Pivoting During The Pandemic

BY HEIDI ROY

2019 WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD CROSSED BY FOOT OVER THE BORDER INTO BAJA NORTE, MEXICO. I HAD SPENT THE LAST YEAR FALLING IN LOVE WITH MEXICO CITY, BUT TIJUANA WAS JUST NOT A CITY THAT I’D EVER IMAGINED I’D WANT TO VISIT. THAT IS, UNTIL MY BEST FRIEND AND I DECIDED TO TAKE A CALIFORNIA COASTLINE ROAD-TRIP, SERENDIPITOUSLY ENDING US IN THE TOWN JUST SOUTH OF TIJUANA, CALLED ROSARITO.

As a lover of AirBnB, it was always my goal to choose the most unique places to rest our heads. Upon arriving in Rosarito we realized that we had discovered a mini-paradise. A serendipitous oasis of succulent gardens, hand-painted art, and tile-work curated by the host: a 70-year-old clairvoyant and jewelry maker who had spent the last 40 years of his life entertaining and cooking for guests at his home by the ocean.

“What a dream”, I thought. As a lover of engineering and sharing my vegan food (I’ve owned a small vegan meal prep business

for the last 5 years) I quickly imagined how fun it would be to do as he did. I imagined the joy it would bring me to serve my guests their meals piping hot instead of prepped in boxes. I imagined how amazing it would be to hold a space for even more like-minded people to gather and enjoy each other’s company. Upon returning home after a few nights of our host’s amazing food (he even catered to our

dietary choices), intelligent conversations, and relaxation by the ocean, I had been instantly inspired. I had met my muse. A few months later when 2020 hit, I declared it as the year of “intention”. My goal was to return to Mexico by the end of the year, but then the quarantine unexpectedly hit us all. Two weeks into it, my boyfriend and I sat on the living room floor armed with markers and a piece of used wrapping paper and mapped out alternative endings to the pandemic. If things didn’t return back to normal by June, we were shipping out to Mexico. And by May, we very quickly realized things were not going back to normal. We began searching for homes in Baja Norte (which starts only about 30 mins south of the San Diego border). We succeeded on the first try. We found a dream home in a private community with a huge kitchen, perfectly furnished guest bedrooms, and steps from its own private beach. It was also located just one community south from my muse. He later told me he never doubted my word that I’d be back. In just one month we were able to INTENTIONally create a space where we could offer people the same good food & conversation I had experienced the year before. A small business that allows us to share our love of travel and meeting other like-minded people without leaving the comfort of our home. A place where we can offer guests a comfortable bed, a morning coffee with almond milk creamer, menu items like chilaquiles, spicy “tuna” bowls, pasta Bolognese, without having to worry about dietary choices being a burden on vacation. A fireplace on a chilly night with a glass of wine and a movie on a projector screen. A beach walk while listening to your favorite podcast. Imagine a place, completely catered to your lifestyle shared with like-minded people. Where you don’t have to lift a finger, and you can let your creative juices flow. Basically, a private vegan beach oasis you never have to leave. My boyfriend Aaron and I value relationships with people and experiences over material things. We hope when people come here, they leave re-charged and inspired to create a life doing what they love. During a time of fear, anxiety, uncertainty, we realized that the best way to predict our future was to create it. And it turns out it was the exact right time. A few short months

after being in Baja, my muse suddenly passed away from a heart attack. It has been our privilege and honor to continue to serve others as he did for us. We feel fulfilled serving many guests here so far, despite the challenging circumstances. If you’re reading this, we hope this story inspires you to chase your dreams regardless of your external circumstances. Sometimes the biggest magic happens when we pivot. We hope you come to see what we’ve created. For additional questions, housing accommodations/photos, and availability please contact Heidi and Aaron at https://www.lacasaamarillamx.com.