Socializing

We arrived in Guanajuato two weeks ago. Daddy and Dottie, his partner, arrived a week ago tomorrow. Last night Daddy made a list of all the people he had met.

--Carlos, our 33-year-old Spanish teacher. Daddy joined me in my class with Carlos, and subsequently took a class himself, to review his Spanish from 45 years ago.
--Chely, another teacher, also age 35
--Rebeca, our neighbor up the street, and Diana, her renter; both dear friends of ours
--Tom, our friend who drove us to Valenciana and Santa Rosa for a lovely day's outing
--Miriam, whom we have house-sat for a couple of times
--Alfredo, flautist in the symphony orchestra and meditation friend
--Ofelia, another meditator
--Jim and Jenny, our "anchors" who are artists, and have lived here 15 years
--Dean, artist, Marie, oboe player, Thomas, 5-year-old son, neighbors and friends

So in a week they met about 15 people. What amazes me is how active and social our life is in Guanajuato. In Eureka, we had a Boxing Day party the evening of the 26th, our annual tradition when we're there, and we probably had about the same number of people as Daddy and Dottie met here. But it all happened in one evening, whereas here in Guanajuato we run into people everyday as we walk here and there. Gatherings happen easily and spontaneously, without formality or much planning. In neither place are you more than a 10 to 15-minute walk away, but that is the point--in Guanajuato most people walk, whereas in Eureka/Arcata, most people still drive. I love the ease of mixing that is part of the culture here.