Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

courtcrock

Aug 7, 2003, 9:06 PM

Post #1 of 7 (811 views)

Shortcut

This is what we want...

Can't Post |

We are a family of 4, two small children. We live in Oregon. We want to live in Mexico, or Baja for 3 months. We prefer to drive there. We are looking for a small to medium town near the Ocean where we could live quietly and interact with the Mexican community. We do not need much gringo connection, a few around would be nice, but not looking for a gringo village. We would like to rent a small house or cottage, and we would also like to hire a family, who also have small children to help us learn spanish, interact with our kids, cook and get acquainted to the area, and be our friends (if they like us of course!).

How the heck do we get started? Any help is much appreciated. Names of potential towns would be great. How do you find a house to rent, a family to hire? Is driving there crazy?

gpk

Aug 8, 2003, 7:55 AM

Post #2 of 7 (783 views)

Shortcut

Re: [courtcrock] This is what we want...

Can't Post | Private Reply

I'm sure you mean well, but Mexico, even Baja, is not Disneyland. You will really have to be in Mexico to find what you want (if it exists), you can't "book" it like a vacation.

Marlene

Aug 8, 2003, 8:22 AM

Post #3 of 7 (778 views)

Shortcut

Re: [gpk] This is what we want...

Can't Post | Private Reply

Agree. Just hit the road, start driving and check out a few places. You could spend a month on the road before you find what you are looking for. There are plenty of towns and cities along the Pacific Coast as well as in the Baja. You will know when you find it. Learn some Spanish before you set out otherwise you will have difficulty reading the newspaper ads to find a house, or speaking to people to ask about rentals. Good luck.

jodielyn

Aug 8, 2003, 9:03 AM

Post #4 of 7 (772 views)

Shortcut

Re: [courtcrock] This is what we want...

Can't Post | Private Reply

Just some suggestions... We have spent some time in a small town near Guaymas in the state of Sonora, it is called San Carlos and is on the Sea of Cortez (the body of water between Mexico main land and the Baja.

San Carlos is very beautiful and not extremely touristy or expensive. If you do an internet search you can find some sites with information. It is a big sailing and diving town. Or... you may consider Guaymas.

We spend quite a bit of time in a little village between Nogales and Hermosillo called Santa Ana. But it is not near the ocean...

I envy you... would love to move my family to Mexico but i'm not brave enough yet...:(

Dios te Bendiga!

Jodie

Guapo Gabacho

Aug 8, 2003, 10:19 AM

Post #5 of 7 (758 views)

Shortcut

Re: [courtcrock] This is what we want...

Can't Post | Private Reply

The only place that has homes and families for rent together I know of is in Jamaica. There it is a cottage industry (forgive the pun).

The closest thing I can think of for you is to contact a Spanish language school that offers home stay programs. Usually it is for a single or couple, but they probably would know of situations available. They will also speak English and frankly your desires are highly handicapped with your apparent inability to communicate in the local tongue.

Here is a starting place in La Paz. http://www.cicclapaz.com/

Suerte.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.

(This post was edited by Guapo Gabacho on Aug 8, 2003, 10:22 AM)

Carron

Aug 8, 2003, 11:07 AM

Post #6 of 7 (742 views)

Shortcut

Re: [courtcrock] This is what we want...

Can't Post | Private Reply

Spending quality time in Mexico is like the flip sides of a precious coin. Chances are you won't be able to get exactly what you want. If you are very flexible and open-minded, however, you will reap rewards you could never have imagined.

Probably the worst thing you can do is over plan. And some of your requirements are unrealistic. I do agree that you should get a little basic conversational Spanish under your belts before attempting your goals. The children will pick up the language so fast you will feel like idiots.

¡Buena suerte!

courtcrock

Aug 9, 2003, 1:47 PM

Post #7 of 7 (672 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jodielyn] This is what we want...

Can't Post |

Thanks for the names of towns. I appreciate your response. Thanks all who replied. I will continue my research.