MexConnect.com Forums: General: Living, Working, Retiring: Help appreciated in location choice!: Page 2

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Carron

May 11, 2009, 9:33 AM

Post #26 of 41 (7258 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Help appreciated in location choice!

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Speaking of hazards and Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, I lived and worked there for our first 3 years in Mexico. For most of that time we owned a home in the Zoque Indian village of Copoya, in the mountains south of the city, but in actuality the village had already been annexed by Tuxtla and was beginning to receive city services.

Tuxtla does tend to flood several feet deep in most of the city during the rainy season. Two-three feet of water rush along the streets for several hours most afternoons. There is a reason there are so many shoe stores on every block!! Generally speaking, the floods drain off into the Rio Grijalva very quickly so there is little disruption of daily life.

About 3 weeks after we moved there in 1998, however, there was a major hurricane which slipped across from the Yucatan. Stalled over the city of Tuxtla and rained on us steadily for several days. Most of the major damage was limited to the Pacific coast, not many miles west of us. Mainly mudslides which devastated squatters' shacks there.

Also I experienced my first earthquake while I was there. One Sunday afternoon I was lying on the sofa when it seemed my entire house slid about 3 feet westward. It paused, then slipped back eastward about a foot, and with an audible sigh, settled back down. Lots of cracks in my patio and living room floor, but no other damage.

That said, I loved Tuxtla and all the gorgeous surroundings. As beautiful as anywhere on Earth, I suspect. It was just too far for me to visit family. Since I was teaching, I could only take vacation time when everyone else in Mexico was also on the move, and with limited time and a limited budget, I could not get back and forth to Texas, so we sold our home and moved north to Coahuila.

If you are retired, and have enough money to fly rather than use buses (which are very nice but take forever), I would definitely recommend Tuxtla as a beautiful, cultured, sophisticated city well worth your consideration.

And the weather??? Having been born in New Orleans and having spent most of my adult life in Houston, I found the climate delightfully Spring-like rather than hot and humid.

BajaGringo

May 11, 2009, 10:56 AM

Post #27 of 41 (7251 views)

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Re: [KJR42] Help appreciated in location choice!

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Lots of spots to consider here on the Baja peninsula. You don't have to go to high dollar areas like Los Cabos either. There are literally hundreds of locations to choose from on both the Pacific Ocean side as well as Mar de Cortez where you can have a fabulous home in your budget range with a boat and even a private slip. If you like to fish, the water all around Baja is world famous. You can certainly find a zone that meets your exact temperature preferences as well.

Good luck!

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

Gringal

May 12, 2009, 8:15 AM

Post #28 of 41 (7202 views)

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Re: [KJR42] Help appreciated in location choice!

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It sounds like you are well traveled people who have done some wise research and eliminated the "absolutely no way" places already.

My imput: Many people seem to have an allergic reaction to the idea of living near "a lot of gringos". They don't specify what kind of gringos. Like " loud, rude people". They just don't want a lot of gringos of any stripe in their vicinity. Others, moving to a foreign land, are only too glad to discover fellow expats with whom to share their common ground, language and history. To me, it's comedy. As in anywhere else, you pick your friends and ignore the people who don't appeal to you.

My current home town is Ajijic, in the Lake Chapala area. The great year-around weather is well known. The only heat in our house in a fireplace, used around Christmas. A morning walk by the lake is a treat. The walk can include the charming and admittedly touristy little town; breakfast at any number of places and a sit-down in the village square. You mentioned accessibility to libraries, medical care and even mah jong. This area has all of that, along with the world class facilities available in Guadalajara, less than an hour away.
Guadalajara itself was once a great place to live....but the air is polluted now, as in most of the world's large cities.

There are several modes of living in the general Lakeside area. Villages and countryside on the south side of the lake; predominantly Mexican populations in some of the western villages, the mixed population in Ajijic village and a number of hillside communities, many of which are gated and which are heavily populated by expats. Some have gorgeous views. Many choices.

For a "beach fix", there's a good highway to the coast, which is about four hours away. This brings you to Manzanillo, a working port town and naval base. We enjoy watching the ship traffic while sipping a cool one under a palapa on the beach. Deep sea fishing is available there, and (thankfully) no time-share salespeople or hordes of trinket sellers preying on the beachgoers.

So, if you aren't in the group that can't abide the sight of English speaking expats in your neighborhood....this area might be worth checking out.

One must take all this advice from those posting with a dose of salts, since everyone tends to make whatever they chose "okay". Then, there are some folks who wouldn't be happy anywhere at all.

BajaGringo

May 14, 2009, 5:16 AM

Post #29 of 41 (7135 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Help appreciated in location choice!

