Already it’s that time of year when the snowbirds begin winging their way back up north to file their taxes, make medical appointments and catch up on the grandkids – dreaming all the while about returning as soon as the air turns crisp.

Part of the rhythm of life here is watching them come and go, yet it’s kind of sad for those of us “left behind” who’ve come to count on seeing their smiling faces over morning coffee or on art walks. On the other hand, it’s a privilege to have Vallarta “to ourselves” when the hustle and bustle dies down.

Vallarta has a much calmer, gentler aura in the summer, more intimate and personal. And it’s when you can really get to know the locals, both the Mexicans and the year-round expats. During the high season we all tend to be super busy, between working and “making hay while the sun shines” and trying to keep up with the non-stop social whirl. So, despite the oppressive heat and humidity, it’s a time of rejuvenation and reconnecting with what really matters, as well as planning for what we all hope will be yet another busy season to follow.

It’s impossible to predict, with the current state of world politics, what half a year from now will bring – anywhere, certainly not just here. But then, it’s always something.

At the eleventh hour before this high season was to begin, Hurricane Kenna muddied up the works. And building up to the 2000 season there was apocalyptic concern that, as the clock struck midnight on January 1, computers would fail worldwide, resulting in a full spectrum of unthinkable disasters.

But here we all are, doing our thing and hopefully enjoying it. And with the inauguration of the long-awaited new theater on Isla Rio Cuale March 27, there’s now much more to enjoy. This sparkling new venue gives all of us easy, inexpensive access to just about every creative endeavor we’ve ever thought of – all year round. We can chose from a couple of dozen new skills to learn, like clay modeling or violin, or just sit back in this most perfect of locations and be entertained.

Complimenting the island’s human-scale architecture, the fresh white building at its eastern tip is large enough to accommodate 100 inside. And a second stage in front of it means up to 600 can attend performances on the plaza under the stars.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening there will be something going on there, performances of everything from dance and theater to poetry readings, film and more. This is one of the venues for the Mexican Film Festival that begins March 28, highlighting a week’s worth of exceptional films made in this country.

And the “Night of the Iguana,” the John Huston-directed film that put Vallarta on the tourist map back in the early ‘60s, will screen April 3. Where better to watch it than steps away from Huston’s statue in the company of others who love this place and wouldn’t trade living here for anywhere in the world – well, maybe for six months or so.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about what you’re reading, you’re encouraged to let me know at heather@mexmags.com.