I didn’t know the translation, so asked him to elaborate so I could get the context. He tried several times. It was frustrating not to figure it out. I made a mental note to look up lujo when I got back to my host home. I had a Spanish dictionary there.
Of course I had a Spanish dictionary there. I had other things there too: a fancy headlamp, water-resistant sunscreen, well-designed underwear that dried quickly, chewable imodium. I had everything I needed to be an intrepid traveler in Central America. Lugarteniente, lugarejo, luir -- I skimmed down the column and found it. Opulence, the English word for lujo.
My conversation with Pepe made me think about the opulence that swaddles my life. It made me also consider the things we trade for opulence: things like resourcefulness, spontaneity, and generosity.
I have come to love the simple way that people live in El Sauce. Because they live without opulence, they solve problems without spending money. They know how to fix things, not just replace them. They have parties that are more about dancing and laughter than about wine-pairings and color schemes.
The people of El Sauce remind me of a lifestyle that existed a long time ago in the U.S., a lifestyle that was not about stuff -- about lujo. The people of El Sauce are the reason I can’t stop going back. I admire their values. They give me hope for humanity. There is so much to learn from them.
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