Thanks for the advice. I do have a friend here who is on my bank account. She helped me a lot when I went to Mexico in 2006 and I totally trust her. I have been reading everything I can about the history and political situation in Chiapas. I have also been checking into churches and other organizations that sponsor volunteers. When I was young, I always wanted to join the Peace Corps or Vista, but never did. I was even thinking that if I could work for an organization in Comitan I would be close to Timo's residence and eventually I could just stay there. I'm wondering if the authorities really bother with someone living quietly in the mountains, or is that being too naive? On the other hand, I remember riding the bus from Mexico City to Motozintla, and several times the bus pulled over and officers boarded to check ID's. They never asked for mine- I think they were looking for illegal Guatamalans sneaking into Mexico. Still, with Chiapas bordering Guatamala, this could be something to worry about, I suppose. If someone had told me 20 years ago that I would become so involved with a Mexican man, I probably would have laughed. And I don't think I would have liked him then. He is very "mexican" in his thinking and his ways, but after 6 years together, and having lived many years between us, we have both managed to compromise and accept each other most of the time. It's been a learning experience!