A RAINY WALK IN AMAPAS AND THE ROMANTIC ZONE, PUERTO VALLARTA: I was on a mission!

 Searching for Mayonnaise Packaged in Glass

Guess Which Mini-Supermarket I Found It In!

Yesterday was very rainy, probably due to Hurricane Vance passing by Puerto Vallarta. It was a perfect day to try out my rain poncho. I had carried it in my backpack for many miles during training for the Camino de Santiago. And I never needed it during my long Camino Inglés walk in Spain, so it was time to try it out.

My mission was to find mayonnaise in a glass jar — no more plastic packaging in my refrigerator! I've been a Best Food mayonnaise lover since I was a child in Oregon. In Mexico, Hellmann's was the equivalent brand. I hoped to find this brand in a glass container, since every size I had ordered from La Comer was packaged in plastic. 

My goal is to minimize plastic use. Mayonnaise is one of the few products I use that I haven't found packaged in glass. To see my other ideas, please check out my blog: 

𝟭𝟬 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 🌎Ecological Footprint Lesson 102 · Updated Dec 28, 2025

The Last Time I Will Buy Mayonnaise in a Plastic Container!

I was determined to walk 6000 steps, about 4.5 km, in this steady rain to reach my daily fitness goal. Few people were out, and the ones who were carried umbrellas or wore rain gear. 

I headed into Colonia Amapas first because I wanted to check the Mini Super and Deli Amapas near home. The walk was rather dreary — though a few murals brightened the route. Even the rooster stood on the sidewalk under an overhang.

Mini Super and Deli Amapas Store Had It!

The first store I ducked into, Mini Super and Deli Amapas, had mayonnaise in many sizes. I was excited that all were in glass jars! But they were all McCormick's brand. I had tried it once years ago and couldn't get used to the flavor, but now was the time to learn to like it. I bought a medium-sized jar to try.

It was still raining when I stepped outside, so dark and dreary that lights controlled by sensors had come on in the Romantic Zone. Lighted palm trees looked pretty along my route to the beach, and the pier decor was lit up. I suddenly felt happy to be walking in the rain. It was 78 degrees outside and very comfortable, not like the Oregon rain I remembered. And so much cooler than the 92-degree temperatures we had experienced for weeks in Puerto Vallarta.

The boardwalk was missing in front of many restaurants, from Swell on the Beach to Si Señor on the Beach. The wooden sections were stacked away from the surf with sandbags surrounding them to help keep the high tide away.

I skipped walking on the wet sand and headed to Los Muertos Pier street, Francisca Rodríguez, to check out Frutería & Minisuper Barragán. I was surprised they also carried mayonnaise in glass jars! I was disappointed that, again, it was McCormick's brand, but I wanted to support the store, so I purchased another medium mayonnaise.

It was time to explore the Old Town Market, one of my favorite mini-supermarkets in the Romantic Zone. That would take me far enough from home to reach over 3000 steps, so I would achieve my goal when I returned.

The Disassembled Boardwalk and Sandbags

Frutería & Minisuper Barragán Had Mayonnaise in Glass Jars, Too!

Old Town Market, Puerto Vallarta

The Old Town Market Had An Exceptionally Good Selection

The Old Town Market had an exceptionally good selection of mayonnaise, including a large jar of Best Foods, which had to have been imported from the United States. I squeezed every jar, and all were plastic except the McCormick's. I took another medium McCormick's jar to the cash register and told the cashier that I was writing a story about buying mayonnaise in glass. After I purchased it, I asked her to take my photo for this blog, and she wanted to include their sign outside the glass doors. Good idea!

I headed toward home, trying to avoid flooded streets, but it was impossible. Some intersections had become small creeks, and my shoes were soon soaked. The best I could do was avoid being splashed by passing cars and trucks. 

I decided to stop at a cafe for a cup of hot herbal tea and to use their baño. It was ironic that I chose A Page in the Sun, because there was not a bit of sun to be seen that day. I sat outside and gazed at the Tile Park across the street, enjoying the sound of the rain.

