Earlier this morning I walked down to my new favorite gordita stand. As I ate my shredded beef gordita and sipped my agua (today’s flavor is mango), I watched the children playing outside at the elementary school. I saw people stroll by carrying bags of produce and baking. The fruit store is next door and the bakery is down the street. I noticed a man selling burritos on his motorcycle. People lined up at a taco stand across the street.

Although Aguascalientes has a population of close to 1 million, my neighborhood of Las Flores feels more like one of the sleepy little towns I’ve traveled through in the years since I first started coming to Mexico in the winter. Walking the streets here is safe, day or night. People are friendly and greet you with Buneos Dias, Buenas Tardes or Buenas Noches. My neighbors sit outside every day greeting everyone who walks by.

I adore the quaint tiendas. It is so different from filling a shopping cart at Costco or Walmart. I often go into my corner tiendita and buy 1 tomato or 1 potato. I can buy 1 bolillo or 1 pastry. A frequent purchase is 1 egg and 2 strips of bacon on mornings when I’m so inclined.

There is a small gift shop down the street. For less than one dollar, she giftwraps with colorful tissues and shiny bows. Her little tienda boasts everything from children’s toys to women’s handbags. Even when I just go in to visit and browse something always catches my eye and I often leave carrying a treasure in my hand.

And then I think of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. And I think of ICE running through my neighborhood in East Wenatchee. And I think of my hometown of Winnipeg, notoriously labelled as the murder capital of Canada.

And I think of how blessed I am to be living in Aguascalientes today.