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I don't "put down" or "look down my nose" at expats who prefer to live in Gringo communities. I respect each and every one for the decision they make for what works best for them. Everyone has a different "checklist" and comfort zone. I just think that before even considering where you want to live in a geographic sense, one needs to take an honest look at a couple of things, including your ability to learn a second language, cultural curiosity, flexibility and adaptability. Do you want your life to look a lot like it did back home or do you really have the fortitude to go out and explore, learn and discover new things and ways of doing things?

Remember, this is a lifetime in retirement, not a seven day Club Med vacation. I think that some get caught up in the romantic notion of living like the locals and when that reality actually sets in they find themselves quickly missing and yearning for the life they had been accustomed to back home. Unfortunately they have invested all of their money set aside to build a "Swiss Family Robinson" three story bamboo escape in the middle of nowhere with no real potential buyers except the lady down the road who might consider it to replace her dilapidated chicken coop.

Of course I say that a bit tongue in cheek mind you, but only to get you to consider the real picture of your retirement and what it will look like over time. For many, that means happiness will be most likely found in popular Gringo communities like San Miguel de Allende, Mazatlan, Rosarito Beach, Lake Chapala and others.

For me? I am a crazy Gringo and a kid at heart still living his Robinson Crusoe adventure on a remote and isolated Baja beach. I also recognize that it is not for everybody. I actually enjoy the challenge of having to create my own electricity from the sun and wind. I prefer the remote location with no city lights, honking horns, Costco's or Burger Kings. For the rare car or truck that passes by, I instinctively wave each time, knowing that it must be a friend or neighbor down the road. Nobody else would ever come out this far for anything else.

That scares some people - I revel in the purity of this solitude.

But I am also told that I am a crazy Gringo, so there you go...

YMMV

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

(This post was edited by BajaGringo on May 14, 2009, 8:39 AM)

WillWork4Golf

May 17, 2009, 6:49 PM

Post #30 of 41 (7047 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Help appreciated in location choice!

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I would definitely look into Cabo San Jose, it seems like my wife and I are finding the best deals with the greatest ammenities (fishing, boating, golf for me, relaxation and spas for her). I have been doing my own research and found Las Villas de Mexico as my favorite so far, tell me what you think.

Cheers!

Marlene

May 19, 2009, 8:37 AM

Post #31 of 41 (6983 views)

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Re: [WillWork4Golf] Help appreciated in location choice!

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Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are a little over 30 kms apart but both are tourist resorts which means that things aren't inexpensive, especially real estate. This area seems to get hit alot during hurricane season, which is something to consider.

Brigitte Ordoquy

May 20, 2009, 9:14 AM

Post #32 of 41 (6910 views)

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Re: [Carron] Help appreciated in location choice!

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Speaking of hazards and Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, I lived and worked there for our first 3 years in Mexico. For most of that time we owned a home in the Zoque Indian village of Copoya, in the mountains south of the city, but in actuality the village had already been annexed by Tuxtla and was beginning to receive city services.

I loved Tuxtla and all the gorgeous surroundings. As beautiful as anywhere on Earth

Thanks, Carron for the accolades for Chiapas´ fabulous state capital of Tuxtla Gurierrez - a true tropical non-coastal city at about 1,200 feet altitude on the so- called Chiapas Depression or what I would call the Chiapas low-lying tableland between the Chiapas Highlands with elevations between 7,000 and 12,000 feet and the "Tierra Caliente" or hot lands of the Pacific Coast. Unbeknownst to most, Tuxtla Gutierrez and its beautiul suburb of Chiapa de Corzo are actually in an an ariid zone I would describe as semi-desert. The wet tropics are on the northeastern side of the Sierra de Chiapas consisting of the tropical flatland jungles and wetlands from about Agua Azul to the Gulf of Mexico at Tabasco and Veracruz and Campeche states.

Here is what Tuxtla Gutierrez offers the retiree:
* A city of about 1,000,000 people with all the urban advantages including excellent restaurants, shopping centers and other desireable urban amenities.
* Luxurious housing with splendid gardens for $3,000,000 Pesos or under. Modest but attractive housing for peanuts.
* Some of the best restaurants for local food in all of Mexico. Great lamb, rabbit, chicken, beef, pork, tamales. tacos, I´m sorry I can´t go on as I´m getting hungry.
* Great views if you live in the hills surrounding the city.
* Good, if not great hospitals and physicians.What do you want? You´re on the way out anyway.
* 45 Minutes to the cool Jovel Valley and the beautiful colonial city of San Cristóbal de Las Casas and incredible alpine forests with splendid views and quaint and colorful indigenous villages.
* Six hours to the jungles and extraordinary ruins at Palenque.
* A couple of hours to the isolated and practically uninhabited Pacific coast of Chiapas.
* Within easy driving distance of the Yucatan Peninsula with its marvelous ruins and mind-blowing Caribbean beaches.
* Maybe four hours from the beautiful Ruta de Cafe and its green beyond green environment with interspersed coffee plantations and ecolodges and, if one alternatively heads toward the Lacandon Forest, impenetrable tropical forests of immense beauty.

