Okay, so the recession wasn’t so bad after all. I mean it’s the reason I now live here in Cancun. For the most part, that’s a true story. Several years ago I began extensive travel, one day ending up in the south of France. I remember driving in from Italy and turning the sharp corners towards Monaco. Suddenly, there it was. Cote d’Azur, endless ocean, pebble beaches, sea walls and quaint shops. I was in love. After returning home to Canada, I considered a permanent move to Nice. For all events and purposes a move just wasn’t in the cards. As inspired as I was to relocate, I’m too old to just wing it day-by-day with a loaf of bread in one hand and a locker key in the other. That year Nice was encountering a tough economical downtime (owning an unemployment rate of more than 14%) and they just couldn’t take one more (foreign) drain. The following year, after another bout of extensive travel, Australia became an option but once again, trouble in far away lands (more like immigration impossibilities) so I remained in my beloved country for two more years.
So, back to the recession. It eventually snuck across the Canadian border and struck us all with a swift kick in the pants. The vengeance came later. I had been employed by the same company for 13 (long) years. It wasn’t the job I disliked as much as the person with whom I worked. So, with the recession standing at the door and my job restricted to “how about I just call you when I need you” (like anyone can pay the bills on such a ridiculous offer), I realized I had two options. One, I could get in the massive line-up to scour my city for another job of it’s kind or two) I could join the other line-up and move. I chose two.
The year before my move I met and briefly dated this guy. We met in the Fall and as the holidays neared, he pleaded for a Cancun vacation. Personally, I’m more of a Europe / history girl than a margarita / beach girl so I snubbed his suggestion. Two weeks later we had a trip booked to Cancun. One week after we booked our trip, we broke up (yeah, I know). It’s now 30 below and mid-December as I sat in my snow-embraced apartment. I decided to go alone mainly because United wouldn’t refund my flight. I landed in Cancun on Christmas Eve, stayed at a hostel (the only place with room at the inn) and had the time of my life. I absolutely loved it. Hats off to spontaneity.
So, back to the recession. When my career became inadequate due to the economy and the outlandish offer by my employer, I (eventually) considered that misfortune an opportunity. I noted all my logical concerns (finances, employment, housing, contacts, friends, immigration, starting over and the all important what if’s) and realized it was now or never. I decided to try my luck doing some thing else some place else. What, I didn’t know…but I did know where. I shared my desire to move with three close friends, finished my employment contract (all the while quietly selling everything I owned – which is not advisable during a recession btw) and bought a one-way ticket. It seems I am a margarita / beach girl after all.
Related Articles
- S.A.-Cancun nonstop flights on Delta announced (mysanantonio.com)
- Top 5 Cancun Must-Sees (travelinsurance.org)
- Five unique all-inclusive Cancun vacations | Orbitz Blog (orbitz.com)
