Forums > Areas > "El Bajio" Central Highlands

debartiste

Nov 3, 2009, 10:57 AM

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When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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Hi folks,
I too am about to (finally! - Hi Gringal:-) ....start making some trips to places on my list of potential places to "retire" to. I've been unemployed for a few years, so retirement seems to have already happened:-)
Well anyway San Miguel or areas nearby are on my list. A friend who is in the same boat (laid off it seems, permanently from our advertising careers) - wants to check it out with me. We've agreed it'd be best to get the H out of Chicago in January or February, when it's getting unbearable around here:-) We'll be flying down.

I think maybe 7-8 days or so would do it? Keeping in mind that what I want to do is look at some apartments, neighborhoods, hang out and get the real feel of the place(s).....

So the real question is, what are the best weeks to visit?, .....when there ARE NO BIG CELEBRATIONS (if possible):-) I've read this board enough to know that the Mexican people love to party, and it seems they pretty much take any excuse for a fiesta....but as long as there is no great big deal going on, it'd be fine.

We just want to see SMA with living there in mind, not visiting. Well, you guys know what I mean.
I have a name of a landlord written down somewhere, I met someone who had rented from him and I intend to contact him and really take a hard look around.

I'm an artist, so if there is an arts festival, that would be fine in my book, but not a time when the city is different from its normal self. I'll definitely want to visit galleries and see what the art scene is like there, so I also don't want to plan a trip when businesses could potentially be closed for some reason. Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated.....once I figure out the dates, and then next, where to stay, I'll have a lot more questions:-)

I'd love to meet a lot of you....I was hanging out on this board a few years back quite often. I'm glad to still see familar names:-)
Debbie

Brian

Nov 3, 2009, 12:05 PM

Post #2 of 19 (333 views)

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Re: [debartiste] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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"I think maybe 7-8 days or so would do it? Keeping in mind that what I want to do is look at some apartments, neighborhoods, hang out and get the real feel of the place(s)..... "

Debbie

While a week is ideal for a travel visit, you really should allow yourself more time if you want to learn about the different neighborhoods and sample daily living. You needn't register at some hotel and pay on a daily basis. There are several short term rentals available and the language schools can also provide referrals if you would like to stay in a family home. I think you should explore healthcare facilities both in SMA and surrounding cities. If organized religion is important to you, you can attend services at a choice of venues. You might also checkout the various nonprofit organizations about volunteer work. While living full time there, you will find volunteer work a great way to meet people both gringo and local. You will be able to investigate neighborhoods in terms of safety and convenience to services like grocery stores etc. In summary, if possible, I think that you should try to spend at least one month down there to achieve your stated purpose.

Brian

Gringal

Nov 3, 2009, 1:31 PM

Post #3 of 19 (316 views)

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Re: [debartiste] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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Jan. and Feb are the coldest months in San Miguel...serious sweater weather, but NOTHING like Chicago, so no worries.

For places to stay and the festival schedule, I'd recommend going to www.fallinginlovewithsanmiguel.com for local information and a good forum. You might also want to buy their latest moving to Mexico book, on sale through their website.

Check out Indianajulia's posts in this forum (and the Lake Chapala forum) for some information in the replies re places to stay on a budget.

And welcome.....why freeze in Chicago, anyway? lol. I was born there, but my father happily dragged the family to California when I was still a babe.

debartiste

Nov 4, 2009, 7:22 AM

Post #4 of 19 (265 views)

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Re: [Brian] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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Thanks for your reply:-)
Can't stay for a month at this time, wish I could, but it won't be the only trip...if I feel there are possibilities there. I'll be a full time painter, (a main reason for the move, to... wherever), so I'll meet people that way I think, by being involved in the artist community. Organized religion isn't a priority. Seeing healthcare places is a good idea, thanks! This trip will be just a "look around".
Debbie

debartiste

Nov 4, 2009, 7:26 AM

Post #5 of 19 (265 views)

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Re: [Gringal] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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I'm glad I'm choosing the coldest months:-) While I hate the Chicago snow, I don't like very hot weather either, which is one reason for choosing SMA:-) So, a sweater or jacket - yay, fine with me:-)

I'll look at the site, which I've looked at from time to time (falling in love.....), I did buy their original book, read that, didn't know there was a new one, thanks for letting me know. I'll take a look at the posts you mentioned too.

One thing I've never found here - and it's probably in this new book.....can you get your social security somehow if you move to Mexico? Obviously this is very important, though I'm a few years off, it's coming up quickly, time seems to be flying.
Debbie

Papirex

Nov 4, 2009, 8:13 AM

Post #6 of 19 (257 views)

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Re: [debartiste] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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Getting American Social Security benefits is no problem for an American in México. There are two ways to do it. If you maintain a US address, you may have it direct deposited in a US bank account. If you do it that way, the deposit will be done on a Wednesday. It will be on the first, second, third or forth Wednesday of the month depending on your birth date. Everyone used to be paid on the 1st of every month, but it was changed to Wednesdays a few years ago for the convenience of The SS administration. I do it that way, and I am paid on the third Wednesday of each month. The problem with that is that the date the deposit is made varies by six days per year, depending on the date the 3rd Wednesday falls on, it is never on the same date month to month.

Some people have registered their Mexican address with the Social Security administration, and an American with a foreign address is paid on the 3rd day of every month. My Mexican Suegra (mother-in-law) receives Social Security survivors benefits on her late American husbands account on the 3rd of each month, to an American credit union located in Seattle, Washington, so it is possible to have a Mexican address and have the deposits made to an American bank. She withdraws money as needed with an ATM card, you can also have it deposited in a Mexican bank.

