A cyber-visitor recently asked why the Ranchito has no hot tub.Given the climate here, it seemed like a great idea to him. He has a hot tub.
We responded off the cuff that we are too cheap to buy a hot tub.
The full reason is more complex, containing two basic elements:
1. This is not the Esalen Institute at Big Sur. It´s a scraggly corner of Pátzcuaro. Zapata Street has potholes and stray hens.
Though the Ranchito is visually elegant, it has few modern conveniences. There´s a washer in the service patio, but no dryer. No garbage disposal. No real telephone. No central heat. No air-conditioning. No dishwasher. No HDTV. We lack lots.
Our electricity bill averages about 12 bucks a month. We know Gringos here with floor heating, electric this, electric that, hot tubs, and their light bill is 8-10 times higher than ours.
The main reason to live in Mexico is low cost of living, so why murder that advantage?
But we simply feel a hot tub would be out of place here.
2. The cavern dream. We hope one day to construct a cavern in some corner of the property. It will be made of rough rock and cement with wood accents. The door will be low.
Entering will be on hands and knees.
It will be small, but large enough for two wooden platforms on which to lie. The cavern will be about five feet high, so standing will be impossible. Knuckles will scrape the ground.
There will be a small rock fireplace and chimney. The heat will be sufficient to stretch out naked on a platform.Even on freezing January nights.
We will dangle primitive things from the uneven walls and ceiling.
Ceramic skulls. And stuff of carved or tangled wood, hair, bone, and candles will flicker.
Dead Can Dance will sing from somewhere unseen.
22 comments:
I must admit that the molre primitive pleasures you describe may be better-suited to the ranchito. There is a certain Celtic ring to the very idea.
I´ll leave the Celts to the Big Sur crowd. I´m thinking more Amazonian Indian.
Another reason not to have a hot tub Michael is the plethora of chemicals one would have to use to keep it fit. My grandmother told me stories of how people slept on ovens in the old country. As a little kid I couldn't envision people doing that. Now it's not as cold here as in the old country but it sure makes sense to me now, especially after I read up on how multifunctional those ovens were. Your heat cave is a great idea, and our property has a hill slope to do that in,naturally. If I have enough time for another project that really sounds good! However I would have to have an insulated niche inside to keep the spirits at drinking temperature....
There are lots of reasons to dodge a hot tub. I had not even thought of the chemicals.
Being a teetotaler, I will not need a place to chill the booze. Simplify, simplify.
Something that folks on the other side of the border probably would not think of is that it would not cost much to build such a thing.
And the locals can build anything. And well.
"This is not the Esalen Institute at Big Sur"
Could have fooled me - I have seen the Ranchito photos, and I have been to Esalen (in another life).
Amigo I have plans for a TERRIFIC solar hot tub - I WILL have one at my Rancho del Cielo one day soon. Plans available on request.
Hot tubs are for rich lawyers and rich hippies. I´m a cave-dweller. I want to see stalactites and reflections off rock walls at night.
Plus, I´m unclear on your need for a hot tub, Juanito. I would think a cool tub would be more refreshing there in the steaming jungles of Veracruz where you live.
For me a hot tub is relaxing in any weather - although right at the moment in the low 60's and mid forties at night the warm water would be muy bueno!
And a small tank uses less than 80 gallons that can be recycled in the yard - no chemicals required - but I'm not going to try and talk you into it ;-)
I´ve never been in a hot tub in my life, but I´m sure it feels good. Enjoy!
We explored caves and caverns for several deades decades. I don't recall seeing a fireplace in any nor was I inclined to stretch out naked in a cave. Really, protective clothing was more the fashion, including knee pads and elbow pads, especially a hard hat and usuallly tough gloves. The caves tended to be cold, wet, jagged places.True, not all. But the warmer, dryer ones of comfortable walking height are relatively uncommon.
Those stalactites and stalagmites may seem attractive now, but the constant water drip of the 'tites will drive you loco.
Las grutas y las cuevas are best left to the murcíelagos.
(It's pure coincidence that we retired to an obscure ranchería called "Las Cuevas." As far as I know, there are no caves here, despite popular local legend.
I may have been the commenter to first speculate why the Dicksons didn't have a hot tub at their sybaritic ranchito.)
Señor Warshauer, I recall the caving photo I saw once on your wall. You looked quite dashing.
Interesting post, Michael, and interesting discussion comments. Once you have a hot tub, soon you will need a jetski or a three wheeler or if you are still living up north, maybe a snowmobile. There is always another justification to spend money on another toy of some sort.
Why murder the reason for Mexico indeed. Help keep us honest, Michael.
Oops. I forgot to thank you for the link to the Atitlan morph. It was a real pleasure.
When we get too hot in Merida, our escape routes to coolness will be to Lake Atitlan or to San Cristobal de las Casas. Both 6-8 hours away.
Oh, yes. I liked the crystal skull.
Saludos,
Mike
Paul, that is precisely how I look at it. A hot tub is a slippery slope.
Notice, NO comments from women - Caves are such a "man" thing.....give me a hot tub any day.....but I too do not have one and live the VERY simple life.....intending to continue to do so.
Why, you are right! Not a single female remark before you. I guess women subconsciously associate caves with endless pregnancy and bashes across the head with a club.
But my cave will be quite sweet.
Reason #1 had one of the funniest lines you've written on this site. This is not the Esalen Institute at Big Sur. LOL.... I enjoyed that very much.
So no hot tubs, and no heated handgrips.
La vida sencilla. It makes sense.
But a cave? That seems like eternally much more hassle and expense than a hot tub. Expensive to get it hot enough too, assuming you want the rocks to be warm to the touch.
Regards,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Perhaps the word cavern was poorly chosen. It will be a round-ish, small, low "building" of rock and cement. It will be much less hassle and expense than a hot tub.
A natural sauna it will be -- with skulls.
Just call it an large wood fired outside bread/pizza oven and no one will give it a second thought!
It will be your covert retreat!
Hum... after this post and the one after about "the death," I'm starting to wonder if this cave you are going to build will double as your own crematorium!
I intend to be cremated, and if my lovely wife wants to put the ashes in my "cave" out in the yard and seal the entrance, well, that would be just peachy with me.
Gotta get the thing built first, and God knows when that´s going to happen. Not too many moons more, I hope.
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