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frito

Nov 1, 2011, 5:10 PM

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Will They Really Not Bother You if...

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...you aren't in the drug trade? I see people say that all the time but the reason I'm asking is I ran across a description of Magdalena del Kino which if you aren't familiar is about 60 miles south of Nogales on the AZ border. It's about 25,000 population, seems to have a fair amount of services, sits at 3000' so would take a bit of the edge off desert heat. Did run across an account of a shootout killing 7, and the AZ border is very active for both illegals and contraband. What's your opinion? Too dicey to live in? It's in that book on most beautiful towns in Mexico. If it's safe enough then could make easy runs to border for mail, could receive Dish satellite there. Straight shot up to Tucson too. Anyone familiar with Magdalena? Thanks!

tashby

Nov 1, 2011, 6:06 PM

Post #2 of 35 (1425 views)

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It's in that book on most beautiful towns in Mexico.

Do you mean this book?

http://www.amazon.com/...Mexico/dp/0847830284

Sorry, mostly just curious about the book, and wondering if it's worthwhile. Can't offer anything on the relative safety of Magdalena del Kino. "Safety" is such a subjective, emotionally-charged issue, and these days, a moving target as well. Good luck with your search.

(This post was edited by tashby on Nov 1, 2011, 6:09 PM)

tonyburton / Moderator

Nov 1, 2011, 6:19 PM

Post #3 of 35 (1416 views)

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Re: [tashby] Will They Really Not Bother You if...

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Re the book - if you wish to read my short review, click here:
http://geo-mexico.com/?p=2093

TxMex

Nov 2, 2011, 8:37 AM

Post #4 of 35 (1292 views)

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The border has always been traditionally more dangerous. The habitat of banditos. I always personally consider the border area different from 'Mexico' and refer to it as such. When I'm traveling I like to get at least 60 miles inside of Mexico before I stop for anything and I generally cross early in the morning.

I am not familiar with the area you are referring to, but if I were telling someone that they greatly reduce their chances of personal danger as long as they refrain from doing stupid things(which by the way also applies NOB)....I'm referring to down into Mexico. Not the border area.

Moisheh

Nov 2, 2011, 2:28 PM

Post #5 of 35 (1235 views)

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Magdalena is a nice small town ( city) just off Highway 15. Other than Padre Kino's bones being buried there I really do not think it has much to offer. Certainly not dangerous. I doubt you could find one town in Mexico that has not had some sort of incident in the last 5 years but that does not make them dangerous. I wonder why you picked that town??

Moisheh

frito

Nov 2, 2011, 4:24 PM

Post #6 of 35 (1209 views)

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I was looking at the Mexico RV site OntheRoadin and they had a pretty good write-up about Magdalena. Said most people just rush through to points further south but it was a worthwhile town to spend some time in. Got to looking at it and thought it has quick access to border for mail, etc plus well within Dish Network's footprint. Of course with many police chiefs near the border having been killed or scared off I was just wondering what I might be getting myself into. Have lived on the border and have looked at quite a few places. Always comes down to affordability, climate, and safety. Most places are just too hot, and I've lived in hot places, have no desire to do that in retirement. Magdalena is at 3000', not exactly cool but maybe tolerable. Probably would encounter English speakers that close to the States. And has a RV park attached to a motel. The Sonora Free Zone would require a bit less hassle too. Southern Mexico would probably be more affordable, but I plan to head to the States for the holidays every year. The travel logistics from a place like Magdalena just seems worth giving it a look.

frito

Nov 2, 2011, 4:32 PM

Post #7 of 35 (1205 views)

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The border has always been traditionally more dangerous. The habitat of banditos. I always personally consider the border area different from 'Mexico' and refer to it as such. When I'm traveling I like to get at least 60 miles inside of Mexico before I stop for anything and I generally cross early in the morning.
I am not familiar with the area you are referring to, but if I were telling someone that they greatly reduce their chances of personal danger as long as they refrain from doing stupid things(which by the way also applies NOB)....I'm referring to down into Mexico. Not the border area.

You're probably right. Years ago I was most likely the only FedEx courier who regularly ate lunch in Mexico. Used to cross over into Palomas across from Columbus, NM. Saw some interesting characters there. Kind of concerned they might find me interesting too if they see me out walking for exercise. I feel I could hike all over parts of Oaxaca and don't want to live where I couldn't do that.