When I got home and dug the three medium-sized jars out of my backpack, I realized one had 20% more "gratis", a free bonus. I'm not sure which store carried that one, but they were all priced about the same, mas o menos. We would be eating a lot of tuna salad sandwiches in the coming year. But each time I used a scoop from a glass jar of McCormick's mayonnaise, I would be reminded that I was helping the environment. 

I Bought Lots of Mayonnaise--All in Glass Jars. Almost Plastic-free.

Thank you for reading! Every small step toward reducing plastic makes a difference.

What are you doing to minimize your use of plastic? I'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions. Please share in the comments below. We can all learn from one another!

To see my other ideas, please check out my blog: 

𝟭𝟬 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 🌎Ecological Footprint Lesson 102 · Updated Dec 28, 2025

Terry L Turrell, Author

Visit My Amazon Author Page Here

Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico: 𝟭𝟮 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 🌎(Edited 3/28/26)

Unexpected Alternatives to Plastic Packaging

Almond Butter Packaged in Glass Jars

I’m always looking for new ways to reduce everyday plastic use. Recycling and reusing help—but I’ve come to believe that reducing is what really makes a difference. 

I had three more discoveries recently. Almond butter packaged in glass was a challenge, but I found it on Amazon. Buying the M de Maní Almendrina two-pack of the largest jar size is the most economical. Even better, this is made by a Mexican company, so there are no import costs.

Stur Lemon-Lime Electrolyte Packets

 

Finding ways to avoid purchasing electrolyte solutions and sports drinks in plastic bottles has been one of my biggest goals. It’s discouraging to see how many bottles of Electrolit rehydration drinks are consumed in Mexico, each one creating another piece of plastic waste. Discovering Stur electrolyte packets was a real win. I ordered it online from iHerb.

One packet mixed into a 16-ounce reusable water bottle provides effective hydration with a good balance of potassium and sodium. As I’ve mentioned before, Clamato is one of my favorite post-walk drinks after time in the heat—which is why I couldn’t resist sneaking it into the photo above.

I Switched to Nellie's Dishwasher Detergent in a Metal Tin

I cringe every time I reach for my dishwasher detergent and pick up that familiar plastic jug of Cascade Dishwasher Detergent. I try to make it last longer by only filling the dispenser about two-thirds full, but even then, I know I’ll eventually need to replace yet another plastic container.

So I was genuinely excited to discover Nellie’s Dishwasher Powder Tin—a dishwasher detergent that comes packaged in a reusable metal tin. Even better? It works just as well as what I was using before.

Nellie’s is made in Canada, so importation fees make it a bit more expensive here in Mexico. I purchased mine through iHerb. Another plastic-free option is Cascade Complete Powder Dishwasher Detergent, which comes in a cardboard box instead of plastic. However, it’s also imported into Mexico and tends to cost more than the standard Cascade Dishwasher Detergent in plastic packaging.

Please continue reading at:

Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico: 𝟭𝟬 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲   

Thank you so much for reading my blogs and books. If you find them helpful or enjoyable, I’d truly appreciate you sharing them with others. And if you have a moment to leave a review, it makes a big difference and helps other readers discover my work.

You can find all eight of my books on my Amazon Author Page—always free with a Kindle Unlimited membership.

Terry

Terry L Turrell, Author

Amazon Author Page

𝟭𝟬 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 🌎Ecological Footprint Lesson 102 · Updated Dec 28, 2025

 Ditch Plastic Packaging

Lots of Alternatives!

1. Bar Soap in Talavera Soap Dishes

Reducing plastic use is not only good for the environment—it can also be surprisingly satisfying and fun. One of my most recent changes was eliminating plastic liquid hand soap bottles altogether, including both pump bottles and large refill containers. That’s a lot of plastic over the course of a year. My solution was simple and enjoyable: I bought beautiful Talavera soap dishes from local Mexican shops and switched to bar soap for handwashing at the kitchen and bathroom sinks.

Fill Talavera Pump Dispensers 

With "Platos" Dishwashing Detergent

I now fill my Talavera pump dispensers with dishwashing detergent—my new Platos liquid soap. Guests who prefer liquid soap can use this option, and it works beautifully: it creates just enough suds, cleans well, and rinses easily. Keeping it in a decorative dispenser also makes dishwashing detergent readily available for scrubbing pots. I’m especially pleased that "Platos" brand dishwashing soap is plastic-free and biodegradable, and I share more about it below.

