cognizant of the multiple dumpster fires that are burning around the globe. After a lot of thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that some … Read More
Comfort Food
on MAY 17, 2020
Back in the day when money was tight, Switch and I used to scratch our travel itch with long road trips across the U.S. We did at least 5 cross country trips taking all different routes; even one that sent … Read More
¡Felicidades! a mí
on APRIL 20, 2020
Funny, I think I just realized that I never updated my blog with an important announcement. I’m sure you’ve noticed, but there are a few things going on right now in the world and celebrating anything feels odd. The state … Read More
Herbing it up
on APRIL 18, 2020
Any of you that have eaten my cooking will notice that I use a lot of fresh herbs – to the extent that sometimes herbs like mint, parsley and scallions masquerade as a vegetable in the dish. I’ve always used … Read More
Growing in uncertain times
on APRIL 7, 2020
One of the reasons we moved to Pescadero was the abundance of fresh produce available year-round. We are lucky enough to have a verdant view of the farm fields below which grow produce primarily for the U.S., but also local … Read More
Raiding the pantry
on MARCH 28, 2020
It’s getting pretty weird out there for just about everyone in the world. In our area, we are finally seeing signs of the awareness of this treacherous virus. The most promising of those signs came a couple days ago as … Read More
ní una más
on MARCH 13, 2020
As the disappointing U.S. primary news filters through, sometimes it is good to reflect on how many women around the globe face much bigger challenges than the disappointment of the democratic choices dwindling down to two white men. Violence against … Read More
Coronacolypse
on MARCH 20, 2020
It seems like everything these days is discussed with a veil of trepidation and a 1,000 yard stare into the distance. This is a time when we are reaching out to loved ones a bit more often and mulling over … Read More
To-do list
on FEBRUARY 4, 2020
I know I just posted about my retirement transition last week, and guess what? Plans have already changed a bit. Looks like I’ll be retiring a bit sooner than I thought. My company is backfilling my position with someone who … Read More
El Triunfo
on JANUARY 13, 2020
Over the holiday, we hosted family here at la casa de once once. We have had a few friends visit here and there, but this was the first time we have hosted more than a couple people over several days. … Read More
It’s Official!
on JANUARY 28, 2020
This post will be short and sweet, but I am proud to announce that I am officially entering the retirement phase. I actually gave notice to my work before the holidays, but we’ve been negotiating and I wanted to make … Read More
Fresh Catch
on DECEMBER 28, 2019
Living by the ocean has its advantages, and one of those is the availability of fresh seafood. Just before our holiday guests arrived, some locals came by with fresh oysters and clams. Being from the PNW, I’m used to smaller … Read More
Flux
on DECEMBER 8, 2019
Looking back at the last two years, I feel like we have been in a suspended period of transition. Traveling back and forth from San Francisco to Cabo has definitely created a lot of stress and contributed to a few … Read More
RIP Soba
on NOVEMBER 16, 2019
Just a quick update because I realize it’s been a minute since I posted. We have been grieving the loss of our sweet little Soba and I just haven’t felt like talking about it. While I’m happy I made it … Read More
Introducing la casa de once once
on OCTOBER 13, 2019
This weekend, we made some progress in living our brand. Drumroll, please…… our house has now officially been christened the 11:11 house! In español, this is once once, pronounced ohn-se ohn-se (pretty close to OOntz OOntz, right?) For those of … Read More
Las Tormentas
on SEPTEMBER 21, 2019
For those of you familiar with Baja, you know that it is hurricane season. Most people I talk to are not aware that hurricanes exist in this region. I find this lightly amusing and certainly indicative of the myopic news … Read More
¡Tenemos mas electricidad!
on SEPTEMBER 2, 2019
For those of you who have been following, I’m sure you remember the saga of getting on municipal power. We will always remember the months of living out of coolers. NEVER FORGET! This will be the first truly joint post … Read More
Enhancing the dirt
on JULY 26, 2019
Now that the house is complete, we’re working at making the yard less of a hobo dirt pit. It is slow going, but even if it doesn’t seem like it right now, we have a plan. Planting in the desert … Read More
See you at priceless!
on JULY 4, 2019
Just a quick update to let you know that I’ll be doing an Ignite talk at Priceless this year. If you happen to be there, swing by the forest stage at 5pm on Friday. Love you all!