Moisheh

Nov 2, 2011, 6:13 PM

Post #8 of 35 (1175 views)

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Be aware that there are zero foreigners in Magdalena. I know that many say they dont want to live with Gringos but often in a small place you will be very alone. Might not be accepted. I have never stayed in that RV park but I bet it is small and not much in the way of services. Certainly not setup for full timers. Have you considered a large city? Hermosillo is not too far into Mexico and I know the owner of the RV park. For a Northern city it is cultured. A university city with lots of music, art,etc.

Moisheh

frito

Nov 2, 2011, 6:36 PM

Post #9 of 35 (1172 views)

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I've read Hermosillo is nice but the summers are pretty extreme. If I live in a large northern city it will probably be Saltillo. I guess I was hoping there might be a small expat community in Magdalena due to it's proximity to the border. I like the desert, but preferably with some altitude, like Sierra Vista, AZ. I guess if there is a safe, affordable town with plenty to do that's within an hour of the border and has a nice climate it would be overrun with retirees already.

Moisheh

Nov 2, 2011, 6:41 PM

Post #10 of 35 (1168 views)

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Extreme! Nah only 45 or more at times!! The only expat communities in Sonora are Kino, Alamos, San Carlos and Penasco. What about Bisbee? Nice area.

Moisheh

frito

Nov 2, 2011, 7:17 PM

Post #11 of 35 (1154 views)

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Extreme! Nah only 45 or more at times!! The only expat communities in Sonora are Kino, Alamos, San Carlos and Penasco. What about Bisbee? Nice area.

Moisheh

Love Bisbee, been there many times. But with a small pension I think I'll get more for my money in Mexico. And prices in northern Mexico are still a bit high, especially in bigger places. I think my best bet is get a 10 year permit on a motorhome, and fly home for the holidays.

mazbook1

Nov 2, 2011, 7:38 PM

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"I think my best bet is get a 10 year permit on a motorhome, and fly home for the holidays. "

Trouble with that idea is that you'll spend as much or more for a full service hookup as you would for a furnished apartment in most of México. And the care and feeding of that motorhome will be a LOT more than an inexpensive car.

frito

Nov 2, 2011, 7:47 PM

Post #13 of 35 (1139 views)

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I know the nicer coastal parks are expensive, but I know of one in the interior that has full hookups and wi-fi for $240 a month, utilities included. Good climate too, and no, won't say where.

TxMex

Nov 2, 2011, 8:04 PM

Post #14 of 35 (1132 views)

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I know the nicer coastal parks are expensive, but I know of one in the interior that has full hookups and wi-fi for $240 a month, utilities included. Good climate too, and no, won't say where.

Hehehe....I'm pretty sure this applies to quite a few of us. There are some things ya just want to keep to yourself!

I have to agree on the RV maybe not being your best bet. Rent is really cheap unless you are renting from another Gringo or are staying in a gated community or something of that nature. I've rented 3 different houses in Mexico and all of them were under what you are looking at for a 'cheap' RV hook up. All were nice places.

frito

Nov 2, 2011, 8:39 PM

Post #15 of 35 (1123 views)

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I know the nicer coastal parks are expensive, but I know of one in the interior that has full hookups and wi-fi for $240 a month, utilities included. Good climate too, and no, won't say where.

Hehehe....I'm pretty sure this applies to quite a few of us. There are some things ya just want to keep to yourself!
I have to agree on the RV maybe not being your best bet. Rent is really cheap unless you are renting from another Gringo or are staying in a gated community or something of that nature. I've rented 3 different houses in Mexico and all of them were under what you are looking at for a 'cheap' RV hook up. All were nice places.

If that's the case forget the RV! I was figuring prices would be comparable but I'd have the turnkey convenience of parking and hooking up the RV. Plus try a few places I'm interested in. Guess I'd better start Spanish lessons in earnest. Thanks for the info, hard to nail down what prices really are at times.

salto_jorge

Nov 3, 2011, 10:19 PM

Post #16 of 35 (1007 views)

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MgDeKino can be dicy !

