Forgive me Father but I think I want to take up smoking and wearing a beret and whiling away the day watching the parade of Life.

I loved San Miguel de Allende when we came here 15 years ago. I love it even more now. This ancient city of colour, light and art is stuffed full of art galleries, studios; the talent is quite endless.

I find it funny how I already feel like I have too much scheduled and all I’ve signed up for is the basic conference package.  I just want to sit and feel the old stone walls around me.  But right now, I’m in the old stonewalls of the Starbucks. Yes, yes, I know. Shallow Alert!

But here’s the thing…Starbucks has WiFi that works and it is housed in an ancient building with walls that are at least four feet thick. In my defense, I could never have loaded that picture you see above without Starbucks.

I met two older American women at the buffet breakfast this morning. Both are living full-time in various parts of Mexico. One of them showed me her new Mexican citizenship card and said, “It is simply astonishing how cheap it is to live here and to live very well.”

I remember this story from last time we were here. We ran into all sorts of ex-pat Canadians and Americans who were extolling the virtues of living the Mexican life.

But now I need to get off this WiFi and get writing. Because tonight my Best Friend Forever, Miz Margaret Atwood is giving her keynote address entitled, “Writing and Hope.”

I’m hoping she throws me some.