Sense of Belonging. Finding a Home

Some days ago I was in front of the beach, it was about at 3:00 p.m., with that delicious sun that warms your back, but without burning; on the horizon was that litmus color that you can find in the seas of San José del Cabo and obviously it could not be missing… Mmm… Beer! (Insert Homer Simpson voice).

Which I shared with a person from another country who decided to spend some time in San José del Cabo for holiday, before keep travelling on a budget around the world; however, in front of the waves (insert a romantic moment like in Hollywood chick flicks) this person told me that did not have a great interest in returning to their country although could have a good job or perhaps a better quality of life there; it could be very nice go for the wine bottle and talk about this with your loved ones.

This person said that although could have wealth in their place, would not change each of the moments when the different landscapes of beach or desert took their attention; or those times when stellar mythology gave nightly performances every night (I already fell in love).

Home is...

Here I would like to talk a little about me and tell you that I’ve been traveling a little a round the world before to come to San José; I were born in Ensenada (Baja California Norte) and I lived in the colorful Mexico City for some years. Well, I came to San José del Cabo with a lot of dreams and goals (sounds like a song of Journey) and I can tell that even I made some emotional connections with lovely people in Mexico City; the truth is that the idea of trying to find every color in the Cortez Sea, is something that blow my mind; personally, since I left the airplane I felt the fresh air, looking around and saw all that trees, my heart started to shine again.

For a while I walked through the streets, I tried the food (specially the tamales that you can find in Mijares Square), the art craft beers and just flowing with the lights that some people used to decorate roofs or corridors… I can tell that no matter if there are a lot of stuff about everything in the Big City, I won't change my love for San José del Cabo. Also, there are several ways of doing art, for those who want to develop their talents. I’ve been meeting people that came from different cities in the country, just to start a new life here, because they think that San José is like a dream machine or a Fairy Godmother.

Anyway, going back to the topic... Have you ever felt that feeling in which it seems that you see infinity, or the sea and you stare or discover all the possible colors on the horizon and then ask yourself: Ahh! What if everything were different? What would it be like to live somewhere else? Would my crush tell me to stay? Ok no, but hopefully.

The statistics (insert National Geographic’s documentary accent), say that approximately 20 thousand foreign people live in San José del Cabo, as well as the person from the beginning (yes, I will leave you in doubt as to who was it); they came as tourists, fall in love and decide to stay… Happily ever after. A part of me thought: Could it be that the sea made them fall in love so much that they didn't want to return? Did their crushes say yes? What would you love the most in a different place? I consider that the place that allows us to create an emotional bond, rather than economic or goods, has a great influence, obviously it is very important, if not, where we’ill sleep? But here I would like to write the main idea of one of my favorite architects, Alberto Saldarriaga, about that to build a place to live you also need to generate especially positive sentimental experiences. I wouldn’t to brag, but that is the mission of Club Solaris, to give you a home away from home. (Now everyone say in chorus: Awww!).

Long time ago I did some interviews with foreign people living in different parts of the Mexican Republic (I love interviewing people). I used to ask them what they liked most about living in Mexico?; One of the answers that I loved was that of a man from the United States who said: "I love the riot" (we both laughed with that answer), later he told me: "Speaking on social issues, for example, see how develop the transit... If I could transfer this to my country, I am sure there would be chaos; However, everything works here. I love that here ”; likewise, he mentioned that the warmth of the people, culminates with that act of magic to fall in love with a place. Sort of like when you meet your crush and realize it's better than you imagine it...

All this, ladies and gentlemen; it is related to the Sense of Belonging, which is an important part of the identity of each individual, more than anything due to the fact that it denotes where we come from and what we really need in life; define where we can be ourselves and just take the courage and jump to go find them.

Possibly, there will be a question or thought in our minds about if a place is better than another one or not; there is a Mexican saying about: “for every rip there is a patch”; even this is used to romantic situations to say that there is someone that is perfect for another person, we can use it talking about countries and cities; there are some cities with characteristics maybe better for some people, but not for another ones. Remembering some stories that one of my friends told me, this person was living in a nice country for one year; nevertheless, feel the “need” or “passion” to live there. Otherwise, another person that lived in the same place, just fall in love and decided to stay (a clue of the place… It’s a country where there are a lot of kangaroos).

In Baja California Sur happens something similar between San Lucas (amazing parties) and San José (time to rest and relax). Nothing in this world is perfect, each place has a good and not really nice side, but is worthy to explore a city that makes us fall in love with life and discover part of us that we may not know. Finally, is important to say that when you are traveling, take your time to explore deeply; for this I have some tips for you; maybe you can find a new home later...

1. Analyze what kind of place are your favorites.

2. Make a list about that places that make you feel curious and research about the touristic attractions that you can see there and listen your heart if is “the place that you need”.

3. Make your reservation for a lot of days.

4. Take your time for walk a lot for every place and make some local friends.

5. And if you dare, travel alone and get surprise.