The Old Yorke Fish & Chips shop in Leaside seemed like an unlikely choice for our encounter. At some point in the conversation, our major decision was what type of fish do you want with your fish & chips? (A question that felt suspiciously like a Tie-Break scenario). I had been invited to join this somewhat “regular” group and it was a chance to hash out all of the old stories. But at our exalted age, the conversation often pivots sharply from grand slams to replaced hips and the brutal reality of which pension plan offers the best dental coverage.  That is if you could hear what anyone said with our bad hearing.

The Demographics of San Miguel de Allende (SMA): It is not a sprawling metropolis, and after a few days of settling in, the navigation and orientation became relatively straightforward. The local populace is reportedly augmented by an estimated 10-15% of expatriates, placing the non-native population in the vicinity of 15,000 souls. One does observe a significant presence of gringos, and it is a known fact that many members of the local pickleball fraternity have established long-term residency in SMA.