by: David Harris

Every morning just after dawn the three dogs wake us up for their walk on the RV Park's five kilometer long beach.  It is fairly deserted at the best of times.  At this time of the morning it is the private purview of the park's early risers.

This morning in the solitude of the pinkish awakening of the world, with only the hypnotic sound of the surf and alone with my thoughts, I got to thinking.  There is definitely a beach etiquette to be observed.

by: David Harris

We are at a trailer park that bears a strong resemblance to an Ontario summer camp .  There are crafts, games, boating and all kind of camp type activities.  The difference is, it's not kids escaping the heat of the city but retired people escaping the chill of winter.  And instead of a two week stint, these folks come in November and leave in April.  They don't sleep in tents or rustic cabins. 

Instead when they fly south they do so in these behemoth trailers that are so big you wonder how they negotiate the Mexican roads. In fact they are so huge I know some have fireplaces and washers and dryers.  It wouldn't surprise me if at least one didn't have an indoor swimming pool.  They dwarf our 25 foot Airstream.

by: David Harris

Mexico has a quite a number of old colonial cities that stand in testament to the fact that this is the richest and deepest cultured country in the Western Hemisphere.  Cities that still have remnants of their beginnings,  many dating from the 1,500's.

We have visited three magnificent cities so far on our trip: San Miguel, Queretero and Guanajuato.  All are near by and only a few hours northwest of Mexico City.  If you have the chance, visit them before they are overrun with 21st century values.  Their awe comes from great architects, timeless planning and construction that was only made possible because of a labour force of virtual slaves.

by: David Harris

As many of you know, last weekend the Summit Management Office hosted a media tour for 12 journalists from different countries.  They didn't mention the cost involved but I'll bet my last peso it was a freebie the whole way.  Flight to Canada, limo to Deerhurst, and a condo-type-selling boondoggle the entire weekend.

by: David Harris

Unless you believe the world is flat you have to know that we are all living an existence that we can not maintain.  At the rate we are consuming oil the known reserves will run out before we are fully armed with alternatives.  Our ill health resulting from the poison the mega food corporations are passing off as food will bankrupt the system.  The economy will not support the massive balance of payment debts we are running up with countries that we can not compete with for manufacturing.  And because of globalization the divide between rich and poor will widen to the point that without all of us enjoying the dignities of life, a livable society will only be illusory.

by: David Harris

Depressing it isn't. Even disillusioning is too strong a word.  Let's just say it's disappointing and I should have known better.  The Sustainability Plan for Huntsville is going to fall far short of the hope we had for it in the article I wrote entitled 'What's In A Name'.  Why?  Because it lacks leadership, has limited vision and because we live in Canada, which rarely does anything exceptional.

Through the lens of someone who is 5,000 kilometers away, who tries to notice when the emperor has no clothes and who forgot to pack his rose coloured glasses, I'm going to give you my current perspective on Huntsville.

by: Steve Lehman

If it’s true that clothes make the man then one doesn’t have to look too closely to understand why the District councillors and members of the Muskoka Landowners Association can’t find some common ground. One side of the room is comprised of individuals clothed in cardigans and cashmere while the other side is populated by participants dressed predominantly in plaid. Does this mixture sound like a recipe with the ingredients necessary for a fruitful discussion? I don’t think so.

by: David Harris

There are excellent vets in Huntsville along with excellent lawyers, doctors, chefs, grocers and every other profession you can think of.  We are very lucky. 
They're also very lucky here in San Miguel.  They have an equally excellent vet clinic which we discovered by accident.  In fact it is so good that if I had discovered them a month ago they would have won a HONey Award.  But I am getting ahead of myself.

by: David Harris

It was closing in on six o'clock this evening when the two ladies told me they were thinking about going to dinner at this magical new restaurant in the Instituto and how did I feel about tagging along.  For me not being able to eat makes a dinner date problematic.  I'll attend so as not to be too much of a drag and I try not to let sitting there watching others eat the food I am denied spoil the collective appetite.  I can do it when dinner means simply dinner but when it  means a night out; a whole evening just sitting there watching others eat and drink . . . it is just too hard.