Feliz Enero, Rocky Point, and I sincerely hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Wow, and just like that, 2025 is in the record books! And it has been quite a year for so many people in town. New cantinas, new condo towers, new townhomes, new single-family residences, new restaurants…the list goes on and on. One of the changes was the grand opening at Los Shakas Bar. I attended the grand opening event recently, and it was perfect to see so many friendly faces I have known over the years attending the event. It is even more special to note that when one restaurant or bar opens up in Rocky Point, the other owners of different bars and restaurants come to support the new establishment. It is definitely not a winner-takes-all attitude amongst the owners and patrons…rather, we will win TOGETHER, which is really spectacular to see.

One thing that was certain for many of us was a change in 2025. Some of it was great, and other things like saying adios (temporarily, of course, cause he still comes down for visits) to Tomas Carr, who relocated to Phoenix after living in Rocky Point for 13 years. He still has a condo in town, so he tries to get down as often as possible, but for me, gone are the days when I arrive, and Tomas would magically appear with drinks in hand, ready to get the party rolling. There’s no one like you, Tomas! So, I will put that job position out there for anyone interested…I am often traveling and having fun, and it is always great to come back to a buddy with some party favors in hand 😊!!! I just returned from the beaches of North Carolina in the U.S., visiting family over Thanksgiving. What a super time I had, but the last week was a bit brisk with the weather…I am very grateful to be back in the sunshine and warmth of our Mexican beaches!

One of my goals for the new year was to start reading more, and recently I purchased a book from our own Rocky Point Times columnist on Amazon, entitled “Her Perfect Disappearance” by A.K. Smith. So far, the book is awesome, and I would highly recommend it for those looking for a good beach read! With the NEW YEAR 2026 upon us, it may be a good time to come up with some good resolutions to coincide with an even greater year than 2025. So, I have come up with some ideas to help make your NEW YEAR…AMAZING!!!

  1. Go to Sleep Earlier…OMG, this is a toughie. Let’s face it, our lives are a bit hectic with goals, work, family, friends, commitments…it can be A LOT! However, as long as we keep it in our consciousness, I think we will end up with a couple more hours of sleep a week, and this can really make a big difference…sort of like how a Sunday afternoon nap can recharge your whole week. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise”.
  2. Eat more vegetables…this was actually one that I implemented for myself in 2025 and have kept at it all year. This alone has kept me hydrated, full for longer times, less crash-prone from carbs, and, better yet, has allowed me to try new recipes in the kitchen (to be honest, there were not that many in my kitchen), which has been incredible. Cooking from whole foods has been more delicious and fulfilling than I could ever have thought. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!
  3. Starting a new workout routine will help each of us get out of any rut or conquer it before it happens. We do not have to go overboard and say I am going to be at the gym daily (but if you do, hats off to you!), but weights build muscle, which burns fat. Simply parking further away when you are at the store, taking the steps up a few flight of stairs rather than the elevator, keeping a monitor on your phone so you can track how far you walk in a day, going on beach walks with a friend are all examples of simple things we can do to help us feel better and more refreshed each day. Getting regular exercise increases our dopamine, which helps to create strong mental health.
  4. Travel, travel, travel…This one, I can truly say, I think I got it nailed. We truly only live once and traveling to new places and back to wonderful places you have visited before is what it is all about. I already have so many countries and vacations, and cruises booked for 2026. Traveling allows you to leave your worries behind and gives you a fresh perspective on any problems you may be having. Often, we will see how lucky our lives are, and any problem we did have seems minuscule compared to what is actually out there in the world. So go!!! TRAVEL, TRAVEL TRAVEL…And meet new friends along the way!
  5. Learn a new language! I truly enjoy looking up new words and phrases in other languages to learn them. As you are already doing in #4 above, you can communicate better with the local residents, as they may not speak English or feel comfortable enough to speak to you. At least by learning simple phrases and words, you are beginning to open up and meet them halfway to communication. This also keeps your mind sharp, which has been proven to help avoid dementia later in life…I think I’d better learn another in 2026 😊!
  6. Increase FACETIME, decrease texting. Our human interaction was not supposed to be via texts; it was meant to be FACE TO FACE. This has only evolved in our lifetime times and humans have roamed the earth for thousands of years. Texting often can be easier, but I must say when my friends FaceTime me, I always try to answer, as there is nothing better than to share each other’s emotions, words, voices, facial expressions, etc. There really is no rating the interaction, which is so much better in person or by simply Facetiming someone. Make it a point to lighten up another’s day by Facetiming them and sharing your love.
  7. Volunteer work……. There are so many opportunities available in our community, and many are listed right here in the Rocky Point Times. Set aside an hour a week or even an hour a month and go volunteer. From my experiences with volunteer work, I have met and kept new friends, realized how lucky I am to have the life I do, and firsthand experienced the difference we can help make in our communities. So, get out there and help a neighbor…You never know what you are missing out on!

ADIOS AMIGOS

GOD BLESS

Marco