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Alegria

Sep 23, 2005, 6:25 PM

Post #1 of 21 (3029 views)

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Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & suggestions

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Hello everyone, I am a newbie to this forum. I am considering moving to TJ and I am looking for input. I am a mature single woman, not looking for a mate. I am considering a house near Agua Caliente or Playas or? (open to suggestion). I want as easy as possible acces to San Diego. I have a small web store business that I hope will be sufficient American income to support me in Mexico. I am looking for information on buying a house or would prefer rent to purchase but I have dogs and most people don't seem to want to rent to someone with dogs. In fact, I have some concerns about the health of my dogs in Mexico. Are there any dog owners / breeders out there? I also breed dogs. I am the originator of Giant Schnoodles featured in LIFE magazine Oct 04. I wonder if I will be able to bring my puppies accross the border. I am looking for recomendation of a realtor, loan co. and what is available to single older expat women in TJ? Will I feel isolated? I have travelled Mexico extensively in the past. I like the culture but I am wondering how I will feel if I live there. Ir feels like a wonderful exciting adventure but its also a little scary because I will sell my house in San Diego, and will lose my prop 13 and essentially burn my bridges. I presently live in San Diego. I go to TJ often and speak enough Spanish to get by. but hopefully will become more fluent when submerged. I'm open to meeting new people and having new adventures and learning about new ideas. Are there some expat group activities in TJ? If so, where and what are they? I am open to all ideas, input and suggestions. Thx for any input you can give me. My email is caringpro@yahoo.com Thx Tippytoes

Miguel Palomares

Sep 24, 2005, 6:47 AM

Post #2 of 21 (2989 views)

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Re: [Alegria] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & suggestions

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I cannot fathom why anybody would move to Tijuana. But, that aside, if you go to the message board of www.mexonline, there is a Gringo there who dubs himself Tijuanero. He seems very sharp, even though he lives, it appears, in Tijuana. He likely could help you.

I do not think anybody on mexconnect lives in Tijuana.
From Tzurumutaro, Michoacan, "The Village of the Darned."
_______________________________________

The nuts and bolts of moving to Mexico:
http://michaeldickson.blogspot.com/
The dark side of living in Mexico:
http://mexicopeeks.blogspot.com/
Scintillating life in a Mexican pueblo:
http://tzurumutaro.blogspot.com/
http://tzurumutaro2.blogspot.com/

Anonimo

Sep 24, 2005, 6:54 AM

Post #3 of 21 (2986 views)

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Re: [Generalisimo Palomares] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Alex on this board used to live in TJ.

Saludos,
Anonimo

Rolly

Sep 24, 2005, 7:04 AM

Post #4 of 21 (2980 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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And there are, or have been, some others.

There are some very nice parts of TJ; it's not all slums and drunken sailors. While it has never been high on my list of potential places to live, it certainly is not near the bottom of the list. The weather is fine; it's near the beach and San Diego; and there is no reason why one must go near the club area downtown.

Rolly Pirate

Bubba

Sep 24, 2005, 8:06 AM

Post #5 of 21 (2964 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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I understand the beach areas in Tijuana are very nice and you have the same magnificent climate as San Diego at a fraction of the cost.

esperanza

Sep 24, 2005, 8:44 AM

Post #6 of 21 (2956 views)

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Re: [Generalisimo Palomares] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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I used to live in Tijuana, in Colonia Altamira, at the top of the ramp leading from downtown. I was working as a social worker in La Ocho, the deservedly notorious city jail.

I loved living in Tijuana. It was my introduction to life in Mexico, in a working class neighborhood among some of the kindest, most generous people in the world: my neighbors, my friends. Those three years in Tijuana filled me with love for what life in Mexico could be.

There's some of everything in Tijuana, from the worst crime to the best hearts. If you've only seen Calle Revolución, if you've only read the news about los Arrellano Félix, if you're only operating on assumptions--you haven't experienced life there. The reality of life in most of the colonias of Tijuana is that it's not much different from life anywhere in Mexico. Sure, there are places where you might not want to go walking. That's true in any big city. But don't knock it till you've lived experienced day-to-day life in Tijuana.

As I said, I loved it.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Miguel Palomares

Sep 24, 2005, 9:01 AM

Post #7 of 21 (2949 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Ah, it appears your Generalisimo should pack the saddlebags, put the Winchester on safety, and head up to Tijuana for a peek. The last time he was there, back in 1914 or 1915 (he forgets which), it was not much. Poor people, burros, etc. Not a keeper.
From Tzurumutaro, Michoacan, "The Village of the Darned."
_______________________________________

The nuts and bolts of moving to Mexico:
http://michaeldickson.blogspot.com/
The dark side of living in Mexico:
http://mexicopeeks.blogspot.com/
Scintillating life in a Mexican pueblo:
http://tzurumutaro.blogspot.com/
http://tzurumutaro2.blogspot.com/

Gringal

Sep 24, 2005, 9:39 AM

Post #8 of 21 (2940 views)

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Re: [Generalisimo Palomares] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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I see you've had a "border promotion", generalisimo. Can you handle the adulation from the masses?

