Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

juan david

Apr 22, 2003, 7:10 AM

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encouraging words

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.....for those who are looking at this area from northern climes. Having been here for three months, I'm clearly a non expert and don't mind admitting it. Mi esposa and I have been taking stock of how we feel about living Lakeside. We had to work hard at finding negatives. There are some but they are mostly nits compared to all of the good things like climate, ambiance, people, etc etc.

Nope, I'm not a real estate agent and I don't work for the chamber of commerce, just enjoying the hell out of being here. Maybe its still honeymoon time, but have met lots of long timers who continue to like their life here. If you're at all interested, Lakeside is worth a visit to see if the suit fits.
" let sleeping dogs lie"

casanova

Apr 22, 2003, 10:26 AM

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Re: [ian] encouraging words

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Thanks a lot, Ian. Encouraging words indeed.

ImTootsie

May 2, 2003, 6:09 AM

Post #3 of 17 (1483 views)

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Re: [casanova] encouraging words

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I'll be checking it out next summer & really can't wait.

mickeyz

May 2, 2003, 8:15 AM

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Re: [ian] encouraging words

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Thanks for your thoughts. My husband & I are coming July/Aug (if we can wait till then)!

Now that you have been there for 3 months what is your take on cost of living?

Jean

May 2, 2003, 2:37 PM

Post #5 of 17 (1452 views)

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Re: [mickeyz] encouraging words

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For us it has not worked out. Have given it three years and we are going somewhere else. Our "major" reasons are:

Health Care

The horror of the animal situation

Allergies for one and sinus for the other person

Worries about the lake (truly a sad situation and a health risk)

Then there are the nit picky things. Those we could live with if there were not the above.

My first year I was in love with the place and said I would pitch a tent on the beach before I would ever leave.

The second year the rose colored glasses came off and certain realities set in.

The third year, ending this August - wistfully leaving, will miss much, a lot we won't miss.

Rent for at least a year or two before you buy. Prices here are going down dramatically so you have nothing to lose by waiting.

Just my 2 pesos.
Retirement Communities
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Uncle Jack

May 2, 2003, 2:48 PM

Post #6 of 17 (1451 views)

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Tell me more.....

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Health Care

I thought that medical and dental care was supposed to be pretty good at Lakeside and Guadalajara?

The horror of the animal situation

I haven't got a clue as to what this means. What horror?

UJ

Jean

May 2, 2003, 2:56 PM

Post #7 of 17 (1453 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Tell me more.....

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IMSS is in terrible shape. Financially near bankrupt. I went there last year, explained all my gastro intestinal problems to a doctor who spoke English and he put the stethscope on my back in two places and told me I had an upper respiatory infection. Next day saw a "real" doctor in town and he said it was colitis, which is what I thought in the first place.

A specialist who does not attain a high enough mark on his exams can for $10,000 buy his license.

I need back surgery and there is no way I am going to trust the doctors here with that one. I may end up trusting no one as this is really tricky.

Emergency services here are minimal at best. They can stabalize you and get you to Guad.

The animal situation.

The street dogs that are starving are hard to take. The puppies and dogs and cats roaming on the roads are heartbreaking. Driving visitors from the airport one year we passed three dead horses, 2 dead cows and a burrow on the highway. I could not even count the number of dead dogs. This is a personal thing with me and it's just something I no longer choose to live with.

Animals get poisoned here. Make sure you never have any enemies or fire any hired help.

Others can live with these situations. I can't. I'm glad we rented and did not buy. For some Mexico is great. For others it's not. That can apply anywhere, not just here.
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Don

May 2, 2003, 5:12 PM

Post #8 of 17 (1433 views)

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Re: [Tuatha_de_Danann] Tell me more.....

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I don't live lakeside, but pretty close. I have lived here over 4 years and have found some excellent healthcare. We even had some things diagnosed improperly by doctors in the U.S., that were corrected by the physicians here.

Animal care is not what I would like it to be here, but you will find animal abuse and deaths in all countries. Of course in the U.S. you have the humane society picking up stray hungry animals and removing carcasses from the roads. We once had an animal poisoned in the U.S.

As far as allergies, you can have them in the U.S., Canada, etc. Just depends on your choice of areas.

Now with my wife born in Mexico and with many relatives here, we were told where to get good health care and doctors and which ones to avoid. Health care is not that great in the U.S. I see in the Seattle area some doctors are now starting to charge a monthly retainer fee. No pay. no service. That fee is on top of all current charges.

But, Mexico is not for everyone. People seem to like it or not like it. Nothing in between. For me, I love it. Even if I am about the only "gringo" in town. I don't know you, but wish you and your family well. I am sure your choice is best for you. I am sure you will find that special "place". We all seem to look for our "place" in retirement.

Jerry@Ajijic

May 3, 2003, 6:49 AM

Post #9 of 17 (1402 views)

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Re: [Don] Tell me more.....

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Really good health care is available lakeside or in GDL but just like in the states there good & bad. If you get a personal reference you will probably be pleased. If you just pick a name you out of a phone book you are taking a chance here as much as anywhere.

So far we, Susan and I, have had a back operation and an emergency visit to IMSS for bleeding ulcers, a complete hip replacement, a broken arm & 13 other broken bones, etc. We have been very pleased. Last week I went to a optomologist in GDL for a glocoma checkup. He spent about a hour with me using better equipment than my old doctor in Florida and charged 300 pesos. We like it here. Although I will admit we would like to stop trying out medical facilities.

Jerry

Jerry@Ajijic

May 3, 2003, 6:51 AM

Post #10 of 17 (1401 views)

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] Tell me more.....

