Tacho retired after 44 years of being the handyman at the park. He fixed the electrical, knew where every water and sewage line runs underground, maintained the pool and on one occasion where 2 ladies were having a dispute in the street I heard someone say " get Tacho"! He supervised the "boys" and generally helped everyone out with their problemos. Through it all he always remained calm and steady. Judy made him a hat with nuts and bolts around the edge, a big snake representing the 10 footer Tacho removed from the park one day, and other memory items. A man of few words, I am sure he knows a lot more Inglés than he ever let on. Everyone chipped in on a card and contribution which will help with his knee operation.
Tacho
The main street from the pool to the beach is now Tacho Way.
Imagine the changes he has seen to this area. The people he has seen come and go. Even we have commented on the growth in the 5 years we have been here. The number of Mexican families coming to camp in the park has increased along with a move from tents to RVs. The turnover in the park as new people arrive and long timers do not return for various reasons, usually health concerns or death. There is the new highway coming into this area not to mention great highways and bypasses all along our drive from the U.S. to here from both coasts. There is construction everywhere. The back street we take into La Peñita has a huge condo complex going up right outside our gate on the point and a new Wanda's restaurant is nearly ready to open along it. Wanda's in Rincon is a fairly high end restaurant and one of our favourites. There are also rumours of a new Oxxo on the same street. Yikes this used to be dirt, a graveyard and chickens with some basic housing on one side and some gringo houses along the beach side.
The park gate is black on the right
The new Wanda's about a 5 minute walk.
Even the side streets in town are packed
Mexico has an energy about it. Lots of young people and little kids. More families with pampered dogs and cats. Street paving with bricks and clean up continues. I already pine for the good old days 3 years ago when tourist season consisted of half of December to mid February. Most came by plane and we could wave Adios from our patio in 2 weeks.
Prices have gone up for everything although we find if you shop on the side streets it is a little cheaper. Although Health Canada would run screaming in the other direction.
It is with mixed feelings that we acknowledge change. It brings opportunity for those who live here.
It brings other things, there was an actual purse snatching in town, of course, it was probably an out of towner. And hey, it was still big news, uncommon. Some day we may not recognize the area as it is hard to see how such a beautiful beach would not be developed over the years to come. Do not think of the past we cannot change it or hold on to it, do not look to the future we cannot know it, live in the moment.
I shake Tacho's hand and he gives me a hug. I remember holding a flashlight for him while he fixed a burnt out electric outlet in the dead of night. I say "Feliz Jubilacion! A quién llamarán cuando las mujeres estén peleando?" (Happy retirement! Who will they call when the women are fighting?)