I have to agree with you that, given all of Baja California to select from, T.J. would not be at the top of my list. On the other hand, it's a good idea for her to keep an eye on her business in San Diego.

esperanza

Sep 24, 2005, 9:50 AM

Post #9 of 21 (2936 views)

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Re: [Generalisimo Palomares] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Well, Palomares, if I were you, before I left for el norte I'd get off the high horse and find myself something a little sturdier and closer to the ground. Those high horses are just built for show, they're not much good over the long haul. They tend to be mostly full of hot air and BS, and they deflate fast when they brush up against something that prickles. Then boy oh boy, do they make a mess when the BS starts flying. I imagine that would happen to yours somewhere between Hermosillo and Algodónes, in amongst all that cactus in the desert. You in a tangle with an ocotillo--¡sí señor! You'd be a patín for sure.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Alegria

Sep 24, 2005, 11:26 AM

Post #10 of 21 (2921 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Hi Esperanza, Thx for your support. Where are you living now? Do you have any connections wi expats that you can connect me wi in TJ? Alegria caringpro@yahoo.com

jerezano

Sep 24, 2005, 11:59 AM

Post #11 of 21 (2912 views)

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Re: [Alegria] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Ay Esperanza,

Si tú no fueses un ocotillo en sí, te daría un abrazo. Now that said, You, the Generalissimo and Bubba are turning into the three stars of this board. Hooray! We need a bit of humor here.

Getting back to Tijuana, you are right. A lot of changes there since 1915 or 1915. In fact a lot of changes since I was there last in 1952 or 1954. Of course the strips are still there. But even downtown the cleanup, improvements, and life choice changes made by a progressive and effective city government can be noted in the television coverage of news and events. And Tijuana is now one of the most economically advantaged cities in Mexico. It has become a good place to live and work.

I personally, as the Generalissimo, do not like the place and would not want to live there, but for a border city, it is probably one of the best choices. And if I had a business in San Diego, I would certainly consider living there. But that border crossing!!!! Ouch!!!!! As a commute forget it.

Adios. jerezano.

Brian

Sep 24, 2005, 12:56 PM

Post #12 of 21 (2896 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Alegria

I think that you might find living in Tijuana a very good solution to your particular situation. After my wife and I retired, we initially lived in San Antonio del Mar (a coastal colonia of Tijuana). As mentioned it has the same climate and beaches as San Diego at far, far less cost. As a former government worker, I lacked sufficient quarters to qualify for Social Security when I turn 65 so, I found a fun job with the San Diego Padres baseball team which after three years brought me up to the amount needed to receive benefits. Those unfamiliar with the border will admonish you with a lot of misinformation such as the terrible commute etc. In my case, I qualified for a Sentri Pass which takes advantage of express lanes to cross from TJ into San Diego. We now live in central Mexico where the cultural climate is much different from the beach scene but still miss the easy access to shopping, HMO medical care and dining opportunities offered on the other side as it is called. In short, we have enjoyed our experiences in both parts of Mexico and are glad we made the decisions we did. Good luck to you. There are gringo organizations in Playas de Rosarito that you might find helpful such as the Amigos and Cruz Roja Volunteers. Also the following message board has information more specific to Baja California than you would normally find here:

http://math.ucr.edu/~ftm/bajaPages/MsgBoard/MsgBoard.html

un saludo cordial
Brian

(This post was edited by Brian on Sep 24, 2005, 1:28 PM)

Oscar2

Sep 24, 2005, 1:55 PM

Post #13 of 21 (2876 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Many in Mexico and elsewhere mostly always looked to TJ with a sort of disdain based on negative notoriety and by the mere fact that when driving through the boarder town, it instantly jumps out at you and comes alive with such an overwhelming population explosion. People are like everywhere and the traffic congestion quickly opens up some peoples need for relief and a little refuge. But then again, reading your post, unlike most read or exposed too, redeeming qualities not often spoke of, so generously born from your personal experiences, fills wells of doubt and the unknown with glimmers of hope.

From your previous posts, it’s not difficult for one to empathize with your 25 years of life SOB and a much deeper attachment to the land you adopted, way back then. Its people such as yourself who bring to the surface fond attachments which carry feelings much, much deeper and closer than those that have not grown or lived and known much less than what you have gleaned through the years.

