Return to Sayulita: 8 weeks and counting

The decision has been made to revisit Sayulita, Mexico - our favorite place on earth for pure relaxation - to celebrate the hub's 59th-and-holding birthday in early March. ARRIBA! Sayulita is a beautiful little fishing village-slash-surfing mecca with just enough - but not too many - American baby boomers ambling around to make us feel right at home.

If memory serves, we were last there in '05 with the kids. We'd felt like we'd "done" Puerto Vallarta, after a couple of visits, and found the perfect combination of culture and chill about 30 minutes to the north on the "Riviera Nayarit." (No 5-star all-inclusive resorts in this neck of the woods...not that there's anything wrong with that.)  I just hope it hasn't become too popular.

Last time, we rented a villa which was somewhat removed from town. This time, we want to be in the action, such as it is, so we've chosen the Petit Hotel d'Hafa just off the plaza because of its charm, central location, affordable rates (the non-stop plane tickets were relatively cheap, too) and the fact that the French hoteliers serve their guests free tequila on the rooftop terrazzo every night.

Surfing instructors abound and I might be tempted to act out my Gidget fantasy before I'm too old to boogie board.

On the other hand, there is something to be said for surfing as a spectator sport. This is going to make the winter a lot easier to bear.