Don´t head for that place which has already been exploited just like Betty Sue Johnson where the whole football team has resided at one point or the other.

If I had it to do over, I´d move to Tuxtla Gutierrez before I moved to nearby San Cristóbal in a New York second. Do not listen to those who have already soiled the couch.

(This post was edited by Brigitte Ordoquy on May 20, 2009, 9:30 AM)

Babs G

May 20, 2009, 2:07 PM

Post #33 of 41 (6862 views)

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Re: [KJR42] Help appreciated in location choice!

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If you can stand one more opinion, here it is. I'm very new to this site, but not new to Mexico.
My husband and I lived for more than 10 years on the "Mexican Riviera" part of Quintana Roo, both in Paamul (in a trailer on the beach) and in Puerto Aventuras (a gated community a few miles south of Paamul). We were scuba divers, but also explored the entire coast. We owned our condo in P.A. and had no trouble buying it in 2000, or selling it when we left in 2007.
We liked Bakalar; the lake there is incomparable, but we finally moved to the highlands of Veracruz a few years ago because of the climate. When we were no longer scuba diving, we wanted a cooler climate and like a lot of expats, a place where we could get to know the people. We investigated Merida and rejected it because of the heat, although the areas along the north shore of the Yucatan Peninsula were tempting.
We now live in Coatepec, Veracruz. Near enough to Xalapa, the capitol, to go there whenever we want to. Xalapa is a university town with attendant cultural events--the state theater is famous. Coatepec grows coffee and is not a real tourist town, but it has wonderful restaurants and coffee shops (just like many other towns in Mexico, so that's not new). Plenty to do here. Among other things, there's an internationally famous birding event here every September/October. Something called "River of Raptors", where millions (not an exaggeration) of raptors migrate through the coastal area near Cardel.
Depends on what you want. I have been in a lot of areas of Mexico and enjoyed them all. We bought our house here because we found one we couldn't resist, when it was being built. But I would recommend renting for a while before buying so you don't make a mistake. It's just that we knew exactly what we wanted and found it quickly.
We live on a fixed income (we are in our 70s), less than your budget, and we are very comfortable, quite able to travel whenever we went.
The other benefit to retiring in Mexico hasn't been mentioned. When you are 60 or over you can get an "insen" card from DIF, which gives you half off of just about everything, including internal air flights and bus rides. They really take care of their old folks here.

Good hunting! Babs

Hound Dog

May 20, 2009, 2:44 PM

Post #34 of 41 (6860 views)

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Re: [Babs G] Help appreciated in location choice!

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We liked Bakalar; the lake there is incomparable,

Great to hear from you Babs. The lake at Bacalar is indeed incomparable. Crystal clear and mysterious. Incredible adjacent deep cenote. Surrounded by pleasant homes and forests. Extraordinary. A few hours from isolated and beautiful Xcalak and within a short drive of Belize if that is one´s goal. Unfortunately overpriced as is Xcalak but look around for nearby bargains.

Here is what folks moving to Mexico need to know. Popular places such as Ajijic and San Miguel d´Allende and Pátzcuaro and Puerto Vallarta and other such places will certainly disappoint you in the long run as they are overburdened with people seeking exotic locales but with WalMart toilet paper.

Turn down the expectations and stay away from expat enclaves and you will be more pleased with your decision. If the market were not so dreadful, I would sell my Lake Chapala home immediately and be out of here and never look back.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on May 20, 2009, 2:47 PM)

Babs G

May 20, 2009, 3:30 PM

Post #35 of 41 (6851 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Help appreciated in location choice!

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I have a lot of friends in Bakalar who have been living there for a long time, and we also know at least one refugee from San Miguel de Allende. We visited there in 1985, and even then rejected it. The "Mexican Riviera" has just begun to boom (unfortunately) within the last 5 years, which is one of the reasons we left after so many years there. We have friends who will be following us to Coatepec, as soon as they sell their dive shop in Xcalak. Just hope the boom lasts until they get out of there. Tulum is still okay, in some parts, and there are some really small towns in the area, if you want to learn Mayan. We had some friends whose second language was Spanish--they had that in common with us.

mazatlanlee

May 20, 2009, 3:52 PM

Post #36 of 41 (6847 views)

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Re: [Babs G] Help appreciated in location choice!