Tile is in!
on JUNE 16, 2019
You don’t know how happy it makes me to post this. Seems silly to get that excited about tile, but as you know we built the house as a blank canvas, and we’ve been living in that blank canvas for … Read More
Isla espiritu santo
on MAY 25, 2019
Recently, my mom finally made it down for a visit. One of the great things about having guests – wherever you are – is that it forces you to get out and experience your location in the eyes of a … Read More
Swimventure on the east cape
on MAY 5, 2019
I recently picked up a camping book for Baja thinking that it would be a great resource for the drives up and down the peninsula. As a bonus, it also called attention to a couple local places to explore. So … Read More
¡Tenemos las rocas!
on APRIL 28, 2019
This post is going to make me sound like an alcoholic, but really I’m just a hedonist. Learning a new language, you don’t typically remember when you learn every new word, but this one is an exception. The first time … Read More
Bye Bye dirt pit
on MARCH 23, 2019
Despite the fact that we had to wait a bit for workers to be available, the outside patio is now well under way. For the past several months, our picturesque infinity pool was flanked by two dirt expanses speckled with … Read More
The build – phase 2
on MARCH 17, 2019
Very early in the design of our house, I wanted to create a feeling of connectedness with the outside. The landscape is so beautiful – why would we waste that view by boxing it up? Now that the house is … Read More
The baja commute
on FEBRUARY 18, 2019
Lately, my room in my quaint San Francisco apartment has been looking like a small warehouse. We’re starting to settle in and decorate the house and so boxes have started piling up. I take items down with me every time … Read More
A brief study on maize
on JANUARY 27, 2019
For those of you who do not subscribe to food porn-hub, apologies because we’re going to get busy with a giant ingredient in food history: maize (aka corn). Just a passing glance at a mexican cookbook or restaurant menu will … Read More
Shit gets personal
on JANUARY 20, 2019
Procrastination is not something I suffer from regularly. Several years back, on a lazy afternoon with friends, we decided to come up with toasts that represented our personalities. Mine was “let’s just fucking do this!” So when I noticed that … Read More
Teotihuacan
on DECEMBER 29, 2018
When I was in art school, I had the pleasure of having a really good teacher for my foundational art history class. Aside from a brutal final where we had to memorize 500 works (author/date/movement) and be able to complete … Read More
What to do with a turkey carcass…
on NOVEMBER 25, 2018
During our trip to the mainland, we ate so frequently that periodically, I found myself looking for something lighter. Almost every restaurant we went to had a version of caldo de pollo (chicken soup) on the menu. Now the quality … Read More
CDMX – days 1 to 3
on NOVEMBER 23, 2018
Now that we have electricity in the house and we’re scheming on build phase 2 (pool/patio finishing starts next week!), I’m making good on my promise to tell you all about our trip to the mainland. We’ll start where our … Read More
SPECIAL UPDATE ¡TENEMOS ELETRICIDAD!
on NOVEMBER 8, 2018
Only roughly 7 months after our expected date, we finally have municipal electricity! You can’t imagine what a game changer this is. Instead of dwelling on what we will no longer have to do (run to the ice store every … Read More
¡Hola y Adios, Vacaciones!
on NOVEMBER 4, 2018
If you follow me on Instagram (@shickox), you’re aware that we’ve been traveling around mainland México for the past couple weeks. It has been an amazing vacation, and I would lie if I said I was fully ready to get … Read More
Who loves shopping for swimsuits?
on OCTOBER 8, 2018
If you identify as a woman, I bet you just let out an audible sigh reading that title. Like most women out there, shopping for swimwear ranks among my least favorite activities – right up there with doing taxes and … Read More
on SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
One of the first Baja books I purchased was the Baja California Plant Field Guide. I’ll admit I have been known to curl up on the couch and read it for fun. Sometimes, the writers add little nuggets of history about … Read More
It’s 90 degrees, let’s make some hot soup!
on AUGUST 28, 2018
Yeah, I know it isn’t the most practical, but here I find myself, in Mexico, sweating over a hot stove on Sunday afternoon. What compelled me to do this? At this moment I’m wondering, but the fruits of these labors … Read More
Un dia a la playa
on JULY 29, 2018
After a pretty challenging work week, Switch and I made a pact to get out to the beach this weekend. I voted for Balandra Bay, which I’ve heard much about but have never been able to visit. Saturday morning we … Read More
House building – a lesson in embracing the imperfect
on JULY 18, 2018
In the beginning of this house building adventure, I casually threw around this term – rustic. At that time, to me, “rustic” meant raw materials juxtaposed against more crisp modern details. I envisioned slabs of reclaimed wood and rusty metal … Read More
Still a little like camping, but eh?
