I'm a Little Behind.

Somewhere between twelve wonderful men, a 300-year-old villa, and a whole lot of cobblestones, my to-do list got away from me.

Well, boys, I'm a little behind. Actually, I'm a lot behind. But I have a pretty good excuse, and it involves a dozen men, one spectacular old villa, and a week in San Miguel de Allende celebrating Day of the Dead.

What a fabulous week we had!

There were twelve of us in total, staying in what might be one of the most beautiful villas we've ever rented. The place is approximately 300 years old, and much of it is still original. Can you imagine? Three centuries of history in the walls, courtyards, and passageways. The property remained in the same family until about twenty years ago, when new owners eventually transformed it into this extraordinary rental villa. It was a wonderful place to call home for the week, and I think every one of us appreciated just how special it was.

But I have to hand it to these guys. They were freaking active!

If you've ever visited San Miguel de Allende, you know that walking around town is not exactly a leisurely stroll through a shopping mall. We've got cobblestones, uneven sidewalks, hills, and more cobblestones. And when you're staying somewhere that's been around for 300 years, you can pretty much guarantee there isn't an escalator waiting around the corner.

Yet whenever the guys were given the choice between getting a ride into town or walking, most of them chose to walk. Every single time, it seemed! I don't know how many steps they logged during the week, but I suspect a few fitness trackers were begging for mercy.

And that's one of the things I loved most about this group.

Because when you walk, you discover things. You notice the little shop tucked into a doorway. You stop to admire a courtyard you would have missed from a car. You strike up a conversation with someone on the street. You stumble upon a historic building, an unexpected piece of art, or an architectural detail that's been there for hundreds of years.

Isn't that what traveling should be about? Discovering something new?

You can see the highlights of a destination from the back seat of a vehicle, but sometimes the best memories happen when you're wandering around with no particular destination in mind.

It was also wonderful to welcome back several familiar faces and meet a couple of new ones. I can't tell you how much it means when someone who's traveled with me before decides to come along again. And when someone joins us for the first time, trusting me to handle the arrangements and make sure they have a wonderful experience, that's something I never take for granted.

Of course, not everything went according to plan.

We had a couple of restaurant hiccups that tested my patience and my ability to think on my feet. Despite having confirmed dinner reservations, we arrived at two restaurants only to discover that our names weren't on their lists. At one, we had to scramble to find somewhere else that could accommodate twelve hungry men. At the other, we had to wait for other diners to finish before we could be seated.

Neither situation was ideal, particularly when you've spent considerable time making arrangements in advance. But here's where I have to give our guys another round of applause. They rolled with it. Nobody made a big production out of anything. They were patient, flexible, and understanding, and we made the best of both situations.

That's the beauty of traveling with a good group of men. Things don't always go perfectly, but the company can make even the unexpected moments part of the adventure.

So, what's next for San Miguel?

You may remember that I swore I was going to take most of next year off from organizing retreats. And I still intend to slow things down a bit. This year has been a busy one, and this particular trip took quite a bit out of me.

But you know me. I can't seem to leave well enough alone.

I'm toying with the idea of doing a few smaller retreats right here in San Miguel, each with a different personality.

One would be an entire week dedicated to pampering yourself. Think massages, spa treatments, fabulous meals, relaxation, and absolutely no reason to feel guilty about doing nothing. A week where the biggest decision might be whether to have another massage or another margarita.

Another would be for the more adventurous guys. I'm thinking ATV excursions, getting out into the countryside, hands-on workshops, and activities that let you experience a different side of Mexico. Something for the men who like to get moving, get their hands dirty, and try something new.

And the third idea is one I'm particularly excited about: a week focused on getting to know some of the wonderful gay people who call San Miguel home. We have such an interesting, colorful, talented community here, and I'd love to introduce visitors to the people who make this place so special. Less traditional sightseeing and more genuine connections, conversations, gatherings, and friendships.

These are just ideas at the moment, so don't go packing your bags quite yet. But they're rattling around in my head, and you know how dangerous that can be.

As for doing another Day of the Dead retreat next year? I'm genuinely undecided. It's one of the most extraordinary times to be in San Miguel, but pulling together all the moving pieces during such a busy holiday takes an enormous amount of work. I need a little time to recover before I decide whether I'm ready to tackle that again.

Meanwhile, back to reality.

If you've sent me a message and haven't heard back, I'm sorry. If you've been wondering why the Gallery of Men hasn't been updated as quickly as usual, that's on my list, too. There are several other projects and loose ends that need my attention, and I'm working my way through them.

I appreciate your patience. There are only so many hours in the day, and lately I've been using a rather large percentage of them making sure twelve men were fed, entertained, and pointed in the right direction.

I'll be back home in Cleveland on Monday night, and one of my first priorities is checking in on Jefferson to see how he's doing. I'm looking forward to seeing him and settling back into my Cleveland routine for a month or so.

There's something comforting about returning to familiar surroundings, getting caught up with friends, and falling back into the everyday rhythm of life. I have a stack of things waiting for me, but I'm actually looking forward to getting some of them crossed off the list.

And then, before you know it, we'll be heading off to Puerto Vallarta to spend time with another wonderful group of men. I'm already looking forward to the fun, the sunshine, and the friendships waiting for us there.

So yes, I'm a little behind. But after a week like the one we just had in San Miguel, I wouldn't trade the experience for a perfectly organized inbox.

The emails can wait a little. The memories are worth it.

And to the eleven men who shared this past week with me, thank you. You made it a wonderful experience, restaurant surprises and all. I hope you went home with some fabulous memories, a few new friendships, and perhaps a little more appreciation for just how much fun twelve men can have when they set out to explore the world together.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some catching up to do!

Hugs,

Nick