Retired 20 years ago in Mexico!

[mexicoblue14]

I love the Lakeside area. Once I can walk away from MegaCorp's money, La Floresta here I come.

I lived in La Floresta my first 12 years here. It is beautiful.

 

[mexicoblue14]

What were the biggest surprises you found in moving to Mexico -- the things you didn't expect or anticipate (I am referring to both the positives and negatives)?

Have you integrated with locals or more part of an expat community? Did you speak good Spanish before moving down there?

What do you spend your time doing down there? If you needed serious medical care (major surgery, chemotherapy. etc.), would you get it down there or come back to US?

Hmm, so many questions. My biggest surprises? Remember, I moved here 21 years ago and things were a lot different then. We didn't have local internet. We have one traffic light -- now we have 14! I enjoyed the laid back lifestyle, the friendliness of both the locals and the expats. I found it frustrating when workmen didn't show up when they were expected. About the only stores I miss are Marshalls and TJ Maxx! We have almost everything else either here at Lakeside or in nearby Guadalajara. Medical? We have great medical care here, although Medicare doesn't cover it. There are many local insurance options -- from free to very expensive. I didn't speak any Spanish when I came down and speak sufficiently, although not fluently now. I do spend most of my time in the expat community -- Folks who move here are interesting, interested, well travelled, risk takers and we have the time to form new, close friendships.

 

[mexicoblue14]

mexicoblue14, you're a very valuable resource here Some of my questions already mentioned by medved, I would like just to add one: is it true that Mexico's public health insurer often reject people with pre-existing conditions, and even drop them later when they develop such conditions?

You're talking about IMSS, the public health insurance and they change their rules frequently. I don't use them and am not current but I think they won't accept you after 70. It would be best to google IMSS and get the current rules. Seguro Popular will accept you with preexisting conditions and is free! This is something new within the last few years.

 

[mexicoblue14]

This is sort of my plan, with multiple 8-12 week locations. Recent news stories indicate Mexico areas have become very violent to Americans. Could you elaborate on the local take?

I feel very safe here at Lakeside. The US and Canadian press do a real job on discouraging folks from moving to Mexico. Of course there is crime where the drug cartels are located, but other than theft, we see very little crime here at Lakeside. I'm safer here than most cities in the US where there is always random crime. Here, if you're not involved in drugs, you're very safe.

 

[mexicoblue14]

Welcome as well. I am a cynic by nature, and I have to admit that I got a tinge of the same feeling that Major Tom got (I didn't know he was such a cynic - I pictured him as pretty easy going!). But I also like to give people the benefit of the doubt, and figured it was just an explanation for how you got to where you are. I hope I'm right.

I'm interested in hearing more - like what kind of numbers did your FA figure on? How much of a gap was there (well, I guess ~ $500K from your comments of saving $50K for ten years)? Obviously, the FA, if paid as a % of portfolio is motivated to have you keep growing your (1% his?) portfolio!

-ERD50

Really, I just figured based on the THEN cost of living in 1996 (about $1000/month) that I had enough to live on until my SS kicked in ten years later. Of course, I figured on my investments continuing earning 10% but that turned out to be a joke. I live comfortably but modestly and still have about the same amount of money I had when I started. Excluding travel and health insurance, I probably spend about $1600 a month now. Hope that's helpful.

 

[mexicoblue14]

I was so curious I looked up the town. Sort of West of central Mexico.
It's on a huge lake, looked lovely, until one video explained nobody swims in the lake due to the high industrial pollution. Sure enough all the videos I saw, the lake was devoid of people.

I would seriously worry about well water so close to this incredibly large lake.

Actually, you need to be careful of Internet information. Much of it is OLD. The lake is healthy now -- much more healthy than California beaches. Many people were swimming in the Lake yesterday as thousands of Guadalajarans visited Lakeside for this Easter week. The wells are continually tested and although I had a water purification system installed when I first got here, it had not been installed correctly and for six months I was drinking untreated water from the well in la Floresta and never got sick. It depends on a lot of things, but having purification systems in your home is always the safest thing to do

 

[mexicoblue14]

An old friend of mine has a sister & her DH who have lived there for years (Ajijic); they love it, he thinks it's smelly, dirty, dump, (candor is his byword).......I've never been, so have no first hand comment.

Different strokes for different folks. I'm glad everyone doesn't love it as much as I do, or we'd be dealing with too many expats. The only way to decide if it's for you is to come and stay for a couple of weeks. There are also thousands of blogs on living here as well as in other parts of Mexico and many books have been written as well.

 

[mexicoblue14]

There are also some great videos on youtube on Lake Chapala and Ajijic which will give you a sense of how beautiful this area is. And No, none of them are mine!

 

[Nemo2]

Different strokes for different folks.

Indeed. This particular friend and I rarely agree on destinations/accommodations. Similarly our (DW & I) travel styles are at odds with many posters here....to each his own.

 

[Meadbh]

I just figured out that there were more posts. I hadn't heard anything and had expected emails to let me know. First off, I have nothing to do with international Living. Their "Retire in Mexico" conference in 1996 introduced me to this area. Now, I'll scroll on down and see how I can answer other questions. Is there a way to get notified when someone responds to my posts?

Go to the menu at the top of your thread and click on Thread Tools. A menu will appear. Then click on Subscribe to this Thread.

 

[CountryGal]

How safe is it where you live and in the surrounding area?

 

[kcowan]

I feel very safe here at Lakeside. The US and Canadian press do a real job on discouraging folks from moving to Mexico. Of course there is crime where the drug cartels are located, but other than theft, we see very little crime here at Lakeside. I'm safer here than most cities in the US where there is always random crime. Here, if you're not involved in drugs, you're very safe.