The closest boarder to me is TJ. And from childhood it’s always been stigmatic, stemming from the bazaar, too the dangerous, exciting and to the unknown. Not having ever lived there and hearing from you another side of this which I’ve always hoped there would be, like the Colonias which you mentioned and I interpret perhaps you meaning something like the suburbs of TJ, if there is such a thing. It sounds way different and if so, refreshing and well worth a visit, other than getting caught up in Calle Revolución which as we know is like any other log jammend city anywhere else on this planet.

As Bubba mentioned, yes, the climate in San Diego, is magnificent. And since TJ abuts to it, the climate is identical. It’s said the San Diegon’s are so spoiled that routinely if the temperature goes above 73 degrees, they put on the air conditioning and if it drops below 71 degrees they put on their jackets... Is this perhaps another reason TJ is so crowded?

I would really enjoy hearing more of the good side of TJ other than what we’ve been spoon and intravenously fed most of our lives.

(This post was edited by Oscar2 on Sep 24, 2005, 2:58 PM)

esperanza

Sep 24, 2005, 3:19 PM

Post #14 of 21 (2849 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Oscar, where I lived was definitely not a suburb of Tijuana. It was very close to the heart of downtown. I could walk to Calle Revolución, although I rarely did. In those days, I took the city bus almost everywhere--and back then, the city buses were converted school buses that blasted their way all over the city, putting the fear of God into passengers and pedestrians alike.

As a special treat, I used to meet American friends at the border and take them home with me on the growling, belching bus. Between the chicle sellers, the serenades by itinerant guitarists, and the kids declaiming long poems for a peso or two while they hung on for dear life as the bus rounded the turns at full bore, it was instant culture shock for my friends. If their eyes didn't pop out and their hair turn instantly white, I knew they were going to love their visit with me.

In Mexican towns and cities, 'colonia' is used to define a neighborhood. When you tell someone you live in Colonia Altamira, as I did in Tijuana, a city resident will usually know exactly what part of town you're talking about.

Reading your post was a great pleasure, because you captured exactly how I feel about Mexico. Thank you for your understanding.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Alegria

Sep 24, 2005, 3:42 PM

Post #15 of 21 (2840 views)

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Re: [Generalisimo Palomares] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Thx. That's a great site. Lots of good real estate ads and will look for him there.

In Reply To

Oscar2

Sep 24, 2005, 6:26 PM

Post #16 of 21 (2800 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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El gusto es mío...

Alegria

Sep 24, 2005, 8:51 PM

Post #17 of 21 (2777 views)

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Re: [Brian] Planning to move to Tijuana - Looking for expats in Tijuana, input & su

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Thank you Brian. That is very helpful. I will look into Antoniao Del Mar. I thought only Playas was on the beach and the lots there are very small and not possible to get a one story house in Playas. Alegria

alex .

Sep 27, 2005, 7:48 AM

Post #18 of 21 (2681 views)

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Re: [Rolly] the red light district has been renovated

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The streets have been converted to one-way, new sidewalks and landscaping, no more dumpsters in the street, and no more vagrants setting up household on the sidewalk, and two police substations. Even the drunken sailors will find it more pleasant.
Alex

alex .

Sep 27, 2005, 7:56 AM

Post #19 of 21 (2678 views)

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Re: [Alegria] Agua Caliente,

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near the Consulate, is where I'll buy next. As you enter the colonia there is a big fountain in the middle of the glorieta. The very first lot on the right used to be vacant. I had my eye on that lot, waiting for it to go up for sale as I had plans to build a home there with a view of the fountain where I proposed to my wife on bended knee. The owner of the property next door got ahold of it and built a mansion that spanned both lots. That mansion now sits abandoned with the windows busted out.
One thing you'll notice about that neighborhood is the lack of bars on the windows of the homes and the prevalence of cars with California plates.
Alex

(This post was edited by alex . on Sep 27, 2005, 7:57 AM)

Alegria

Sep 27, 2005, 11:03 AM

Post #20 of 21 (2636 views)

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Re: [alex .] Agua Caliente,

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Hi Alex, I sent you a private email but I'm not sure how this forum works or if you got it. Would you pls email me at caringpro@yahoo.com? I think I know the mansion you are talking about. Doesn't it have a little ice cream parlor accross the street in back of it? Do you live in TJ? I am planning to come down to TJ on Thurs would like to contact you before I come. I am considering a house which I think is near where you are describing & I'd like to ask you about it. thx Alegria

alex .

Sep 28, 2005, 12:06 PM

Post #21 of 21 (2543 views)

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Re: [Alegria] Agua Caliente,

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There is an Oxxo convenience store right there, I haven't noticed the ice cream place.
Alex