2. Toothpaste Tablets in a Plastic-Free Container

I wish I had discovered toothpaste tablets sooner! Muyme ships 90 tablets in a completely plastic-free can, available through Amazon México, making it easy to eliminate traditional toothpaste tubes from daily life. According to Google, globally around 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes are thrown away each year, with some estimates as high as 20 billion annually due to their mixed plastic and foil layers that can’t be recycled. In the U.S. alone, more than 400 million tubes end up in landfills every year, where they can take centuries to decompose. 

These tablets feel like a small but meaningful step toward reducing plastic waste—and they’re practical and delightful to use. I love the fresh flavor, the simplicity, and the compact size that makes them perfect for travel.

3. I've Switched to Compostable Zipper Bags!

Available at La Comer Stores

4. My First Bamboo Toothbrush Ordered from La Comer

Others Available from Amazon—What Do You Like?

Plastic toothbrushes can take up to 500 years to break down. They don’t fully decompose—instead, they fragment into microplastics that can pollute ecosystems and waterways for centuries.

Globally, roughly 23 billion toothbrushes are discarded annually, according to National Geographic and other sources. Since most of these are not recyclable, they likely end up in a landfill or are incinerated. Each one of us can make a positive environmental impact with this small change.

5. I Purchased More Pyrex Dishes to Eliminate Plastic Wrap

And Replace Styrofoam Restaurant To-Go Containers

Yes, I bring my Pyrex bowls to the meat market for chicken, beef, and pork—and to restaurants so I can pack up half my meal to take home. It’s a simple habit that helps the environment and saves me money. I also use these bowls for freezer storage instead of plastic freezer bags, which cuts down on waste and makes reheating frozen meals much easier.

6. Nutrisa Frozen Yogurt in Waxed Paper Carton

No Plastic, Not Even in the Lid!

I’ve written before about reducing our plastic usage, but it’s been a while. My earlier post, "ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT Lesson 101: 10 Ways We Reduced Ours When We Retired in Mexico", was published on March 9, 2017, shortly after we moved to Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico.

Even eight years ago, we were already making changes: buying milk and juices in waxed paper cartons and trying to cut back on plastic containers. I even made my own yogurt at home for a while, but we ate it too fast, and I eventually tired of the long process.

7. Our Juice and Milk Cartons 8 Years Ago

The Cartons Have Changed But Still Eco-Friendly

🌱 I Want to Reduce Plastic Usage — More. 🌊

One small change I’ve made recently: I stopped buying yogurt in plastic containers. Instead, I discovered Nutrisa Frozen Yogurt, which comes in two delicious flavors, Mora (Blackberry) and Taro. To my surprise, Taro has become my favorite! It pairs beautifully with bananas, mangos, pineapple, and even cooked cinnamon apples with cranberries. 😋

Fruit Smoothie from Ingredients Packaged in Paper

For breakfast, I’ve been adding two small scoops of Nutrisa to a bowl of fruit, granola, and chopped walnuts. It’s creamy, refreshing, and so satisfying. Nutrisa claims it contains live cultures, so I feel like it’s a healthy alternative to regular or Greek yogurt, plus, it blends perfectly into smoothies.💚

8. Purchase Drinks and Food in Glass Containers

I say, "No plastico por favor." With a little extra effort, I have found all the drinks and food I need in glass or cans. I even found almond butter packaged in glass jars from Amazon Mexico.

Recently, I watched the documentary “A Plastic Ocean.” It opened my eyes. Seeing the heartbreaking impact of plastic on our oceans, wildlife, and ultimately our own bodies has motivated me to make a difference—one small, mindful choice at a time.

♻️ Going Beyond Yogurt: My Next Plastic-Free Goal

My next goal was to eliminate buying dishwashing and laundry detergent in plastic bottles. I discovered a Mexican company called Desplastifícate, which translates to “Deplasticize.”