There is a Social Security office in The US Embassy in México City, and I believe that most of The US consulates down here may also handle Social Security matters for an American.

You might want to check your options with the Social Security administration. I probably still have a phone number for The SS office in Richmond, California, it services people in The San Francisco area. A search will probably reveal a phone number for your area. A few years ago I was able to change the bank where my monthly deposits are made, by telephone.

Good luck, Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

(This post was edited by Papirex on Nov 4, 2009, 8:18 AM)

Rolly

Nov 4, 2009, 8:25 AM

Post #7 of 19 (248 views)

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Re: [Papirex] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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"...an American with a foreign address is paid on the 3rd day of every month."

I have always (13 years) been paid on the 3rd. I am not registered as living in México; SS thinks I live in Texas.

Rolly

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
This is a good time to be living in Mexico.
A clean house is the sign of a broken computer.

Papirex

Nov 4, 2009, 8:38 AM

Post #8 of 19 (243 views)

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Re: [Rolly] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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Rolly, you might be grandfathered in at an earlier date each month. They went to the Wednesday payment schedule a year or two before I first filed in 1997, and I have friends that filed a year or two before I did, and they are paid on the first of the month they say. Maybe the first was changed to the third At that time, I don't know.

Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

La Isla

Nov 4, 2009, 3:09 PM

Post #9 of 19 (219 views)

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Re: [debartiste] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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I just wanted to add that I took early retirement from US Social Security a couple of years ago, just before I moved to Mexico, and collecting my Social Security pension is just about the only factor in my move that has never given me any problems! My check is deposited in a Bank of America account (which I opened online) the second Wednesday of every month, and I can immediately withdraw whatever money I need that very day, from either a Santander Serfin or Scotiabank without paying any service charges and getting a good exchange rate.

(This post was edited by La Isla on Nov 4, 2009, 3:44 PM)

Gringal

Nov 4, 2009, 3:25 PM

Post #10 of 19 (214 views)

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Re: [La Isla] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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One thought on opening an account in a U.S. bank. Thanks to the Homeland Security regs., you can no longer open an account from Mexico in a U.S. bank online, but must do so in person while you are still in the states.
At least, that's the info I have.

La Isla

Nov 4, 2009, 3:43 PM

Post #11 of 19 (210 views)

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Re: [Gringal] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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I opened my account on-line while I was still living in the US.

esperanza / Moderator

Nov 4, 2009, 7:46 PM

Post #12 of 19 (186 views)

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Re: [Gringal] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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I recently (a couple of months ago) opened a Bank of America account online, from Mexico. There were no problems at all.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Nov 4, 2009, 7:47 PM)

Gringal

Nov 5, 2009, 6:02 AM

Post #13 of 19 (166 views)

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Re: [esperanza] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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I seem to have been the recipient of some misinformation, or obsolete, or..........sorry about that.

debartiste

Nov 5, 2009, 8:08 AM

Post #14 of 19 (148 views)

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Re: [La Isla] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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Phew, great news, thanks everyone. People have such misconceptions, can't tell you how many people have said you can't get social security if you move to Mexico! But thankfully, I knew who to ask for the real answer:-)
Deb

chinagringo

Nov 5, 2009, 8:44 AM

Post #15 of 19 (140 views)

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Re: [Gringal] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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Regarding the B of A discussion - while we all accept that all rules/laws are not equally interpreted or dispensed in MX, the same could be said for the U.S. Yes, there were new rules and restrictions put in place after 9/11 but even within one bank such as B of A, interpretations may be defined differently. We have had a B of A business account for a number of years and they periodically change the local rules even though we have business friends elsewhere that don't have the same rules. For example: out of the blue about three years ago without any written documentation - a local branch said they could no longer accept deposits without a business deposit stamp on the back of the check.

Then again, it is starting to come out that some U.S. banks have been offering "secret accounts" for non-residents for years!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Rolly

Nov 5, 2009, 9:01 AM

Post #16 of 19 (137 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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"...about three years ago ...a local branch said they could no longer accept deposits without a business deposit stamp on the back of the check."

I guess things really are different from place to place. BofA in Los Angeles asked me to get a buiness stamp 20 years ago.

Rolly

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
This is a good time to be living in Mexico.
A clean house is the sign of a broken computer.

La Isla

Nov 5, 2009, 12:19 PM

Post #17 of 19 (116 views)

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Re: [debartiste] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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In Reply To

I wonder where the people who misinformed you about getting your SS money in Mexico got their facts from? I can imagine a troll lurking under an e-bridge somewhere in cyber-space spinning these tales of misinformation ( : !

(This post was edited by La Isla on Nov 5, 2009, 12:20 PM)

Peter

Nov 5, 2009, 1:45 PM

Post #18 of 19 (103 views)

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Re: [La Isla] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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Misinformation about Mexico, ya think?

You ever look at the Platiquemos course for Spanish? It's the one with the US State Department seal, Foreign Services Institute. I think it was in Course Book 3 there was a well-written little story by a Mexican girl third-grader included between chapters. It claims she was from a pueblo around Lago de Pátzcuaro in the state of OAXACA.

La Isla

Nov 5, 2009, 2:01 PM

Post #19 of 19 (99 views)

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Re: [Peter] When to visit San Miguel in Jan or Feb?

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I'm not familiar with Platiquemos, but it sounds like those trolls have been busier than I thought!