I have always been told to be careful when one comes to town to purchase food and supplies we always are very aware of our surroundings.
It seems that if the locals do not know you and you are off the main path, the watchers will turn you in to their boss.
Seems like express kidnappings take place in town, or locals think they do.
On one trip several months ago we went to the bank, when we did not show up at the appointed place and time, locals with us went to the police station and reported us missing. Once they spotted us, we had to let the police know we were found and ok.

We have the older gringo look, typical older white guy 6'+ with very short white hair and white beard, cannot be mistaken for a "National" that I have ever seen.

(This post was edited by salto_jorge on Nov 3, 2011, 10:35 PM)

TxMex

Nov 4, 2011, 7:11 AM

Post #17 of 35 (966 views)

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We have the older gringo look, typical older white guy 6'+ with very short white hair and white beard, cannot be mistaken for a "National" that I have ever seen.

Excellent point. When I am with my 6' tall very large grey haired husband we stick out like a sore thumb. When it is just me I draw no special attention. Especially now that a lot of Mexican women are trying to lighten the color of their skin. I have dark straight hair and green eyes with touches of brown. Even my Spanish doesn't cause much notice until I get onto subjects I'm unfamiliar with and start to stumble and search for words. If you can blend in things are much easier!

cookj5

Nov 4, 2011, 8:40 PM

Post #18 of 35 (873 views)

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I'm not really clear about why you think it necessary to live so close to the border. Access to DishTV? You can get a variety of cable and satellite options in many places in Mexico. Border runs for mail? Most expats down here use Mailboxes Etc. or some other mail forwarding service that brings your mail to their local box. No problema. Straight shot up to Tucscon? For what? Shopping? You can find Costos, Walmarts, and many other major chain stores all over Mexico. What's your major reason for picking a close-to-the-border location?

If you look further south in Jalisco, Guanajuatro, Michoacan, Colima, or Queretaro, you will find mild climates, beautiful countryside, wonderful old colonial cities, and much more. I'm sure there are others who would tout their areas too.

I think you may want to think a little more deeply about what you are looking for, and then visit a number of locations to check them out. You may be very surprised at what Mexico has to offer away from the border.

For a look at some of these places, you can check out my photo journal blog "Jim and Carole's Mexico Adventure".

Here is the link: http://cookjmex.blogspot.com/

(This post was edited by cookj5 on Nov 4, 2011, 8:42 PM)

frito

Nov 4, 2011, 9:45 PM

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I wondered how long until I got pilloried for asking. I'm aware of the great strides Mexico has made and certainly I find a number of areas in the interior very attractive. As a FedEx retiree I'll have shipping discounts and air travel discounts that will be significantly better in the States. Tucson has Barnes & Noble, and there's just nothing comparable in Mexico. E-readers like the Kindle are a huge plus and make living about anywhere possible, but it's not a bookstore. If you don't know what I mean then no point explaining. I'm a Dish subscriber, and they've greatly tightened their footprint. Shaw is available over most of Mexico, but it's my understanding there are hoops to jump through to get it. They don't have a portable, automatic dish available either. Just nit-picky stuff, but in it's entirety it adds up. Sorry, I'm not out to prove anything, just looking for an affordable retirement that I'd enjoy. And I'm sure I'll enjoy much of Mexico. But if there's an easy way to ease into retirement there, I think it's worth looking at.

frito

Nov 4, 2011, 9:56 PM

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Thanks for clarifying the situation there. I feel for anyone who has to live in such an environment and wonder how they deal with it. That's enough to convince me to look elsewhere. Shame too, as it looks like a nice place.

TxMex

Nov 5, 2011, 7:55 AM

Post #21 of 35 (807 views)

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I'd recommend Arkansas. You can live about as cheaply as you can in Mexico with the things that you require. Especially if you own your own house. You can't beat the cost of living.

I have a nice place for sale here :)

There are some things that are definitely cheaper in Mexico, but my main reason for wanting to move back is the people and sense of adventure. If you are just looking for cheap and not that interested in Mexico itself....I'd recommend exploring your options here in the US.

YucaLandia

Nov 5, 2011, 8:07 AM

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Post edited to correct previous inappropriate tone:

The Yucatecan costs for things that we require would seem to be lower than tourist areas of Mexico or lower than in Arkansas.