I’ll admit, I was initially skeptical about their products. But after trying them, I’ve realized their soaps are worth every peso!

9. “Platos”: The Name of the Dishwashing Soap

Available on Amazon México, Platos proudly promotes a simple mission: “Go plastic-free with our scented dish soap. Unlike liquid or powder cleaners, it won’t pollute water.” 

I can vouch for that claim! The scent is light, refreshing, and best of all, it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. 🌸

10. Ropa: The Name of their Laundry Detergent

👕 “Ropa” — My New Favorite Laundry Soap

I especially love the “Ropa” laundry detergent by Desplastifícate! I used it for two weeks before writing this article to make sure it wouldn’t cause any skin irritation like most detergents do—and it didn’t. 🌿

At first, I didn’t believe their claim of “No rinsing required.” I’ve always had to run my laundry through an extra rinse with my low-water washer when using other soaps, but not with Ropa!

Not only does it eliminate the need for those huge plastic bottles of detergent, it also saves water, electricity, and wear-and-tear on clothing. It’s a win all around. Next time, I’ll be ordering the four-pack from Amazon! 🧺

🌎 Every Small Change Counts

Reducing plastic has become more than a goal for me—it’s a mindful practice that connects my daily choices to the health of our planet. Each time I find a new way to replace plastic with something reusable or biodegradable, I feel a little lighter and more hopeful about the future.

Have you found creative ways to reduce plastic in your daily life? ♻️
I’ll be adding more ideas to this article in the coming weeks, and I’d love to hear your tips and experiences in the comments. Together, we can inspire each other—because every small change truly counts. 💚

💚 Thank You for Reading

Thank you for reading my articles and following along on this journey. Writing about these small, meaningful lifestyle changes keeps me accountable and connected to others who care about our planet.

For more lessons I’ve learned along the way, please take a look at my Healthy Living in Mexico books, where I share stories, insights, and practical tips from my life here in Mexico. 🌴📘

Free with Kindle Unlimited Membership

Terry L Turrell, Author

WITHOUT STRAWS, PLEASE (SIN POPOTES, POR FAVOR): When Will I Remember?

Maybe This Will Help...

I Created a Table Sign to Help Us When Ordering Drinks

     Jon and I have been trying to remember to order our drinks in restaurants “without straws” for years, and we still forget, over and over again. As soon as our drinks arrive (aqua de jamaica, orange juice, margaritas, etc.), straw inserted in glass, we exchange that “NOT AGAIN” look. How were we going to remember, short of tattooing it on my forehead?

Even with the Sign, We Forgot to Order Sin Popote

     We can remember to take our reusable grocery bags when we are going to shop for food and supplies. We can remember our cloth 6-pack wine bag when we are going to Licorería El Coyul to stock up on wine. We are very good at not using plastic bags. But we could not remember to order our drinks without straws, sin popotes. 

     I racked my brain for months to come up with a solution to train ourselves, and maybe even assist the restaurants in changing their policy about using straws. Finally, I created a friendly table sign, written in English and Spanish, that said “Sin Popotes Por Favor ☻Without a Straw Please”.

Printed on 4X6 Photo Paper, This Makes a Cute Tented Sign

     I figured that if I held two of these tented signs in my hand as we walked to the restaurant, then placed one on the table in front of each of us, either Jon or I would surely see it as we were ordering our drinks. If we didn’t see it, the waiter might.

     This has worked about fifty percent of the time, probably because the other fifty percent of the time the sign was in my purse and not in my hand. But the interesting thing is, just since I made these table signs, several times we have remembered to order drinks sin popote even when I have forgotten to put the signs on the table. There is hope! We are learning.

     So, what is the big deal about “No Straws”? Once you’ve seen this YouTube video of the person removing a straw from a sea turtle’s nostril, you will never forget the image.

     It is so sad how the plastic straws, plastic six-pack beer holders, plastic bags, and other plastic items have harmed sea creatures. These items wash or blow into our creeks and rivers and find their way to the ocean. They are discarded on the streets in beach towns like Sayulita, then as soon as it rains, they wash down the cobblestone roads, onto the beach, and into the ocean.

