Oh, I'm For Real--It's a Plastic Island

I know I keep going on and one about Isla Mujeres, but I'm just not done with the place yet.  It's too magical.  Too simple.  Too happy.  One post would never be enough, so just bear with me for a few more entries and then we shall move into the madness of me making my way across 3,000 miles of pure Mexico to get to LA.  A hint...I finally dug into Mexico City...

So, one day, I'd had a couple/few (MST lingo meaning beer before noon) and was trolling around the island when I noticed some young hitchhikers with thumbs out.  I never pick up hitchhikers (well, for the most part).  But, something about these two kids made me stop (the boy was toting what looked like a yoga mat but was really a sleeping pad).  Or, I guess I stopped because I knew the island so well by this time and if there are couple of newbies on board, well hell...why not give them a ride and get their take on things?

Once they loaded in, Saschia and Chelsea told me that they were headed to plastic island.  Do wha?  Man, I thought I was getting to know the place, but oh no...these two had a line on some dude who offered up free camp spots and food to peeps who would help him continue to build his plastic island.  Oh, hell yeah I'm in.  Saschia had been there before and had somehow left Isla, picked up Chelsea in Tulum and now they were back to live it up together.  Little Chels was about 22, studying Spanish in Merida, and dead in love with Sasch.  Even though they'd just met a week or so before.  Not sure where Sasch stood but on that front, bless her.

Anyway, we careened down the dirt road that led up to the campground and of course, there were already a couple of funny guys there--sorting out bottles, talking about what to fire-pit up for dinner, and really, just delighted that a couple of chicks had shown up to their usually men-only campground.  Saschia proceeded to haul me and Chels out to this tiny plastic island just off the beach.  It was pretty dang cool.  This cat (who was in Cancun at the time) had figured out a whole new life game plan and was building an island made of plastic.  Simple as that.  He'd even built a mini model of what the monster would look like someday and I gotta say, I did lay in the bed and gaze up at the sky thinking some pretty cool thoughts.  I mean, this is a whole new level of sustainable living.

I explore the grounds (nice T-pee shower) while dinner was being concocted--this meal had Sascha whipping up some chile-infused pasta, of which I partook in two giant bowls and a whole lotta beer and scuba-diving heavy convo.  It was a funky night because I wondered ALOT what would my path have been if I'd chosed not to head to LA at the age of 20 and instead just globetrot.  Not sure my life would be much different, but maybe...just maybe...

Plus, those two treated me with a 6-pack of Pacifico for giving them a ride.  How nice.  Of course, I shared it with them over dinner, but still.  What random things one comes across when not really looking.  It's the best.  Have you ever in your life read shorter sentences.  No.

Comments

[Misty]

Woman, you nailed it!
"Misty, so are you."

[Dawn]

"One post would never be enough." How true. It's been almost two years since we last set foot on our beloved Isla, and my heart is aching for her! Our six year-old son asks me at least once a month, "When are we going back to Mexico, Mommy?" He's hooked, and Misty -- in case you didn't already know this -- so are you.

Thanks for the great blog. Living vicariously through you until I can make it back for real. --Dawn

[Misty]

Wow, good intel. I did just hear that the land he is camping on was just bought. So, I'm not sure what that means for his little water-based spaceship!

[Michele in Playa]

The guy who's building the plastic island..Ritchie right? I had a chance to visit the island he build a few years back in Puerto Aventuras before it became an over populated monstro-city of pink condos. The dude has some great ideas (and more than a few that are downright kooky. Did he tell you the Island would be able to fly? That's right, fly. Anyway, he's a cool guy. I'm off to Isla today. May have to look him up.