Life in Mexico: Music, Writing, and Self-Reflection

Taking three months in Mexico to reset life offers a unique chance to explore passions and rethink priorities, and get away fom the dreary weather of Vancouver. This time away , especially since while down here I retired from my career of 30 years, brought time and opportunity to play guitar and sing in front of people, while also carving out space to work on my novel. Sounds good, right? So why then am I doing retirement all wrong and accepted a job interview this week?

Finding Time and Space to Create

Retiring while in Mexico unexpectedly opened up time that had be

en hard to find before. Without the usual daily grind, mornings stretched longer and evenings were already unwound. This new rhythm made it easier to pick up the guitar and sing in front of small audiences at the local bar. Music became a way to connect, and the venues allowed me to put my original songs out there. I may even look for a regular gig next year.

At the same time, the extra hours allowed for focused writing sessions. Carefully crafting the story instead of rushing to get some words in prior to or at the end of the work day. At the tail of of this time in Mexico I also stumbled upon a writers club down here. Their encouragement and shared passion reminded me that creating something from nothing brings a unique joy and sense of accomplishment.

The Writers Community and Its Impact

The social event that I joined, brought together people at different stages of their writing journeys. There were readings from novels, poetry, and radio monologues. Hearing their voices and stories reinforced the idea that publishing a book is a special achievement, even if it feels common in numbers.

A webinar i attended from a publishing company provided eye-opening statistics. About one million books are published every year in North America. At first, this number seemed overwhelming and made the goal of publishing feel less unique. But breaking it down reveals a different perspective:

• If the statistic refers to English-speaking North America, the population is about 380 million

• If it includes all of geographical North America, the population rises to over 600 million

  
  

This means only about 0.1% to 0.2% of the population publishes a book annually. Viewed this way, becoming a published author is indeed a rare and special accomplishment. Coupled with the perspective that the writers' social had on me.

• Motivation to keep writing regularly

• Constructive feedback to improve drafts

• Inspiration from others’ stories and styles

• A sense of belonging with like-minded individuals

It highlights the value of committing fully to the craft rather than rushing toward other opportunities.

The unexpected job interview on the horizon challenges the idea of retirement as an end to work. It raises questions about what it means to retire well. After engaging deeply with music and writing, the thought of returning to a conventional job feels less urgent. There is a growing desire to take time and do creative work properly, to commit fully to the joy and discipline it requires. This phase of life is less about stopping and more about shifting focus.