18 Straws I Picked Up in a Half Mile Walk One Day

     I have become obsessed with picking up straws and plastic beer can holders and putting them in our trash at home. There are few garbage cans along the streets in Sayulita to put them in and this is part of the reason they end up lying in the street. In one day, I picked up eighteen straws while I walked the half mile home from downtown Sayulita. How many straws must be lying in the streets all over town? How many straws are lying in streets in beach towns all over the world, poised to wash or blow into the ocean, possibly to end up in a sea animal's nostril or stomach. 

     When Campamento Tortuguero Sayulita releases baby turtles on the beach, I feel happy that I have done my part to help the turtles' chances of living healthy lives without plastic straws stuck in their nostrils. (Avoiding the use of plastic bags also helps lessen the chance these turtles will ingest a piece of plastic, believing it is a jellyfish.)

Baby Olive Ridley Turtles Being Released at Sunset

     We can all work together to help eliminate the use of plastic straws. Some restaurants in our town no longer offer straws. Some offer metal, reusable straws, though I am not a fan of this for sanitation reasons. Others provide paper or other biodegradable straws. The waiters at some restaurants are trained to ask the customer if they would like a straw and we always thank them for offering, and then we decline the straws.

     We have started a list of our preferred restaurants in Sayulita. It’s interesting that many of our favorite restaurants are owned and managed by people who care about their customers’ desires, as well as the environment, and have stopped using plastic straws. This is an example of an environmental cause where pressure from the people is having a positive effect. Thank you to every restaurant and person who declines to use straws, when possible.

     While there are circumstances when a straw is necessary, thank you for using care to dispose of it in the trash where it will not find its way to the ocean. Together, we are working toward a more green Sayulita and a more green world.

     I invite you to SIGN UP for my "Healthy Living and Traveling inMexico Newsletter", published monthly with stories about our latest adventures, my recent blog articles, and news about my books.

     To those of you who have already read my books, I thank you and hope you have enjoyed them. If you did, please take a moment to leave a review on Amazon so others may find my books, also.
     Have your seen my newest ebook, Living in Mexico LESSONS LEARNED? Take a look on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, and Amazon worldwide. 

Terry L. Turrell, Author

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ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT Lesson 101: 10 Ways We Reduced Ours When We Retired in Mexico

Feedback from the Ecological Footprint Quiz!

Damage to Our Earth by Copper Mining is Huge! 

     Since we retired in Mexico, we have had more time to focus on living simpler and reducing our impact on the earth, reducing our Ecological Footprint, also referred to as 'carbon footprint' or simply 'footprint'. Living in a warm climate helps in many ways, as you'll see in my examples below. Retirement gives us time to be more careful about shopping selectively, repairing items rather than replacing them, preparing food at home rather than buying packaged food, and thinking about how our choices impact the earth. In retirement, we aren't in a hurry to rush off to work, so we have time to walk where we need to go in our village of Sayulita. Once or twice a week we drive our electric golf cart to town to buy groceries or take laundry to the lavandaria to be washed. Our recreation is simple and easy on the earth. We boogie-board, golf on a course that is only green when it has rained recently, do Stand Up Paddleboard in the bay, walk and hike, do Zumba, and occasionally take a bus ride to Puerto Vallarta for entertainment. Life is simple but fun.
     I felt that we had reduced our carbon footprint, but I wanted to evaluate how well we were really doing and how we could improve. I took the Ecological Footprint Quiz online created by Earthday.org. (I used Ecuador as our place of residence since Mexico was not an option. Living in Ecuador is similar to living in Mexico from our experience). We scored very well on the Ecological Footprint Quiz! You can take the Ecological Footprint Quiz and see how you score at: http://www.earthday.org/take-action/footprint-calculator/?gclid=CJHY77T3xNICFc26wAodJyYCBA#ecofootprint

     Our low Ecological Footprint is partly due to living simply, partly due to living in Mexico, and partly due to being retired and having the time to apply the principles needed. Here are 10 ways that we have reduced our Ecological (Carbon) Footprint:

