My Story Getting to Puerto Vallarta

By Trenie Penrod

Hello To My New Expats Friends,

My name is Trenie Penrod. I have been visiting Puerto Vallarta for well over 20 years and was hoping at some point in my life that I would be able follow my dream and move here. I sold my business in Salem, OR after 23 years and decided that moving to PV would be a great place to start my retirement. Then I would determine after a few months if this would be my final destination.

I arrived in Puerto Vallarta in December, 2013 with 7 weeks of timeshares that I begged, borrowed and had of my own to begin my journey of making this my new home. I did know that I genuinely loved warm weather and the openness of the Pacific Ocean. I had vacationed several years in PV and had loved the culture and people more and more with each vacation. I packed up two seriously crammed suitcases and put the remaining items that I could not part with in a 8 X 10 storage unit.

At this point I knew that some quick decisions needed to be made since my home was part of the business/property sale in Oregon. I am certain that I was born with the travel gene in my soul so I knew that something would work out if I just closed my eyes and took the leap, much to the dismay of my friends and family. I have decided that it is now time to collect ‘moments’ and not ‘things’ in my life, which I’m sure is to the delight of my children.

I have met some wonderful locals like being the only gringo at an authentic Mexican wedding and again last week being the only gringo at a birthday party. This family has taken me under their wing, possibly thinking I may not be able to survive in the universe without their help. Looking back it may be a gringo pity party on their part. Jovanny, one of the younger family members calls me every few days making sure that I am still safe and is there anything I may need in his absence. He has met many of my family members when they visit me and has taken my grandchildren under his wing, showing them a night on the town in PV that grandma’s just can’t do. Even the genuine caring that I have received when totally lost at a bus stop, which included inviting me to their house for a BBQ. The world is a great book and if you don’t travel, then you have only read 1 page.

For example, I was looking for a Dr. on one of my journeys into town when I ran across some people that were dismayed with not knowing which way to turn. We wound up spending the entire day together and they are now Facebook friends and plan on returning here to visit me in the fall. Looking for a Dr. will have to wait until some other day.

I would never be able to live so wonderfully with sunsets in my back yard in the states. My goal is to find the ‘perfect little home’ in the Old Town area, so the bus can be eliminated from my daily life, and I’ll be able to remain in town later to enjoy the many evening events.

My love for PV will never stop growing. Each day I would like to think that I have added a touch of sparkle to the lives of the residents of this great growing hamlet in Mexico.

I’m looking forward to meeting all of my new friends,

Trenie