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Todos Santos

 


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Just occasionally, alcohol or substance addiction has caused some problems in the Todos Santos community. One useful source to address this ubiqitous but distressing condition can be found at www.rational.org/

This is now only an archive column but still useful as a guide to some aspects of life in Todos Santos

April 2008

The writer has left the Pueblo Magico or Pueblo Tradigo as some of the locals now call the town. All the issues that I have written about over the past two years are pretty much still current and unsolved. The one aspect that has escalated is crime. Probably not surprising in a rapidly developing area where, as happens in all situations like this, the inequalities between the locals and the affluent incomers are pretty much 'in your face'.

Very sad but not unexpected, some old timer said 'MY God I did not see this coming', like many here he has had his head in the sand because this change has been coming down the Pike like an express train for a year or two.

This is not to say the town is devoid of charm. It has the ability to sustain and encourage dreams which can last three or four years, but from observation, thereafter, several othet ingredients need to be imbibed in order to sustain the illusion.

It is wonderful to reflect that I too once had that construction buzz and cement dust itch in my eye as I listened to the sound of dinero fluttering away. On reflection I would not have missed this experience and I am more than grateful that once it was over and the magic dust fell away I was able to get out feeling fulfilled and complete.

The town and community have many challenges to face, I wish them well.

 

Changes 02/17/08
I left yesterday’s meeting amazed and curious. I have been amazed by this in the past. Four years ago I emerged from the same venue enlivened by this same sense of amazement, curiosity and, an emotion not present this time, excitement. Four years ago the magic number had been 32: today it was at least 115. What is it about the Sunday Buddhist Dharma talk that attracts so many people? Granted Gringo numbers have swelled dramatically in this time period so, that alone should account for the new record of 115.

 The talks are delivered by gentle, committed, long experienced meditation teacher and lay Buddhist priest, Robert Hall. He emphasizes meditation and the practice of loving kindness as a well defined methodology for diminishing suffering: in this context suffering means the slings and arrows launched by the archer called Change.

Change, is a dynamic we all have a love/hate relationship with. Hate especially, if change inflicts it’s uncertainties on us personally. Is this the reason so many of us seek solace on a Sunday morning?

Todos Santos, changes daily. The energy of change is palpable, observable, like the ‘plein air’ that local painters swoon over. Change however tends not to manifest in the same subtle way. Change is in our face…construction…huge developments threatening the desert and gobbling up the wild places… new shops, many selling quantity rather than quality… traffic congestion…tour buses visiting what used be deserted beaches…and in the background of our minds we can hear the groaning of the infrastructure as it struggles to support the excessive demands being placed on it.

This groan is like the constant sound of the Pacific waves mockingly crashing against the dunes, sending shudders through the sandy soil etching cracks in walls and floors. We hear but do not pay attention to the obvious. Homes continue to spring up on dunes and in arroyos {dry storm river beds}. So it is with the infrastructure, concerns over water supply, electricity capacity, sewage treatment and now crime are acknowledged as a major concern by the informed. Perhaps then it is not surprising that the peace and the simple practice of meditation offered each Sunday morning continues to attract a growing audience.

I use the word audience deliberately rather than adherents, followers, or disciples {though some do fall into these categories} the reason? Well, some things do not appear to change. At the end of each talk Robert invites all to practice meditation for about 25 minutes. It is my observation that over the years, that more than 60% of the attendees leave at this point. They become just an audience leaving a show before the final act.

So to come full circle, this is why I am amazed and my curiosity is aroused. Why do they choose to leave? To me it is as though by meditating they might have to take responsibility for their soul journey. A heavy charge that ignores more mundane reasons, meeting friends or just plain uncomfortable, do they not know beforehand that meditation is part of the event? Or, would adding another sound and acknowledging the life-force be a breaking the dream the magic and myth that sustains life in Todos Santos? Oh! I could get so attached to this discussion this potential drama. But, you know what, it actually does not bother me now; it’s as simple as that. Boy what a change in me.

As for excitement, I could not trace any flutter yesterday.

Looking back, I recognize what excited me then. So many people seemed to be traveling the same path. This in some way seemed to validate my journey. It takes a brave soul to tread the empty path. I was not that brave. Besides which, my need for acceptance at that time was a veil of desire that obscured the light of truth, there is no path.

 

 


 

OVER

contd.