Crockpot Cooking Uses Very Little Electricity

1. Reduced our use of electricity (Average bill of $60 US per month)

• No dishwasher, an electricity and water hog.
• No clothes washer or dryer, which are electricity hogs. I hand-wash delicates and line-dry. Most of our laundry is done at the lavandaria. 
• Seldom use the vacuum cleaner. Our maid says it uses too much electricity. She only sweeps, mops, and shakes out our few small rugs. 
• LED light bulbs. We switched all light bulbs from 60 Watt incandescents to LEDs that give the equivalent light but only use 9 Watts.  This reduced our monthly electric bill by almost half!
• No heater in the home. Winters are mildly warm and our concrete block home holds the warmth in during the cooler nights.
• A mini-split air conditioner in our master bedroom is used very little, mostly at night for sleep, starting in late spring. Our electric usage is highest in June and July when daytime temperatures are high and we choose to air condition the main three rooms of living space in the afternoon as well as at night, but no usage in the winter offsets this.
• Cooking in a Crockpot uses very little electricity
• Hang our towels outside to line-dry after a shower and reuse them for 3 or 4 showers, reducing the use of electricity and water by washing them less often.

Our Simple Gas Range Top Uses Very Little Propane

2. Reduced our use of natural gas (Propane) (Average bill of $16 US per month)

• Cook on a simple gas range top
• Heat water in a 6-gallon gas hot water heater for showers and washing dishes

Refillable 5-Gallon Plastic Water Bottles Reduce Plastic Usage

3. Reduced our use of plastic and styrofoam

• Refillable 5-gallon water plastic bottles and a kitchen dispenser. We exchange the empty bottles for full ones from a purified water company that delivers to our door each week. Sayulita has its own water purification plant, using reverse osmosis.
• Reuseable water cups and bottles rather than individual plastic water bottles.

  

  Reusable Water Cups & Bottles Reduce Use of Disposable Plastic Bottles

• We only buy milk and juice packaged in paper cartons rather than plastic containers. If a store only stocks milk in plastic jugs, we say "no plastico, por favor" and we go to another store to find milk packaged in paper cartons.

  

  We Only Buy Milk & Juice Packaged in Paper Cartons, Not Plastic!

• Reuseable Shopping Bags rather than accepting plastic bags at the stores.
• Reuseable Mesh Laundry Bags rather than plastic bags to take our dirty laundry to the lavandaria.

  

  I Make Yogurt in Reusable Glass Jars to Avoid Buying it in Plastic Cartons

• Make yogurt at home in reusable glass jars rather than buy yogurt in plastic containers.
• "No Straw Please" at restaurants. We are still working on remembering to do this.
• Take our own bowls with lids to a restaurant when we order food "to go".

  

  Biodegradable Trash Bags Available in 3 Sizes at Home Depot

• Use biodegradable trash bags (we use "Verde" brand from Home Depot).
• We don't buy movies on DVDs or music on CD's any longer. We loaded our old CD music onto our i-Pods and then sold the CD's in a garage sale, passing their use on. We still enjoy listening to our old tunes though many are over fifteen years old. We download new music online through I-Tunes or Zumba.com. We use Netflix Mexico to watch movies. Spotify is available in Mexico for music, but it isn't in our budget.

  

  Our Electric Golf Cart is Perfect for Hauling Our Paddleboard to the Beach

4. No car! Sayulita is a small pueblo (village) so we walk to town for dinner, Zumba class, dentist appointments, haircuts, etc. We use our electric golf cart once or twice a week to drive to town for groceries and laundry and to haul our Stand Up Paddleboard to the beach.

Our Simple Casita's Front Porch & Kitchen Window 

5. We purchased a small, simple Mexican-style home (casita), about 800 square feet, and we don't remodel. This reduces the use of our earth's resources.

Jon Installed a New Ceiling Fan When the 8-Year-Old One Failed

6. We only replace appliances, computers, Kindles, and televisions when they become unusable. We replaced the old, motel-style refrigerator with a medium size energy-efficient Whirlpool model when we moved into our casita, reducing the use of electricity. When one of our 8-year-old ceiling fans finally quits working, we replace it. 