Maybe Yucatan has unusually low costs compared to your experienced in Mexico, and maybe Arkansas costs are much lower than I experienced in the USA. Here are some typical Yucatecan cost figures:
Our property taxes on homes are only $20-$30 USD per year. Public health insurance is just $300 USD per year. Gasoline costs $2.80 a gallon. Labor rates on car repair are under $20 an hour. Manual labor rates for workers are under $30 a day. House cleaning can be found for $10. Meat, fruit, and vegetable costs ½ of most US cities. Car insurance rates can be less than $200 per year for liability coverage. Specialist physician visits can cost just $30 a visit - even on a Sunday. General physicians make house calls for $25. Common medicines like Amoxycillin can cost just $3. Combined internet and phone service can cost $33. US satellite TV with full movies and full PPV and 250 channels can be had for $20 a month. Power bills are $25 a month if you use A/C for a few hours a day to cool a bedroom. Water bills cost under $5 a month. Trash pick-up costsr $3 a month for 3X per week pickups. You buy a simple 3 course lunch for $3 every day.

These all seem to fit things that most people require, but it is possible that these are cheaper in Arkansas.

Other than buying imported consumer items, we find Yucatan to be much much cheaper than the USA in almost all other areas. Maybe other parts of Mexico are much more expensive, but if you choose to live outside of tourist areas like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, San Miguel de Allende etc, I think most expats find Mexico cheaper than Arkansas for most items.
steve
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E-visit at http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Nov 5, 2011, 11:23 AM)

TxMex

Nov 5, 2011, 8:40 AM

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I lived in Mexico with a Gringo that required gringo things like the original poster seems to want. Let me assure you....you are better off in the states with those needs.

We moved back to the US because I couldn't afford to continue to live in Mexico! As you should know, places like Home Depot, Sears, etc actually cost more in Mexico than they do in the US. He spent a fortune in these stores....especially since he was spending money in pesos. It had to be cheaper no matter what the conversion rate was....it's pesos! This is one reason we are now divorced and I'm coming back to Mexico single.

Also, do you really want to encourage Gringos to come to Mexico that aren't really interested in LIVING in Mexico.....they just simply are looking for a cheap place to live?

Also....please show a bit of courtesy...my opinion is as valid as yours is.

YucaLandia

Nov 5, 2011, 8:58 AM

Post #24 of 35 (771 views)

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You make really good points, especially about: "...do you really want to encourage Gringos to come to Mexico that aren't really interested in LIVING in Mexico.....they just simply are looking for a cheap place to live?" Living in Mexico involves so much more than prices.

Re costs of living: As I wrote, if someone buys lots of imported consumer goods, those are definitely more expensive here.

"Also....please show a bit of courtesy...my opinion is as valid as yours is."

I'm sorry my cost of living numbers offended you. I thought that Yucatan costs might be different than the prices you experienced in Mexico. I think I only quoted actual costs of living and didn't realize that prices were opinions. ooooops.
steve
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E-visit at http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/

TxMex

Nov 5, 2011, 9:50 AM

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I'm sorry my cost of living numbers offended you. I thought that Yucatan costs might be different than the prices you experienced in Mexico. I think I only quoted actual costs of living and didn't realize that prices were opinions. ooooops.
steve
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This is a ridiculous statement and you know it. The tone of your response was what was lacking in courtesy. Your response to me was very flippant and assumed ignorance on my part. Don't talk down to folks.

Now, back to the original subject. If there are certain things that you just HAVE to HAVE that are customary in the US and not used by the average Mexicano, you will more than likely not be able to live a lot cheaper in Mexico. I've watched numerous Gringos try to convince themselves they were living cheaper when in fact they weren't. Of course it seems like a large number of Gringos seem to be mostly interested in drinking, and alcohol is definitely cheaper in Mexico.

However, if you are able to be content with Mexican cable and subtitles, using a kindle or an English book exchange, more fresh basic foods rather than prepackaged/frozen meals, public transportation and are just in general prepared to live like a middle class Mexican....you can indeed experience a significant savings! A better quality of life too. It is when I hear people expressing than they are inflexible about certain things that I suggest maybe Mexico might not be the best place for them. Flexibility and a laid back attitude will go a long ways towards an enjoyable experience when living south of the border.

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