on JUNE 30, 2018
I have so many updates! Starting a big new project at work really crimps my blog writing time. Ok enough whining, let’s do this! soba and i survived We made the trip south and kitteh was a trooper. I … Read More
What a difference a week makes
on JUNE 10, 2018
So much has happened in the last week, I’m going to do a list update and dive deeper on a few subjects. Our household goods arrived this weekend – yay! bed! Yesterday, they finished the windows and started measuring for … Read More
I guess something was bound to go wrong, eventually
on MAY 27, 2018
Yes, I know it has been a while since I posted but between all the moving logistics and work getting bonkers, I haven’t had much time for anything. I keep hearing this thing called “self-care” and wondering what that could … Read More
¡Tenemos ventanas y puertas y agua!
on JUNE 2, 2018
So with walls, doors and water we can totally move in, right?!? Well, that’s just what we did, but there is one very important detail missing – plumbing. Until the toilets are installed, I feel like it isn’t quite livable. … Read More
Adventures in quatro a quatro
on MAY 6, 2018
Last weekend was entirely focused on packing up all of our household goods and prepping the Menaje de Casa for shipping. It was tight, but timing wasn’t in my favor as I had to be in Austin for a wedding … Read More
Felíz cumpleaños a mi
on APRIL 19, 2018
Oh hey everyone – this is my first official post FROM MEXICO! I’m down here for a week and managed to get a few days off which I’m extremely excited about. We are packing the teardrop trailer and getting ready … Read More
Reflection time: did we work well together?
on APRIL 8, 2018
We’re on-schedule for finishing construction in two weeks (!) and I can hardly believe it. Phase one will be a totally liveable house with water, appliances, floors, walls, windows and electricity. We have a short list of phase two items, … Read More
Seasonal produce
on APRIL 1, 2018
Verdant agricultural fields spread throughout the valley were one of the main reasons we chose our lot, but the prevalence of farming and availability of fresh produce was one of the reasons we chose Pescadero. As you know by now, … Read More
So. So close.
on MARCH 13, 2018
As I sit in my apartment watching the rain, I can’t help but daydream about a finished house and sunshine. Surprisingly, that dream isn’t too far off now. I’ll post next week about the new logistics, but this week, I’m … Read More
Nesting
on MARCH 5, 2018
Now that the physical structure is up and we are starting the finishing of the house, it is time to start thinking about the interior design. We’ve been so focused on getting the house done, I’ll admit I haven’t given … Read More
Finally, some fun with color
on FEBRUARY 20, 2018
Any of you who have been with me on this journey of house building know that I’m a teeny bit obsessed with cement tile. Cement tile was first used in Spain in the mid-1800’s and proliferated in the turn of … Read More
Go towards the light, Carol Ann
on FEBRUARY 11, 2018
So much has happened since my last building update, the best way to go over all of it is bullet points. Walls Exterior and interior walls are at elevation. This was probably the fastest part of the build. In … Read More
La Cocina
on FEBRUARY 5, 2018
It is difficult to believe, but we are all prepped for pouring the roof. I’ll share some pics of the latest build, but I want to spend this post talking about the process of designing the kitchen. This is THE … Read More
On track, on time, on budget
on JANUARY 28, 2018
Yes, I know this is where those of you following along remind me that we started late because of hurricane season, but I will argue that the clock really didn’t start until we broke ground in October. Regardless (or “irregardless” … Read More
Building Update – ¡tenemos paredes!
on JANUARY 14, 2018
We have walls! I suspect that this is the part of the build process where you see the most progress. You see it not because the most progress is being made, but because the progress is so visually obvious. The … Read More
Driving Baja – day 2 – the desert expanse
on JANUARY 8, 2018
If you didn’t read the last post in this series, you may want to go back and read it first. driving baja: day one – crossing the border On the second day, we got on the road at the crack of … Read More
A transition year
on JANUARY 1, 2018
Aside from a stupid head-cold I contracted while visiting family in the cold/wet tundra of the great NW, I’m feeling pretty good. My man is with me, we have a bunch of good visits with family and friends under our … Read More
Anyone for a swim?
on DECEMBER 10, 2017
I realize now that I’ve been remiss in posting lately. We’ve both been heads down working as much as we can to make up for a couple of unanticipated costs – which means long work weeks and little down-time. Luckily, … Read More
Driving baja – day one, crossing the border
on NOVEMBER 22, 2017
About 7 months ago, in April, my husband and I moved him down to his new apartment in Pescadero. We loaded up the trailer with as much as we could and drove from Oakland to Red Rock Canyon for some … Read More
Down to the bedrock
on NOVEMBER 18, 2017
It has been a bit since I last posted, but a flurry of activity has been going on at the build site. We have officially started pouring the foundation. Below are some pictures of the prep for that. The foundation … Read More
ch-ch-ch-changes, part 3
on NOVEMBER 1, 2017
As I pack for a quick weekend trip down to Pescadero (yay!), I’ll post the third installment in my series chronicling the changes I expect to encounter when moving to Mexico: Transportation Being in a dense, urban city means having … Read More
Bend all the rebar!
