Life in Mexico

Hmmm.

I really had to think about this so I could compare with the US.

I understand that in each country there are terrain issues, political issues, human being issues, income disparities, etc.

But what makes a country unique?

What makes someone want to move to another country whether it be short or long term?

Part 2

The escape is real, the freedom is real, and the new camaraderie is real.  Is it euphoria or too much tequila?  Yet at the same time, we are all vulnerable to one degree or another, depending on how brave or how much we genuinely integrate into the daily culture or stay within the safety of our Casa walls and venture out ever so gingerly, only when asked to join the happy throng.  

Confidence grows, as you find the courage to leave the stereotypes behind.  As we congregate at familiar watering holes and rediscover our love of food and conversation leaving everything fast behind.  Just wanting to eagerly say "Buenas Dias" passing complete strangers once so foreign, but now meaningful, liberating, and uplifting.  Oh hey, if you have a problem with the cobblestones or want to change this or that-ain't happening because they are 500 years of history here, rooted in deep cultural, heritage and it's staying the way it is.  

So, if you can't adapt, maybe this isn't the town for you.

One more thing, we've found the medical services and Doctors here to be wonderful, even better than stateside, and the response time to see a specialist is lightning fast and a return text or call back within a day or a few hours.  That's how medical relief is dealt with here, the patient is muy importante. ** 

Then, there is the beauty that surrounds you, stops you dead in your tracks as you are walking you just stop to stare.  The un-ignorable architecture that may be hundreds of years old holds your gaze.  Or a mysterious doorway that beckons you in, as you wonder what is inside.  The endless culinary gastronomy of so many international descriptions and local flavors tempting the tastebuds stimulate your senses   So many restaurants, cafes and wineries to experience, overwhelming as you feel you can't keep up. Thankfully our local social pages and countless reveiwers, the Phantom Gourmet among them, help us keep tabs on the next must-indulgent place to try and rave about.  

Music is so diverse, in equally as many venues offering Rock, Blues, Cuban, Flamenco,Jazz, and more.  A musicians Mecca, luckily for us/you.  The cacophony of sounds that surround you, joyous happy indigenous people and elaborate costume parades, fireworks, that for some, sound like the distant explosion in a war zone, but are just signals of celebrations about to begin.  

Nighttime rooftop dogs barking, sad in its own cruel way, and the haunting of church bells ringing, all remind you of the ancient town in which you have chosen to live.  It has meaning and it feels good in a deeply moving way.  The artists and local artisans, the photographers that capture the late night and way too early morning images that take your breath away.  These are the things that bring us together yet the same for all of us expats, from Asia, Europe, and North and South America, a melting pot of humanity.  

It's our collective new frontier to explore, to get lost in, and pinch ourselves in the joy we have found here.  For us personally, we are so grateful for the dear friends we have made, like minded citizens that truly make us happy, the friends who have filled our hearts with love and who help sustain our faith in the decency of human nature, despite the dark underbelly and rumors of cartels and corruption that exist, welcome to world reality.

This is the little Shangri-La we now call home, different and becoming more familiar and comfortable as each day passes.  Muchas gracias y con mucho gusto San Miguel de Allende.  In the words of Mark Twain, "You can depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus".  It reminds us why we decided to live in a foreign land again.  Especially because the people of Mexico have taught us humility and to be kind to one another.  Explore. Discover. Dream.  Our lives to date have seen us in some 161 cities and 59 countries and here we are.  We are just saying, from our fair town of SMA and a few seaside visits, one year in, and we're feeling pretty damn lucky, deeply thankful.  There is a lot of good joss in SMA and Mexico overall. 

Amor, 

C & L

*I am because we are", share the happiness, share the happiness. 

Thank you Charles for this beautifully descriptive article.  I share the same feeling.

**Regarding medical care, I needed to comment.  A year ago I was kicked on the left knee by a 1000 lb horse.  We What's Apped our Family Doctor, they immediately W.A.'d us back, and within 3 hours I was seeing an incredible Orthopedic Surgeon.  All within 3 hours.  Everything here is What's App and it is amazingly fast, but it takes the kindness of the office staff to put things together MUY RAPIDO.  Thank you for that kindness. 

Charles is a new friend of mine and wishes to contribute his ideas on SMA.

As writers we have been pondering how to express our love for this little Shangri-la we have come to know as San Miguel de Allende, and now call home. (Voted by Travel & Leisure readers as the #1 City on the World,  yet again).  This is an op-ed of sorts, an article we're calling "Life.....none of us are getting out alive, so Love, Eat, Drink And Be Merry".  As ex-pats we flock here by the hundreds, if not thousands, (we account for approximately 10% of the population of 185,000), so what do we share that binds us?  

We've all left somewhere for let's just say a myriad of reasons, landing as retirees or digital nomads.  Because of this we share a common bond, a fear of the unknown, but it is worth it because we've reached that stage in our lives, young or old, where it's "damn the torpedoes, I've got to jump or I'll never do it".  It is better to have tried than to not try at all theory.  Once you've departed your old life, a new one begins, like a new chapter in your tired,  maybe dull life to date.  Like shedding an old skin.  Someone said, "Your traveling experiences can leave you speechless, and then somehow you turn into a storyteller".