7. We rarely purchase new clothing, shoes, or jewelry. In the moderate, warm climate of Nayarit, we wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, bathing suits, and flip-flops. Once a year, we replace a pair of flip-flops and Zumba shoes because they just plain wear out. Minimal purchasing of new clothing and jewelry reduces the use of the earth's resources.

We Ride the Sayulita Bus to Bucerias, Puerto Vallarta, and Lo de Marcos

8. We use public transportation, the bus, when we travel out of town to shop or pay bills in Bucerias and Puerto Vallarta. Big points on the Ecological Footprint Quiz when you use public transportation, plus it's relaxing to let someone else do the driving! Once a month or so we take a taxi for excursions when the bus doesn't suit our needs.

We Shop Locally at a Sayulita Produce Stand

9. Most of the food we eat is produced in Mexico. This reduces shipping of product which reduces the use of fossil fuels to move the product.

I Publish My Books Only as eBooks, Reducing the Use of Earth's Resources

10. We rarely buy paper books, magazines, or newspapers for our home, reducing the amount of paper and wood that is used. I also publish my books only in eBook format, avoiding the destruction of trees to print my books. We read books that we download onto our Kindles. We read magazines and news online, saving on the use of the earth's resources.

     Our score on the Ecological Footprint Quiz reinforced my feeling that Jon and I are having a small impact on the planet. I also learned that, although we are helping by separating our recyclables from our trash and hauling them to the Recycle Center in Sayulita, it is far better to avoid using single-use plastic and glass items when possible. According to EarthDay.org, "the largest reductions in Ecological Footprint can most commonly be achieved by reducing the total amount of matierials consumed, rather than attempting to recycle them afterwards."

     I also learned from our quiz results that the ways Jon and I could improve our Ecological Footprint Quiz score revolve around what we eat. Things we could do to reduce our Ecological Footprint include:

1. Eat less meat. We eat beef about once a week, but we could eat it less often, reducing our impact on the planet. EarthDay.org explains the reason this way: "A cow grazing on one hectare of pasture has a Fooprint of one hectare for both creating its biological food products and absorbing its biological waste products. This single hectare provides both services, thus counting the Fooprint of the cow twice...results in double counting the actual area necessary to support the cow." Now I understand one reason people become vegetarians.

2. Buy fewer items that are shipped into Mexico, such as Triscuits, Atlantic Salmon we buy at Costco, Hershey's Chocolate Chips, Ghirardeli Brownie Mix, and Nalley's pickles. We do have a few weaknesses. After living in Mexico for almost two years, we do crave a few comfort foods from the United States. We give in and shop at Costco once every two months so we can enjoy these things occasionally as special treats.

Our Motorhome is a Gas-Guzzler, But it is our Home for 3 Months a Year

3. Drive our gas-guzzling motorhome fewer miles each year or purchase a smaller, more fuel-efficient motorhome for our trips to and from Oregon. This is a subject of debate by us and many others. We only get 8 miles per gallon and drive it about 5000 miles each year. This includes a few trips within Mexico such as to Puerto Vallarta for a long weekend, a week at Club Roca Azul on Lake Chapala in Jocotepec, Jalisco, and a few days in Mazatlan on our way north and south to the U.S. That means we use 625 gallons of gasoline per year to move our "home" from Mexico to the United States and back again, a figure we could reduce by half with a smaller, newer model. But, this is hugely offset by the amount of the earth's resources it requires to produce that new motorhome. Or, we could fly back and forth to Puerto Vallarta, storing our motorhome in Oregon, reducing the miles we drive it by about 4000 each year. But, each person who flies that far is responsible for the use of a huge amount of jet fuel burned to move bodies and their supplies back and forth. Last year we evaluated selling our motorhome, possibly buying a new motorhome, and we decided it is more efficient to continue driving our older model until it won't run any longer. I'm glad. I love our motorhome trips through Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon!
     
     I encourage you to read more about our adventures and decision to retire in Mexico. My three eBooks are available on Amazon. If you enjoy them, please take a few minutes to leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I would appreciate it very much!

View My New eBook on Amazon by Clicking HERE.

'Look Inside' on Amazon by Clicking HERE