on OCTOBER 27, 2017
I can’t tell you how good it feels to see construction in full swing. Our heroic workers are out there on the weekend and they’re making fast progress. Our water cistern and septic are both in which means we should … Read More
ch-ch-ch-changes, part 2
on OCTOBER 19, 2017
This is the second installment in a series chronicling a few changes I expect to encounter when moving to Mexico. Southeast Asian Food Thailand was on the list of our retirement locations before the laws for expats changed so dramatically. … Read More
ch-ch-ch-changes, part 1
on OCTOBER 14, 2017
Uprooting and moving to another country will mean many adjustments to everyday life. While mentally preparing for the move, many times I catch myself musing about those differences. Among the obvious ones (language, separation from family and friends, simpler life) … Read More
Champagne or oversized scissors?
on OCTOBER 8, 2017
It is official! We have broken ground on the house – technically right on (the revised) schedule. Let’s hope this bodes well for the remainder of the project. We’re not kidding ourselves – there will be additional delays – but … Read More
Water is the essence of wetness
on SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
Lately, I find myself paying a lot more attention to the weather. The intensity of the storms this year has created a global conversation and raised the issue of global warming to the forefront. While the warmer waters have not … Read More
Cat therapy
on SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
This has been a difficult week. I’m not going to lie. While the past three months have been more of an emotional roller coaster, I feel like I’m settling into a constant, mildly bummed-out state. There was something about this … Read More
Is the world literally falling apart?
on SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
For those of you who haven’t heard, there was a magnitude 8.2 earthquake off the coast of Mexico last night. While there were tsunami warnings for southern Baja, luckily we were spared. So soon after intense tropical storm Lidia hit, we are … Read More
Expansion
on SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
Back in 2001, my husband and I went to an event just north of Playa Del Carmen. At that time, the small beach town south of Tulum on the Yucatan was primarily dirt roads with a few scattered hotels and … Read More
Structural engineering
on SEPTEMBER 1, 2017
As my husband makes his way back down South after a delightful two weeks, my thoughts turn to the future. I’m sure it is partially a defense mechanism – the future contains the time where we are no longer living … Read More
The path of totality!
on AUGUST 25, 2017
Those of you who know me also know that I am a nut for nature. Often, I think that I could have been a meteorologist or storm chaser in another life. I used to dream about tornadoes and still squeal … Read More
We have bricks! But storms’ a brewin’
on AUGUST 11, 2017
The photo here is the beginning of our locally-made, artisanal bricks; so exciting and oh so hipster! After getting the photo via email, we both separately asked our builder if it was time to move in yet. I guess that’s … Read More
Now I’m regretting the decision to live a year apart
on JULY 30, 2017
You may be thinking “I would love a year apart form my partner, what’s the big deal? Just think of all the amazing things I could get done!” While this is true (you do get a lot more done), the … Read More
Planning an exit strategy
on JULY 21, 2017
A few months ago, I decided to leave my job. Since this was a significant life milestone, we thought we would look at the projections and see where we would be financially if we both just moved down to Mexico. … Read More
Ok, I’m ready to move, but can I afford this?
on JULY 14, 2017
…aka fun with spreadsheets! When we first floated the idea amongst ourselves, we had no idea of timeline. Living in another country seemed amorphous and very far in the future. We did make two bets early on that ended up … Read More
Building property in Mexico faq
on JULY 5, 2017
Full disclosure, we are still at the very beginning of our building journey. We have a finalized floor plan, permits and are in production for our building materials (locally sourced bricks!). We break ground August 1, 2017 if all goes … Read More
“Buying” property in Mexico faq
on JUNE 27, 2017
I’m by no means an expert on buying property in a foreign country, but here are a few of the most commonly asked questions I get: Q: “I heard you can’t actually own property in Mexico.” A: This is … Read More
Why Baja California Sur? (aka location, location, location)
on JUNE 21, 2017
We’re not the most well traveled people (i.e. not trust fund babies), but early in our relationship, my husband and I shared a love of wandering. Back then (in the early 90’s), that travel took the form of road trips … Read More
This seems crazy, why did we do this?
on JUNE 14, 2017
I’m sure some of you are thinking, “why not?” so maybe this post isn’t for you. But for those of you who are thinking we are a little “out there”, I’ll try to add some color. The first question that … Read More
Welcome to expat living in Baja California Sur!
on JUNE 6, 2017
… but wait, I’m getting a bit ahead of myself. 5 years ago in our late 30’s, my husband and I decided to start thinking about what retirement could be for us. We don’t have kids and weren’t planning on having them. Watching … Read More