What is it like to live in Mexico

It's a lot better than Europe. I'll give Mexico that.

Thanks; anymore comments?

Retired in Mexico? wrote:

I got an invitation to visit Mexico just south of the border, not Ensenada, but a place called La Mision.

Has anyone here been there and, if so, what do you think of it for a retirement home, considering costs, food, places to run etc?

TJ is a shithole, but the beaches are pretty nice. If you like the beach and don't mind having little else of note, it might be a good place. See what I mean on your visit. Not sure what the current safety/security situation is.

The US is close, but the border is nuts. If you can get Global Entry you'll be able to skip the insane lines (4+ hours on a Sunday PM) to cross back into the US. That should be a major factor in your decision - you'll want to be able to get into the US easily and without Global Entry/Sentri, it's a huge pain. I wouldn't move down there without it.

Go to DF. Live like a king on an average American salary.

khgkjhbl wrote:

Go to DF. Live like a king on an average American salary.

The average American salary is $28,000. If you think you can live like a king in Mexico City off of that you are coo coo for coco puffs.

Thanks for the note about Global Entry.

I've been to Tijuana a few times but never south of there. The place I've been invited to is about 40 miles south of the border. I would probably park north of the border and take a Mexicoach to the town.

I'm especially interested in the town of La Mision. It's off highway 1 about a mile from the ocean. My friend says there are thousands of ex pat Americans living there but it doesn't look that big on the map.

khgkjhbl wrote:

Go to DF. Live like a king on an average American salary.

Yes, live like a king. It will seem like you have tons of money, king-like, if you will. Sure, there will be dirt floors, no bathroom facilities, contaminated water, constant diarrhea, living in squalor, but hey, you will be rich. You will be regal, except you'll have no friends, and you can't make any because you don't speak Spanish, but remember, you will be like royalty. Other than being a target because of your wealth by those involved in the brutal drug wars, you will have it made. The corrupt police and military will protect you in your unsafe environment as long as they're paid off, so I see nothing wrong with moving to Mexico. Go live like a king!!!

I own a home in Merida, in the Yucatan. It's a big city, lots to see and do, hot though. And, I'm not there full time or anything. I'm currently renting the house out, but I wanted something for down the road. I visit Mexico about 5 times a year, heading to Queretaro at the end of August for a week.

I'll probably live there part time when I retire, I can't see spending the whole year there. I like the culture, but I've also spent enough time there to get some glimpses into what life is really like. Sure, I'll like like a king down there on my retirement, but I'll also have to hire a maid, a gardener, be pestered for money at every turn, etc. Shrug.

Ole Timer wrote:

I own a home in Merida, in the Yucatan. It's a big city, lots to see and do, hot though. And, I'm not there full time or anything. I'm currently renting the house out, but I wanted something for down the road. I visit Mexico about 5 times a year, heading to Queretaro at the end of August for a week.

I'll probably live there part time when I retire, I can't see spending the whole year there. I like the culture, but I've also spent enough time there to get some glimpses into what life is really like. Sure, I'll like like a king down there on my retirement, but I'll also have to hire a maid, a gardener, be pestered for money at every turn, etc. Shrug.

Are you ever concerned about your safety? Can you detail the cost of living down there? Sounds interesting.

Safety? Are you kidding? I'm a lot safer in Mexico than I am here in Indianapolis, that's for sure. Last year I actually hitchiked in Chiapas, a poor rural state -- I'd never do that here. Of course, if you have a car, or a fancy place, you will be a target for property crime. That comes with the territory. But violent crime? Gringo tourists and expats are not targets, at least not for the cartels.

Costs are widely variable. You can buy a run down colonial house in Merida for $30k, but it will need a ton of work. $100k might get you something pretty nice. Mexicans don't have mortgages, so you can only buy what you can afford. I don't drive down there, so no car, and no gasoline. Buses are really cheap. Food is cheap. Utilities are cheap.

What's hard is getting stuff done. Something that should be totally easy and you can get done here in the US in 10 minutes might take hours or days or ??? down there. Mexicans will do things in ways that make no sense, but that's just the way it is. You can't change it. You need to just accept it. Let me give you an example.

You want to build a wall in your new house. You want some electric outlets in the wall. The Mexican way is to build the wall, then chip out holes and routes for the wires. You think, why not lay some conduit in the wall and then pull the wire through it? But no, they won't do that. Better to build a wall, then destroy parts of it, then put the wire in, then patch the wall up again. It's just the way it is. That's Mexico. In many ways in makes no sense, you just have to accept that this is the way it is.

I hope this helps in some small way.

Great response. Thank you.

Ole Timer wrote:

You want to build a wall in your new house. You want some electric outlets in the wall. The Mexican way is to build the wall, then chip out holes and routes for the wires. You think, why not lay some conduit in the wall and then pull the wire through it? But no, they won't do that. Better to build a wall, then destroy parts of it, then put the wire in, then patch the wall up again. It's just the way it is. That's Mexico. In many ways in makes no sense, you just have to accept that this is the way it is.

I hope this helps in some small way.

No, that's not Mexico. You simply need to get a better contractor, not the cheapest one you could find.

Think of how much it would cost to build a quality wall here in the states. Pay a similar amount in Mexico and you will get similar quality. I work for a project management firm that does extensive business in Mexico City and this is our golden rule.

This is very similar to the many tourists I hear speak of how they spent $35 US dollars on a hotel and then complained that it wasn't the Ritz Carlton.

The women are easy

I don't think thousands of ex pats live there because it looks like a small place (920 population?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Misi%C3%B3n,_Baja_California

the tooth wrote:

No, that's not Mexico. You simply need to get a better contractor, not the cheapest one you could find.

Honestly...you have no idea what you're talking about. I highly doubt you've ever been to Mexico, and if you have, you know nothing of the way average homes there are constructed. What I described is standard building procedure in any area that uses concrete block construction....I've seen it, been around it, and even helped.

track chick wrote:

I don't think thousands of ex pats live there because it looks like a small place (920 population?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Misi%C3%B3n,_Baja_California

Right, and that photo doesn't look too inviting.

I'm fine with the concrete construction, much better than the stick houses in the states and needing a permit to do anything.

Palenque is the best place for magic mushrooms.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a nice place if you like year-round sub 60 degree temperatures and cheap marijuana.

Seriously, San Cristobal is beatiful and the city is safe, though you may get stopped and fined by police for no apparent reason from time to time.

I can back you up, Ole Timer. We have family houses in General Tapia, NL, Mexico... concrete brick homes wit the same construction methods, even with the mero mero contractors.

I bought my wife a beautiful amber pendant in San Cristobal last year. I had a good time there -- nice weather, interesting dynamic there. It got warmer than 60 (this was in April), but cool nights. I could spend more time there. United had a great flight into Tuxtla Gutierrez, but they cancelled it. Makes it harder to get to San Cristobal, unless you go through Mexico City.