Pondering Move to Mexico: So Many Questions

[RebeccaWriter]

Hello out there!

I'm a writer in Texas, pondering a move to Mexico. I've transitioned out of a law practice, and want to move forward into the next step of my dream: living on the beach, walking with the dogs in the sand at sunrise .... (There are several other motivations for this lifestyle change, of course.)

But here, a few questions for the group:

1. I absolutely have to have fast, reliable internet connections for my work. If I am investigating a spot with a somewhat sizable expat community, can I assume that 24/7 DSL is a given?

2. I'm planning on moving solo - but it sure would be nice to plan all this with some other folk who are in process, too. Anyone know where there's an InProcess Forum?

3. Is it practical to pack up and move, or is it better to sell things off and start afresh? I've read about the "taxes" at the border, but then I've seen some of the furnishings in the online listings and I'd rather have my stuff. Some of it, anyway.

4. I've got two dogs. Any problems with walking pets, with the strays on the streets that I've read about?

Thanks so much, in advance, for any advice you provide -- it's so appreciated!!!!! Oh - I guess I should write, Muchas Gracias!!!!

Rebecca

[Penguins_Pet_Pumpkin]

Another couple of question for Rebecca's list, because it does apply when moving to lots of countries, and I don't know from US to Mexico.

Will she need to have pet visas for her dogs? What special innoculations will be required? Anything else that may arise as a problem where her pets are concerned?

[sparks]

Mexico is full of dogs so no problem. You just need papers from a vet saying the dogs are healthy and shots are up to date. Exam has to be withing a few weeks of crossing the border.

So what do you want .. the east coast or west? I live on the West near Colima in southern Jalisco. No help with Yucatan or Gulf areas.

Bringing all your stuff without knowing where you'll be sounds like trouble. Either sell it or come and find where you want to live and go back for it. You can't avoid the import taxes without an FM3 visa (resident). You can buy everything here.

Most towns of any size have Telmex DSL that works well. My town of about 15,000 has it. Other larger towns may have Cable options

My Web site

[bluediamonddivecollege@ho]

sounds like you have a tranquil dream! my advise would be to stear clear oc cancun! as that nice beach you are refuring to is full of bullish young americans puking and treating the place like crap! hardly a dream! in fact stear clear of anywhere that has become americanised! it kind of destroys the real mexico and seems somehow unfair that the border only seems to run one way! shame really!

[RebeccaWriter]

Hi Sparks, PPP, and BlueDiamond --
Thanks for all the replies, your comments are so appreciated!

Sparks, checked out your website and joined your forum, as well. Lots of great info over there - thanks so much.

I'm actually pondering Ajijic for many reasons, even though I do have that coastal vision of walking the beach.

Blue Diamond, you're got good advice on avoiding the tourist hotspots ... thx! ... I'm looking for a peaceful, happy, contented atmosphere, not one with lots of bars and music and jello shots. Those days are now fond memories LOL ....

With Ajijic, I'm thinking that I should be able to travel to the coast relatively easily, renting something nice and staying there in 2-3 week blocks periodically. Should get my need for the ocean and sand met, and still keep me away from the tourististas and the hot, humid conditions that I keep reading about on the coastline itself.

Ajijic seems nice: friendly, cool, established expat community, and close enough to a big city if the need arises. Still researching, but it sure looks purdy. Mighty purdy.

PPP and Sparks, thanks for the heads-up on the pups. I'm thinking I'll finish my research, take a trip down to investigate and explore in person, rent a place, then return to Texas and pack up some stuff, sell more, and then take the dogs with me in the drive down.

Any thoughts or comments on Ajijic? Am I missing a great coastal spot that I need to check out?

Muchas Gracias!!!!
Rebecca

[synthia]

Welcome to the expat forum, RebeccaWriter! We all seem to be zeroing in on the Chapala/Ajijic area.

As far as shipping things goes, it might be a good idea to put the things you think you might want to bring down eventually into storage, and only bring some things that will make you feel more at home, rent a furnished place for six months, and then decide what you want to do.

If you are planning on driving down, be sure to check out insurance and other restrictions, and learn something about problems with police, etc. for foreign drivers.

[Travel Dude]

Rebbica....My suggestion is not to rent an apartment solo.That is a good way to get home sick real fast.This has happened in the past.

My answer (as I have suggested) in the Spanish thread is to rent a nice private room in a middle class home.You can even enroll in a HOME STAY PROGRAM with the local Spanish language school in the town you plan to live in.This way you will have your own private room with bath and you can make friends with the family if you choose so.Also some home stay programs allow small pets.

Anyway,I hope this helps,Tony.

[davidf]

If your're considering Ajijic and the Lakeside area you should check two good forums there for local information; Chapaladotcom and Chapalaforumdotcom

[synthia]

Whether you get homesick or not is probably not a function of whether you have a place of your own or do a homestay. However, you could alleviate a lot of loneliness by doing a homestay if you got a friendly family. You have to consider how well you think you will adjust to living in someone else's house. It would be good for your Spanish, though.

[Queserasera]

Originally Posted by RebeccaWriter

3. Is it practical to pack up and move, or is it better to sell things off and start afresh? I've read about the "taxes" at the border, but then I've seen some of the furnishings in the online listings and I'd rather have my stuff. Some of it, anyway.

I've read blogs and threads on forums where people have moved all of their stuff from the USA to Mexico. Some have paid more than $10k to do it. Do you have that kind of disposable cash and is your stuff worth it?

I've read posts on the Merida Insider forum where people have had horrendous problems with shippers, including: incredible delays (several months or more) in getting their stuff, hidden costs, inability to contact the shipper or no response from shipper. Are you up for a lot of frustration?

Read an article in Yucatan Living online magazine where a married couple shipped their furniture to Merida and discovered some months later that termites were eating everything to bits. They ended up throwing away things that they had shipped in. I'm under the impression that termites are a problem almost everywhere in Mexico.

I've read blogs by a couple of others who sold everything and only moved what would fit in the car/van to Mexico. They seem perfectly happy. I was very glad I ran across those blogs because it gave me a lot of food for thought. It made me realize that none of my furniture is worth shipping, that I can get rid of all my CDs and rip them to the computer, that I can scan all my photos & mementos and throw out boxes of stuff.

I'll be one of those who gets rid of everything and starts fresh in Mexico. Like you, I'll also be moving solo, another good reason to lighten the load.