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Expat Living in Mexico - Is it for Me? How Will I Know?



Living in Mexico is not for everybody. Of course neither is Arkansas, but that is for another thread on a different forum. Besides, I would hate to upset a former US president or any of our forum members who hail from that (great?) state as well...

If you are even thinking about retiring in Mexico, my suggestion would be to come down first and find a vacation home rental in a community where you are considering and spend a month minimum there. Once the new car smell wears off you will have a better chance to see the country for what it really is, with all its warts and cultural charm together.

Only then can you know if you might be a good candidate to live here and actually enjoy the experience. Some thrive here, others don't. It depends a lot on who you are. I have made my own list of the general traits I see in folks who seem to do well down here:

1. Bohemian
2. Self sufficient
3. Thick skinned
4. Easy going
5. Adaptable / flexible
6. Open minded
7. Adventurous
8. Non-complainer
9. Culturally inquisitive
10. Doesn't believe that you can't teach an old dog new tricks

In my 30+ years living in various parts of Latin America (Argentina / Venzuela / Brazil / Mexico); I have had a pretty good opportunity to see how this works. My experience is that expats who can be identified by these traits (I probably missed some others that could be included) are the ones who truly do well in Latin America.

Now you need to be able to ask yourself some questions and give brutally honest answers. Your retirement / expat life happiness may depend on that honesty.

Do any of the following particularly bother or upset you:

1. Your neighbor who leaves his trash cans out, days after the garbage truck goes by.
2. Your neighbor who likes to play loud music at 11:30 at night.
3. Your neighbor who mows his lawn only once a month. When he does it is usually on a Saturday morning at 6:00 AM.
4. Your neighbor who likes to work on his car in front of his house. He has 3 more in back that he will get to eventually.
5. Your neighbor who likes to have family get togethers every weekend and their family is bigger than many mid-western towns.
6. The grocery store frequently does not have 2 of the 5 items you went there to buy.
7. Electricity going out 5 minutes before your favorite TV show is to begin.
8. Water pressure going out the evening your family arrives to spend the weekend.
9. The mechanic tells you he will have your car ready at 5:00 PM and you thought that meant today.
10. The plumber hooked up your new sink with the hot and cold water reversed.
11. Barking dogs, blasting advertising from loud speakers or honking vendors in your neighborhood at 7:00 AM.
12. Are you the type to call the police, the city zoning enforcement officer or write letters to the editor of the local newspaper for everything that bugs you about things going on in your neighborhood back home, including any of the first 11 items in the list?

A yes answer to two or more of any of the above or especially to question 12, indicates that there is a strong possibility that Mexico may not be a good choice for you for anything more than vacations, cheap gasoline and an occasional dental appointment.

If you are coming to Mexico to eat the same food you ate back home, live in a home with all the same features and amenities you had back home and want to maintain basically the same lifestyle you had back home... Then just stay back home. You will probably be a whole lot happier and the locals will probably be just as pleased to have never had the pleasure of staring at your grumpy, complaining mug every day as you gripe about any and all of items 1 through 11 on the list.

The expat life is not for everybody and it isn't a Scarlett Letter or anything. Just a simple fact and being able to be honest with yourself and realistic in your expectations.

If you are the type that can focus on the side of Baja / Mexico that does appeal to you and not let some of this stuff bother you too much, then you just may be able to survive life as an expat in Mexico. In fact you might (gasp) actually learn to see life from a different perspective and come to the illogical conclusion that maybe there are a couple of things a third world country can teach us. (God forbid)

It is all about perspective and attitude IMHO.


YMMV

Mexico should make every Gringo read and sign this before they can even apply for an FM3. Sums it up just about right in my opinion.

Although I must admit I do hate those loud speakers tied to the tops of their cars announcing or selling something all the time. They always have the volume turned up so loud I can't even figure out who it is I want to be mad at for waking me up so early in the morning!

Great post Ron. However, as I understand it, your dream hacienda is going to way off the beaten path which would nullify many of the items you listed. Just saying that your post should be required reading for any gringo who is looking to move to close confines. Not the same as your situation.

True, but I have lived quite happily here in the present situation for many years with loud noise, music, late parties and barking dogs. Moving out "away from it all" is really more my gift to my neighbors in Rosarito. I am not sure why but I apparently they seem quite happy that I am leaving.

It could be my large parties at all hours and on any day of the week, playing very loud music through eight large speakers with half naked, drunk and crazy people running in and out of the house screaming and yelling all night. Or maybe it has something to do with the fact I get up before dawn, turn my loud music back on again, mow the lawn, run my chainsaw just to see if it works and tinker around with one of the many trucks and cars in front of my house that I swear I am going to overhaul any day now...

We aren't supposed to store our trash cans in the streets? I really am not sure where else I could keep them. My brother-in-law and his family are living in the garage and the fifty or so cages for our cat breeding business take up most of the the backyard and both spare bedrooms.

And don't even get me started about my barking dogs. You know, if you go over to the mainland (the REAL Mexico) you know that you aren't a real local if you don't have at least one barking roof dog!