The press has been letting us down lately. Suddenly many people are moving down here. Could have been the 20 pesos to the USD (now 17). The building boom is ridiculous here in PV with 15 new condos under construction. And no parking now at Easter. But taxis are just 60 pesos.

I am thinking we need another mass murder to get the activity down! But the narcos are very well-behaved. There seems to be enough money for everyone with casinos and other money-laundering operations.

 

[Meadbh]

Go to the menu at the top of your thread and click on Thread Tools. A menu will appear. Then click on Subscribe to this Thread.

I should have also mentioned that you should look at Edit Options, to decide how to be notified about new posts in your Subscribed threads. Probably the best option for now is receiving an email. If you get lots of emails, it means your threads are active, and you can always turn it off later.

It may be a good idea to browse around these menus to see if there are other features that interest you. Also, go to Forum Admin and read some of the threads there, like the FAQ.

 

[Olbidness]

My plan is to check out Ajijic this summer when its hotter than hell here in Texas. Looked at the weather there all last summer and it looked like a good spot to me. Same latitude as Hawaii, same elevation as Denver. I checked out Panama and Playa del Carmen last year. Both warm and humid. Really liked Playa , expensive but fun, Panama not as much. I've got a Mexican friend that is from the south side of the lake. I think I'll try Lakeside as my Spanish language skills are a bit weak.

 

[dixonge]

Actually, you need to be careful of Internet information. Much of it is OLD. The lake is healthy now -- much more healthy than California beaches. Many people were swimming in the Lake yesterday as thousands of Guadalajarans visited Lakeside for this Easter week. The wells are continually tested and although I had a water purification system installed when I first got here, it had not been installed correctly and for six months I was drinking untreated water from the well in la Floresta and never got sick. It depends on a lot of things, but having purification systems in your home is always the safest thing to do

Our first few months in Chapala Haciendas we did the same, then continued that down in Chiapas. I mentioned this to a local once and the horrified look on his face was priceless! Eventually we gave in and did the bottled water thing like everyone else. Plus we take Vermox twice a year, just to be safe.

What part of town are you in? We plan to rent around el centro when we return in September, but we've lived north of Chapala and in west Ajijic as well.

 

[mexicoblue14]

Our first few months in Chapala Haciendas we did the same, then continued that down in Chiapas. I mentioned this to a local once and the horrified look on his face was priceless! Eventually we gave in and did the bottled water thing like everyone else. Plus we take Vermox twice a year, just to be safe.

What part of town are you in? We plan to rent around el centro when we return in September, but we've lived north of Chapala and in west Ajijic as well.

I'm in West Ajijic, a neighborhood called "Arroyo Alto". perhaps we can get together when you get here. Without good Spanish, I don't think you'd enjoy living on the South side.

 

[dixonge]

I'm in West Ajijic, a neighborhood called "Arroyo Alto". perhaps we can get together when you get here. Without good Spanish, I don't think you'd enjoy living on the South side.

We lived in Mexico for the better part of three years, the final nine months with regular Spanish lessons from a Tapatia maestra So we can get around, as long as the Spanish isn't too fast...

We rented for awhile just off the carratera at Alvaro Obregon, up above seis esquinas. We've spent time petsitting everywhere from Joco to Vista del Lago. Definitely need to meet up when we return! Perhaps at Jus' Chillin'?

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Hi, Karen,

I hope you are still following this thread. A belated welcome to our circus.

I have had a long interest in the Lake Chapala region. I am not worried about safety. Safety has a lot to do with what you do and where you do it.

I am concerned about theft/petty theft. We have our little hobbies and we would be unhappy if burglary were something we had to worry about. I have read of incidents at the Lake over the years but there is not enough information to work with. Is it random? Were the targets highly visible? Is it possible to live quietly without concern for theft?

Thanks

Ed

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Glenn, can you comment on my concern about theft?

 

[mexicoblue14]

Yes, there is petty theft here, although in 21 years I have never been robbed. Most ends up being an inside job (someone knows where the jewelry is hidden). Gated communities avoid most theft, being very careful who you hire is critical. My maid has a key, has access to my purse and wallet every time and I trust her implicitly. I have several friends who use her as well. don't show off wallets full of money, expensive jewelry and don't leave your home empty for long periods of time unless you have made arrangements for someone to keep a good eye on it. Hope that helps.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

You're talking about IMSS, the public health insurance and they change their rules frequently. I don't use them and am not current but I think they won't accept you after 70. It would be best to google IMSS and get the current rules. Seguro Popular will accept you with preexisting conditions and is free! This is something new within the last few years.

What do those of us >70 do? I have read of Seguro Popular and also understand that some self-insure, but I would be a lot more comfortable with a high-deductible insurance for catastrophic incidents.

Cheers,

Lalo el Gitano

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Yes, there is petty theft here, although in 21 years I have never been robbed. Most ends up being an inside job (someone knows where the jewelry is hidden). Gated communities avoid most theft, being very careful who you hire is critical. My maid has a key, has access to my purse and wallet every time and I trust her implicitly. I have several friends who use her as well. don't show off wallets full of money, expensive jewelry and don't leave your home empty for long periods of time unless you have made arrangements for someone to keep a good eye on it. Hope that helps.

Yes, that helps a lot! Keep a low profile and be careful who you place confidence in. That suggests that a newcomer should start out carefully--old but sage advice.

 

[kcowan]

Yes we have staff in Mexico. Housekeeper, PM, moso and various workers. Creates special challenges for us "no staff" northerners. We also have bars on the windows since the glass windows are always open even when we go out.