Interview With Laurissa Doonan -- Ajijic

This week I talked to Laurissa Doonan who lives in Ajijic and runs a website (Visit it at: http://www.go2mex.com ). She shared with me why she made the move to Mexico.

LAURISSA: I had been working in Multimedia Production, primarily in the Healthcare marketing field in the NY City area for many years. I had sold one company and began working with another, when my Mother decided to move to Mexico. Naturally, I concluded she was batty, and chalked it up to her gypsy-like approach to life. I was living and working the semi-yuppie Suburban NY lifestyle, condo, SUV and all. So after living under pressure and stress, and even realizing it was making me very ill, it suddenly hit me, why not take a vacation. (As a computer production person, I'm sure you realize that that very simple idea is somewhat foreign to us!) So, in productino-person like form, I immediately realized that a week is not a vacation, a week only represents enough time for your co-workers to screw up your projects and give them the opportunity to make your life even more stressful and chaotic when you return. No, I decided that a 6 month vacation was in order. I spoke with my significant other, and he thought it sounded fine to him. So we rented the condo and came down to stay in Mom's Casita for 6 months. The whole idea was just one of those things that hit with a moment of clarity. I was sitting at my desk and read an email from mom saying how peaceful and wonderful life down there was, and I said wow, that sounds great, it would be nice .... and it hit me, it can be done! Six months in paradise to regroup! I did have the chance of a lifetime, and for once, took it. Of course being a NYker, I knew that I need a certain amount of stress to survive, it's like Oxygen, but luckily renting the condo from a distance and moving in with mom provided the life support I required. So that's what got us here. We arrive late in February 1999 and were schedule to return to our lives in August. We're still here. What kept us here? The area, the lifestyle, the near lack of property taxes ..... the severly limited stress supply. It's amazing, once out of the seeming confines of corporate life, there's a world of opportunities and chances that can be taken, and from somewhere hidden deep inside came this willingness on both our parts to say why not, lets take a chance. We've met some great people, although we are clearly part of the very small young gringo group down in this area (we are in our 30's, in an area known for retirement), and have found some great opportunities. So that's our story. We have sold the condo in NY and have bought a small village house here in Ajijic. And we're very happy here, until the next adventure comes along!