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

True, but I have lived quite happily here in the present situation for many years with loud noise, music, late parties and barking dogs. Moving out "away from it all" is really more my gift to my neighbors in Rosarito. I am not sure why but I apparently they seem quite happy that I am leaving.

It could be my large parties at all hours and on any day of the week, playing very loud music through eight large speakers with half naked, drunk and crazy people running in and out of the house screaming and yelling all night. Or maybe it has something to do with the fact I get up before dawn, turn my loud music back on again, mow the lawn, run my chainsaw just to see if it works and tinker around with one of the many trucks and cars in front of my house that I swear I am going to overhaul any day now...

We aren't supposed to store our trash cans in the streets? I really am not sure where else I could keep them. My brother-in-law and his family are living in the garage and the fifty or so cages for our cat breeding business take up most of the the backyard and both spare bedrooms.

And don't even get me started about my barking dogs. You know, if you go over to the mainland (the REAL Mexico) you know that you aren't a real local if you don't have at least one barking roof dog!

OK, you forgot one thing.........if you have not been in the military, and have never experienced being on the wrong end of "friendly fire" (it isn't), incoming mortar or artillery rounds, have never been in Beruit, Mogadishu or Baghdad.....your first ,Mexican holiday after the sun goes down will be a treat. If you have a dog with you that really doesn't like loud noises, your treat will be doubled!!!!!

BajaGringo, Were you joking about the cat breeding business?

Would that be the only thing that would keep you from being my neighbor???



I keep our cat "breeding" business down to two and they are both fixed!

Love your list! It is a great one.

However, not all roof dogs bark. This one helped put the roof on our guest
room.

And to stay totally on topic, I would add a couple of things.

1. If you expect someone to answer your e-mail even if they don't have a positive answer, it could be a problem.
2. If you get upset when someone does not show up and doesn't tell you why until the next time they happen to see you, that could be a problem
3. If you think ahorrita means right away, forget it


Diane

I remember talking to a guy in Taxco, Guerrero that had a big dog up on his roof. I asked him how long the dog had been up there and he told me his entire life. He said that he felt sorry for the dog as he would see female dogs passing by all day long and couldn't do anything, so he brought it down to get him fixed. Said that the dog was so afraid of being down on the ground he was just shaking and peeing everywhere so they just put him back up on the roof and he has been happy every since.

OK, I have not posted nor commented on other threads for a while and I need to catch up. I have been in the middle of computer semi-nightmare for the ungeeky person---another story, but I am not yet on the floor in the fetal postion rocking back and forth---computers can do that.

Long story---maybe I'll get that verbose badge.

So, I am moving files and I found these that seem to fit so well on this thread----

One must be flexible to survive in Baja

Kitchen was not completed in the house we bought, so we had a local fisherman make us some cabinets.

We were not home when they were delivered.

Slight problem, there is a major turn by the front door and there was NO WAY it was going in there---back door was worse.

Workers were there building our guest room, so Fabian took out the front window and the cabinets were delivered.

I did not get pictures, unfortunately as they came through the window, I was directing traffic.

Just an example of needing to be flexible and accepting that there WILL be a solution.


Diane

Not sure if this is on topic but I have an old lady card issued by the mex gov. I am going tomorrow to CFE because my mex friends get a 40% discount with theirs. Can you say AC all summer? I know that the water people give you a discount. will report how much.
I know that i get a discount on my property taxes.
BTW...my name is first on all of our legal documents and therefore utility bills too.
This would make expat living in mex much more affordable.

If you are over 60 go to

http://www.inapam.gob.mx/index/index.php?sec=78

Well the people at CFE did not have a clue about discounts for seniors so I am trying to get in touch with my friend to see what part I did not understand. I was so disheartened that I didnt go to the water dept.
I dont care! we just turned on the ac anyway...90 in my yard in the shade...OUCH

I think the lesson from Diana's post applies to EZ. You're in Mexico. Just keep plugging. Nice looking cabinets!

Please keep us in the loop as to what you find out - I mentioned it to a few of my friends and they seemed very interested...

There is nothing on that site that says that, there is a program for those that are 70 and older, where you get some pesos and other stuff

Originally Posted by EZDC

Well the people at CFE did not have a clue about discounts for seniors so I am trying to get in touch with my friend to see what part I did not understand. I was so disheartened that I didnt go to the water dept.
I dont care! we just turned on the ac anyway...90 in my yard in the shade...OUCH

We've had the "old age card" for years. Originally 50% off your property taxes, which changed several years ago to the same amount everyone gets if you pay before Jan 1. Half off water. But never heard of discounted electric bill? 10% in Farmacias Tried the Agila bus discount once in La Paz and was refused. Go figure !!

There is an updated link on how to get the tarjeta INAPAM:

Requisitos para obtener la Tarjeta INAPAM

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

There is an updated link on how to get the tarjeta INAPAM:

Requisitos para obtener la Tarjeta INAPAM

I have the requirements for the card and the directions for the Ensenada office if anyone is interested.