If your pleasure threshold is low, Vallarta’s probably not for you. With the world’s friendliest people and a plethora of activities to pursue amid nature’s most generous display, it’s next to impossible not to enjoy life to the fullest here. Vallarta’s prevailing mood is always upbeat for many good reasons, but even more so than usual this ‘low season’.

Smack dab in the middle of our summer rains, this is traditionally a quiet time of year with few tourists, making it challenging to earn a living. But I’ve been noticing – and business owners I’ve spoken with have confirmed – that this is a summer quite unlike any other. Perhaps the events of September 11th have something to do with many more Mexican nationals visiting than usual. While the middle and upper classes might normally head north for at least part of their holidays, rather than worrying about threats to safety they’re relaxing and having fun here.

What this means for me is more time in traffic and a more positive frame of mind during what is traditionally a very lean time. So I’m pretty happy! And that’s not a given, since I’ve battled depression most of my life. I’ve finally accepted that this is not something that just goes away. But it can be managed by taking proper care of myself, somewhat like a diabetic does, I guess. And thankfully, Vallarta provides me with everything I could need to be healthy. Fresh, wholesome food, fascinating people, more cultural events than I could possibly attend, lots of sunshine, fresh ocean air, and ample opportunities for exercise both outdoors and in – which, along with stupendous views everywhere I look, is turning out to be one of the best ways to stay positive. As the fates would have it, a great new gym called Total Fitness recently opened right above my office and now working out feels perfectly natural.

Sometimes, however, people do need pharmaceuticals. And our local pharmacies sell with impunity many drugs that are available “by prescription only” up North for reasons of contraindications, potential side effects and so on. While it’s easy to just waltz in and ask for the cure for what ails you, buyer beware. When checking out prices at a new branch of a pharmacy this week, I asked what they had for depression – being very specific about the term, which is not dissimilar in English and Spanish – and was presented with a choice of two medications. Not recognizing either, I wrote down the info. Then I borrowed a friend’s pharmaceutical guide to determine which would be more suitable should I need it. Turns out neither. They were both hypertensive medications! I share this story as a reminder to always do your homework and never accept recommended meds at face value unless you’re already familiar with them.

Speaking of familiar things that can make you smile, anyone on a limited budget or with a sense of adventure who has spent any length of time here has ridden one of our city buses. You’ll get no argument from me if you have complaints about them, but you have to admit riding them is never boring. Daily life unfolds before your eyes as an assortment of clowns, jugglers, singers and flute players hop on and off, doing their thing then disappearing back into the street. While some are fair to middling at best, others are true professionals, filling in time between gigs this way. While lifting spirits, it’s a dignified way to make a few pesos and even a one- or two-peso contribution adds up. Entertainers on buses are just one more way this town lifts spirits with its flavorful charm.

Connect with me at heather@mexmags.com telling me what you’re curious, concerned, surprised or delighted about and I’ll gladly follow up, adding it to my list of places to go and people to see.