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P.S. neither of us speaks Spanish.

Rolly

May 3, 2003, 7:20 AM

Post #11 of 17 (1397 views)

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] Tell me more.....

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...a broken arm and 13 other broken bones...

What are you guys doing? Lewrning to roller blade in your old age? Smile

I've broken 6 bones -- one at a time. But only one here in Mexico. That one, a rib, cost me 100 pesos for a doctor to come to my house and give me a pain shot.

Another time I went to the doctor for a minor complaint. He gave me a very thourgh exam, more than I had ever had from a US doctor, and discovered that I had a peptic ulser that I was unaware of. Cost was 150 pesos including a shot and some pills.

I'm going to require a knee replacement pretty soon, and I plan to have it done in Mexico.

Rolly Pirate

shoe

May 3, 2003, 7:45 AM

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Re: [Rolly] Tell me more.....

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What kind of insurance will cover the knee replacement in Mexico? I assume that you have private insurance for this.

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Jean

May 3, 2003, 9:17 AM

Post #13 of 17 (1384 views)

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] Tell me more.....

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One thing I always wondered about Jerry...when Susan had the accident why were there notices all over town requesting people with 0- blood to donate? Did they not have any blood at the hospital. I noticed the same thing happened when Graham Clarke was in the hospital, before he died.
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Don

May 3, 2003, 10:07 AM

Post #14 of 17 (1372 views)

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] Tell me more.....

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A couple of years ago, I spent 11 days in the military hospital in Guadalajara. I had a private room and my wife was allowed to stay there, as it had two beds. They also fed her. I had many x-rays, ultra sounds, blood tests, a biopsy and other diagonistic tests. Doctors here have no insurance companies here looking over their shoulders and telling them what tests they can or can't give a patient. Total hospital bill came to $1000.00 U.S. That is about the cost of a one or two day stay in a U.S. hospital.

Rolly

May 3, 2003, 10:12 AM

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Re: [shoe] Tell me more.....

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I don't have insurance which is why I have not had it done already. I'm saving peso coins in a Mason jar. I'm still mobile but going down inclines or stairs is getting harder and harder. Modern medicine is wonderful -- it makes it possible for us to outlive our joints, teeth, eyes and ears. But hopefully not a sense of humor.

Rolly Pirate

juan david

May 3, 2003, 1:49 PM

Post #16 of 17 (1350 views)

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Re: [mickeyz] encouraging words

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Can only compare with our old hometown of Ottawa, Canada. Housing, whether you rent or buy, is about 30-35% less. We think that the rest of what we spend money on is 15-20% less. Some things like gas are more expensive, but we put fewer miles on. Including driving from Ajijic to Vista del Lago 5 times a week for golf, we spend 650 pesos a month with Pemex. But we did trade in the land yacht for a more fuel efficient mid sized wagon before heading for Mexico. Speaking of golf, we find it very reasonable as active club members, but expensive for casual green fee players. There's a great variety of income levels amongst the retiree community and as best we can tell, we're somewhere in the middle. We started with an estimated budget and so far its holding up. We're spending more on somethings and less on others as we gain experience. We just keep seeking advice from others who have been here longer when we need to buy things. Good luck on your summer visit.
" let sleeping dogs lie"

Uncle Donnie

May 7, 2003, 10:43 AM

Post #17 of 17 (1294 views)

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Re: [Tuatha_de_Danann] Tell me more.....

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Jean,

Many of us try not to overburden a system that wasn't designed for us to begin with. IMSS, in my humble opinion, should be left to the use of the Mexican population most in need of it, and to the few gringos who require emergency or major medical procedures. Pay for enrollment (IMHO) but use the services as emergency back-ups. Most folks I've talked with or read accounts of are satisfied that they received excellent care in the Guad hospitals, even through IMSS. But then it's all in the research beforehand or the luck of the draw, just like NoB.

From what I understand most Mexicans who can afford to use private physicians. Look in the lobby of most pharmacies and you're apt to see the pharmacist/doctor diagnosing right on the spot, cutting out the middle man.

I've had specialized tests done down here, a minor surgery, and MRIs and CT Scans and have been pleased in all cases. Luckily, when faced with catastrophic medical costs I was able to go home to Texas for free treatment, although the back and forth costs came out of my pocket.

Dental work requires a bit of shopping but I'm pleased with whom I finally settled on.

As for animals, it all depends upon where you were raised I suppose. One of our Texas anthems is "There's a Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road (Stinkin' to High Heaven)" so if you grow up with the country carnage it doesn't have the same effect as it does on some others. I see the dead animals almost every day on each road I roll down. Empathy, but it's all part of life.

The lake is part of an on-going worldwide problem. Lakes and rivers all over the world are being abused and mis-used. Amigos del Lago is one of only two groups I belong to because I feel that in some small way I can help with their efforts. In some countries the situation is so bad that private companies are buying up the rights to manage and sell the entire nation's water supplies.

And last, having taken EMT training in Texas I can tell you that the exact situation exists in many, if not most, rural areas up there. When my son was horrifically injured in a motorcycle crash he was moved to a hospital for stabilization before he could be taken into the city for specialized surgery and care. That's a common situation in most developed nations unless you live in a city.

Sorry it's not working out for you guys but I know you've been unhappy here for quite awhile. As has been said on this forum many times, this place ain't for everybody. I hope you'll soon be able to find a place that suits you better. You have lots of talent and a willingness to help out in those areas you feel strongly about so I'm sure you'll find a good fit.

Suerte.

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http://www.headformexico.com

(This post was edited by DavidMcL on May 7, 2003, 10:47 AM)