That is where the excitement lies, in discovering others like you, yet perhaps from a different part of the world, the something in common theory.

For some of us, it is not the first time we have joined George Carlin's "No More Stuff Club", so for us it is easy , we are invigorated to do it again and re-join the global "let's have fun club" and live life to it's fullest.  We are all giddy with the excitement of finding others like ourselves, safety in numbers.  It's almost like butterflies in your stomach on the first date.  You want to get to know each other to find those things, the sad, the happy, the I can't believe you are so much like me, we have so much in common theory.  That wonderfully helpless feeling, that scary intoxicating feeling of falling in love and feeling safe.  Close friendships  that bond you together. The friends you can talk to about anything., those that you would do anything for at 3 am when the phone rings and they need help,  the "No matter what kind of friends".  These friendships are more abundant here in SMA, they just seem deeper and more meaningful somehow.  They blossom, partly because we are all a little bit more fertile, open here, our true selves perhaps, because there are no judgements or less so at least.  

The escape is real, and the new camaraderie is real.  Is it real or just too much tequila? Yet at the same time we are depending on how brave or how much we genuinely integrate into the daily culture.

Part 1

To be continued Saturday, August 10th.   Thank you Charles!

Life is amazing here.

It is a rich experience, stimulating, loving, delectable, food, I mean, plus San Miguel is listed as the top city in the WORLD to visit.  (Travel Magazine)

Life in SMA allows one to unwind, to just enjoy being a human being.  The pace is very different.  The rush- rush of living in California, or the US, is not predominant..  Some people may find it a little irritating when things take a little longer, but you get accustomed to it and need to just "settle in".  I often reflect on why it was always  important to hurry.

The community is very active.  Very. It is sophisticated. You can easily be gone from home 7 evenings per week and do something different each night or just relax and stay home.   One activity is Sunset Theatre.  This beautiful local couple, Bill and Ava, live on a large lot, have terraced their backyard into an amphitheater complete with a stage for performers.  At least monthly they host a musical venue ranging from rock to blues, etc.  Last Sunday it was a benefit for a local children's charity complete with 150 very pleased people.  What an experience.

The food in SMA is over the top, ranging from every cuisine you could  think of.  We all love good food, of course, but it is the service that takes one to a different experience.  NEVER rude, always attentive and with a level of kindness that is lost in a lot of the restaurants in the US.  Not all of course, but we have yet to be disappointed in our service here.

We have been absorbed into an expat community that feels like we have known each other a lifetime. James had always told me about expats in foreign countries being exceptionally social. They are people that wanted to come here, to have a new experience and to break away from politics, crime, etc but mostly  to be adventurous.  

Medical care is modern, warm, and thorough.  The technology is here.  Cost?  I can go to my good friend Marisa, a doctor here, for $2.50, yes that is right. The care is beautifully personal, never rushed. The prescription costs vary, of course generic is cheaper.  I can go to the pharmacy and ask for almost any drug, except antibiotics or opioids.  I had poison oak last summer and I was able to buy Prednisone for $4.  From that perspective, medical costs are super cheap. They have their own insurance system.  I am on Medicare, and if there was an emergency, Medicare will reimburse me, but it has to be a real emergency/complex issue.  We also have a life flight program through Southwest Airlines.

Our property taxes are 65 pesos per year, almost $4. Gas is similar to California.  Auto registration is $30 per year, 540 pesos. Oh, our electric bill is 65 pesos per month, approximately $4.  These are actual figures.

Tempted, right?

I feel like there will be a lot of people that leave the states after the elections, one side or the other.  Combine that with much cheaper cost of living, the beauty, the people, consider this area.  

It is truly a blessing to be here, but I also can't wait to go north and see family and friends.

As you know from the previous post, we are living most of our life in San Miguel.

I want to share the most amazing experience that I have had in years, besides my family.

We live in a development that is young and growing.  The people here are amazing, loving and kind, exactly the way I like a neighborhood.  The workers wave at us, the neighbors invite us to share their lives, and it just couldn't be better.  Besides, San Miguel is over the top beautiful.

Recently one of the workers' wives died suddenly at 53 years old.  No medical care in her history.  She was an angel and will be sorely missed as she had 11 people in her home and cooked for a total of 25 people who wouldn't eat without her.  

That inspired me!  Let's open up a once a month screening to anybody, free of course, and start something good.  My good friend Marisa, a beautifuly spirited doc and Cat, my  RN friend who a huge heart set out this morning early to do just that.  Between the 3 of us we had the equipment to start.  We thought maybe 1-2 as it was the first one.  Nope!  23!  A couple of Canadian expats came and said they wanted to help next time.  Feri, JP and Pepe Sr. were also there to support us.

I felt at first, being American that people might hesitate, especially older Mexicans, but that wasn't the case. We got hugs, and promises to come back and bring more juentes (people).

Please consider stepping out of your comfort zone and reaching out to help someone.  It actually helps to stave off Alzheimers, but even more so, it warms the heart.