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I was privileged to visit Bacalar -- the town and the lake -- for only a day, but got lots of photos. Take a look at my album:

https://skping.smugmug.com/gallery/2727345_wRwQp/1

Lee
Lee's Photos: Beyond the Guardrails

Babs G

May 20, 2009, 4:26 PM

Post #37 of 41 (6839 views)

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Re: [mazatlanlee] Help appreciated in location choice!

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Nice photos! Ours run to sunrises and sunsets. We spent a month there a couple of years ago for a family reunion. La Costa Nostra remains one of our favorite restaurants.

sioux4noff

May 20, 2009, 11:49 PM

Post #38 of 41 (6796 views)

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Re: [Babs G] Help appreciated in location choice!

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<<INSEN...which gives you half off of just about everything, including internal air flights and bus rides>>
We have not found it to give 50% off very many things. Certainly not on airfare, but yes it is good for buses.
But that is off the topicof where to locate.

Hound Dog

May 21, 2009, 8:03 AM

Post #39 of 41 (6774 views)

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Re: [Babs G] Help appreciated in location choice!

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We now live in Coatepec, Veracruz. Near enough to Xalapa, the capitol, to go there whenever we want to. Xalapa is a university town with attendant cultural events--the state theater is famous. Coatepec grows coffee and is not a real tourist town, but it has wonderful restaurants and coffee shops (just like many other towns in Mexico, so that's not new). Plenty to do here.

Nice and attractive town, Coatepec. A beautiful part of the magnificent state of Veracruz. Near many wonderful attractions. The state capital of Xalapa is only a few minutes drive away and is a very sophisticated city of fine restaurants and events befitting a university town with a cool but, unfortunately, somewhat overcast climate. The incredible seaside city of Veracruz is fairly near here as is the extraordinary green and fecund valley of Còrdoba-Orizaba and the magnificent Orizaba Volcano, the highest point in Mexico and a sight to see and, if you have the time, to traverse.

Damn! Why didn´t we move there? I guess we were enamored of Chiapas which ain`t a bad place either.

Well, after all, San Cristóbal de Las Casas is only about eight hours driving time from Coatepec and anyway, now that I´m retired what is eight hours driving through some of the most beautiful mountains (Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas through the Tuxtlas and Lake Catemaco region of Veracruz state) on the planet. I´ll take that as long as I´m around.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on May 21, 2009, 8:12 AM)

KJR42

May 24, 2009, 1:35 AM

Post #40 of 41 (6687 views)

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Re: Help appreciated in location choice!

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Thank you for all the informative comments. work has been hectic lately and shows no sign of slowing down and I have not had chance yet to research all the places kindly offered as options, just a few. this will be done this year as we are looking at visiting within 18 months to start the adventure with an initial trip for a month!
However, we still avidly read every comment and we are working on a matrix that may assist in choosing a start on where to visit.
Please keep the comments coming, we are thankful for any input.

mzdaisy

May 28, 2009, 10:28 AM

Post #41 of 41 (6571 views)

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Re: [KJR42] Help appreciated in location choice!

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Hola!

I live near Monterrey in a town called Zuazua. We are about 15 minutes from Apodaca a larger town that takes you into Monterrey on the East side. We are about 30 min. away from Monterrey´s West side. I love the mountains that surround my home town of Zuazua and Monterrey. The Cierra Madre passes right by us and whenever you drive, you see mountains. I go to watch the sunsets here and when I feel the need for City life it is just around the corner it seems. Monterrey offers cultural museums historical sites and music to no end. The food here is the kind I was raised on, the sort of foods they offer here and the seasoning really matter to me. We have traditional spanish rice, pinto beans, homemade flour tortillas and corn tortillas as a daily bread. The meats are mostly cooked over mesquite or made with onion tomatos and garlic that really give it that good flavor. The tamales are so good you can´t just eat one. It is dry here so we don´t suffer much from humidity here which is a plus in my book. Every once in a while when it rains we have to suffer a bit but not for long.

I have visited Veracruz which is beautiful driving down the East coast all along the ocean. My brother lives there and the scenery is awesome. The food there takes on another twist, they have a lot of seafood which is not common in the north. They have black beans and white rice and they use a lot of Chile powder in their meats which I am not a fan of. They don´t know what flour tortillas are but they make homemade corn tortillas on a daily basis which is their daily bread. It is very humid in Veracruz but if you get a chance to go Jalapa it is so cool you don´t need a fan at night. If you go up to Naulinco in the mountains, take a coat. It rains daily up there and as you keep ascending into the clouds. The view is breathtaking and the little towns on your way up the mountain have some really interesting sites to see.

Well, just thought I would give you a run down of the places that I know of and happy searching!

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