2008 Film Festival Program click for details

February 2008

Some 600 folk viewed this news page in the month of January.
The link from the index page implies that they would find news in this column. In this respect I feel I have let these readers down. There are two reasons for this lapse.

1. Verifiable news about hard local issues is difficult to sift out. Rumors and stories abound. Information is often filtered to reflect the hidden objectives of the provider.

2. The Mexican Community, quite rightly expect one to speak and read Spanish to participate in their news forums and are protective of their civic and political processes.

In hard copy, the Sud California, out of La Paz, is the best Spanish speaking newspaper for local news.

The Gringo Gazette, out of Cabo San Lucas, provides the English speaking community with views and commentary on many issues. Todos Santos is occasionally featured. The subjects are usually about charitable events or some other 'fluffy topic' but, heh! They can only print what they get and, I assume, G.G. has a verification filter.

El Calendario, our monthly high quality glossy magazine is the town's only hard copy advertising window informing the incoming day visitor. From time to time it indirectly dabbles in controversy through the pen of their preferred contributors.

Baja Onion online is a great Todos Santos forum reflecting, perfectly, the biases, fears, social priorities and general mindset of its contributors.

There has been an upsurge of Bulletin Boards ranting about 'Living in Mexico Issues".The issues that dominate are fear based, offering up one-sided and often ignorant {lacking all the facts} solutions to complex problems. There has also been an increase in blogs about experiences in Mexico. Blogs have been described as 'the electronic steam release valve of the disenfranchised'. That might be a bit unkind, because some are thoughful and stimulating.

So......what are the issues? Look through the archives of this column all are still live and, I have had no-one challenge me on any. Water, electricity, roads, planning zones, health, crime, drugs and corruption. Nothing new across the world I agree, but when they are all crammed into a small town and are manifesting daily that in itself can become an issue.

January 2008

A friend recently remarked that my writing showed that I had all the hallmarks of a curmudgeon.

I looked up the meaning...."a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person".... Hmmm! I was not happy with that ....But the one below I willingly take onboard.

I am checking with my friend to confirm that the latter is what was meant.

Having said that I can see why, being true to the definition below, I often have difficulty in coming to terms with the mores and cultural inclinations of some denizens of this town.

So, should I in common with the 'norm', develop a a serviceable denial mechanism and just write how wonderful everything is, unquestionably support the brave efforts of mediocrity, embrace corruption as a cultural imperative and most of all, remember that I am just a visitor to this country, no matter how long I stay here. And, last of all acquire a few more dogs and a cat?........ Oh God!...... Give me a tequila and pass the joint

What is a Curmudgeon anyway?

      A curmudgeon's reputation for malevolence is undeserved. They're neither warped nor evil at heart. They don't hate mankind, just mankind's absurdities. They're just as sensitive and soft-hearted as the next guy, but they hide their vulnerability beneath a crust of misanthropy. They ease the pain by turning hurt into humor.  . . . . .   They attack maudlinism because it devalues genuine sentiment.   . . . . .   Nature, having failed to equip them with a servicable denial mechanism, has endowed them with astute perception and sly wit.
      Curmudgeons are mockers and debunkers whose bitterness is a symptom rather than a disease. They can't compromise their standards and can't manage the suspension of disbelief necessary for feigned cheerfulness. Their awareness is a curse.
      Perhaps curmudgeons have gotten a bad rap in the same way that the messenger is blamed for the message: They have the temerity to comment on the human condition without apology. They not only refuse to applaud mediocrity, they howl it down with morose glee. Their versions of the truth unsettle us, and we hold it against them, even though they soften it with humor.

JON WINOKUR

Art Festival 2008 Dates: 2nd -9th February

Welcome to 2008
Is it to be the year of paved road or, the year of the bypass? Or could it be the year of the Water Pump? Maybe, even the year of new telephone lines to connect the northern suburbs to civilization? Or could it just be another year of hopeful wishes and magical thoughts.

I guess if you only get water once every three weeks or have been the victim of some crime, usually theft, or if some new home is threatening your pristine view then some of the current priorities may seem to need a tweak.

I do hope I can find the misplaced rose-colored glasses that I lost a couple of years ago.

 

 

 

 
   
These news articles are compiled by Ken Macfarlane.
ken at todossantosbaja.com your news or letters welcome



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