Despite being away from her home, which is affectionately named Eagles Nest, her neighbors visiting and being with her dogs means Wheeler never feels lonely.
He said, “I feel more lonely in the city because everyone around has nothing to say to each other.”
He has 42 godsons in the region, one of Mexico’s poorest, where limited access to clean water, enough food and health care pose major challenges for communities that rely mostly on subsistence agriculture.
In the early 1990s, Wheeler decided to use the proceeds from his concerts around the world to establish a school, a clinic, and a scholarship program.
“They’re very nice people. They help a lot,” said Gerardo Gutierrez, a neighbor who was a child when he first met Wheeler.
The 49-year-old man said, “When it was very cold, he distributed blankets. And sometimes he also brought groceries for the people here.”
Giving back to the community has also given Wheeler a deeper sense of purpose.
He said, “These years have really been the happiest years of my life because I feel that my music is doing something valuable to help humanity.”