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Peter

Oct 28, 2010, 5:12 PM

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Facebook Granjeros

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I am beginning to think I'm losing track of this century.

Yes, the 21st Century threw a couple curves that I wasn't sure I wanted to keep up with, like the US two-term moronocracy.

Having Facebook IN MEXICO is a good way to let those in the upper latitudes know we're still alive while we stay too busy here just getting on with life, like finding out how many margaritas we can drink and find our way across the patio, or the never-ending search for a good restaurant in Mexico. I know I spend an inordinate amount of time in that pursuit.

Life for the retired ex-pat is a struggle at times. It's coming around to that time of year when it gets so cold you have to wear a chamarra sometimes, and not call it a "jacket" or your Mexican friends will giggle. Those folks NOB have no appreciation how far we have to drive in order to get a jar of decent peanut butter and some flavor besides strawberry preserves to go with it.

I am no Facebook Farmer but sometimes someone asks me if we have trouble with our internet connections or power service here because they never hear from me very often. Then I have to tell them how much I pay for utilities here and they are STUNNED!

We don't have mail service like they are used to in the US. I can't begin to tell them how much I miss my mail, all those credit card offers, solicitations for charities, supermarket ads, and offers from every business asking me to let them do some useless service or another for me. We just have to tough it out down here. Nice to have a Facebook account so I don't have to travel across town (actually the Oficina Correo Postal is around the corner from me here in Morelia) just to mail a letter, and what it costs to do so!

Gringal

Oct 28, 2010, 5:35 PM

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Re: [Peter] Facebook Granjeros

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Peter........life here is HARD. People NOB have NO idea. Consider the tax bills on your casa if you own it, plus the discount if you pay up early. Hard.
Then, there's the utility bills in the dead of winter. Gawd......it gets waaay down in January some places. We actually have to light a fire sometimes. Hard.
My Ugg boots still look like new after six years.

It's kind of like when the Rose Parade started being shown on the telly to people back East. Next thing, they all wanted to move to CA and then look what happened! So be sure and tell your NOB friends how awful this is.......otherwise, you'll never find a parking place downtown.

johanson

Oct 28, 2010, 5:40 PM

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Re: [Peter] Facebook Granjeros

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I was shamed into joining Facebook this summer by a 9 year old, her 14 year old brother and her father, Rod, whom some of you lakeside know, is the owner of the ISP where I work, (or is that play?) each weekday morning, when I am in Mexico.

I'm glad I did made the move. All of a sudden, younger relatives I have lost contact with, and former friends from where I used to have a summer home (called a cottage up North) began to contact me. What I like about Facebook is that I can friend or "un-friend anyone I want. I am able to choose with whom I wish to have contact. What amazes me is how great Facebook's search engines are and how they find friends I have not had contact with for years and give me the opportunity to reinstate contact with them.

Reefhound

Oct 28, 2010, 5:42 PM

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Re: [Gringal] Facebook Granjeros

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"otherwise, you'll never find a parking place downtown"

They have cars in Mexico? I thought y'all rode everywhere in wooden carts pulled by a pair of mules.

Peter

Oct 28, 2010, 6:16 PM

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Re: [Reefhound] Facebook Granjeros

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In Reply To

"otherwise, you'll never find a parking place downtown"

They have cars in Mexico? I thought y'all rode everywhere in wooden carts pulled by a pair of mules.

Well, yes, but only in places where we have roads.

The other day my hometown newspaper had a discussion about a guy that lived in such deplorable conditions in Mexico where their home didn't even have running water! I had to explain to them that some people, especially on ranchos, consider that an unnecessary and unwanted luxury, not that they lived off of water out of mudholes but that they had pilas that adjoined the kitchen and bathroom areas and used a bucket for washing and flushing.

I found living that way was quite adequate and not a hardship. I, however, DO prefer having a tinaco so I have some water pressure for taking a shower. I'm just a spoiled gringo, I guess.

Reefhound

Oct 28, 2010, 7:18 PM

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Re: [johanson] Facebook Granjeros

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"I'm glad I did made the move. All of a sudden, younger relatives I have lost contact with"

Perhaps that there most compelling reason. As we get older - and at 48 I am relatively young here - we are going to have to understand that if we want to get to know and have a relationship with the younger members of our families, we need to be able to do it their way and understand their world. They would be bored to tears to sit at a table, play cards, and discuss life. But the grandkid that wouldn't take the time to write you a letter if his life depended on it will send you a Facebook message. And he might not pick up the phone and give you a call but he'll open up a chat box and poke you if he sees you online.