WHY ARE WE MOVING TO MEXICO YOU ASK?

WHY ARE WE MOVING TO MEXICO YOU ASK?

The decision to move to Mexico took some deliberation, but in the end, the positives far outweighed the negatives. Some may consider it foolish or even dangerous to actually move to Mexico, but let me elaborate on the three primary reasons - the weather, the people and amenities, and the cost of living. 

Alberta means snow and cold, Mazatlan means sunshine and warm. After years of dressing like Nanook of the North for five months a year, it is wonderful to get up each morning and pull on a pair of shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals and feel completely dressed. Even if it is cloudy it is warm and there is no need to check the weather forecast every day. I have always felt that it could never be too hot, but it can without a doubt be too damn cold - even in spring and summer at home. So reason number one is pretty compelling.

Reason two is the easygoing lifestyle that exists here on the Sea of Cortez. Whether at home or here, we establish routines to carry us through the days and weeks. One of my favourite factors is not having to drive a car daily. We can ride the bus for 75 cents or take a nice taxi or pulmonia for less than five dollars anytime we want. We spend more on gas for our cars at home than we do on transportation here. We have excellent internet service, television options and the incredible telephone system is almost free, compared to the offerings by Telus or Shaw at home. 

The people are also very friendly. At any time of day when you pass a Mexican walking on the street, they invariably say Buenos Dias or Buenos Noches, and they don’t know you from Adam. It is just courtesy. At home, people on the street routinely avoid eye contact, keep their heads down and generally are focussed on their cellphone. Not in Mexico! Waiters, clerks, and service people are adept at being pleasant and happy to serve. And they don’t annoyingly tell me that their name is Pedro and they are going to be my waiter. They just do their job, quietly and efficiently.

The third major reason for moving to Mexico is the much lower cost of living. We can rent a new fully furnished and modern condo or apartment for half the price of Calgary. As a renter, we don’t need to pay for utilities, internet, maintenance, or taxes. Add those little expenses up! Everything is cheaper. Some other examples:

• a movie costs $2.50 and some days it is two for one
• a dental check-up, x-ray, and cleaning will cost you $20
• ten beer costs $7
• vegetables of every kind are usually less than a dollar a pound
• giant shrimp are $7 a pound and fresh from the boat
• restaurant meals are less than half the cost at home

I could ramble on endlessly but I will resist. The cost of living, and living well, is much cheaper. At the same time we have access to all of the amenities of modern grocery chains, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, and Home Depot. Medical and dental services are cheap and top quality, while pharmacies often don’t even require prescriptions. The list goes on and on, but I am not here to recruit, just to explain.

In addition to the top three reasons, we are two blocks from the ocean and the beach. Regular excursions to sit and watch the waves rolling endlessly in, or read a book, or watch the passing parade of beach walkers starts any day off on the right foot. I hate to admit it but it even beats my regular walks into Edworthy Park and along the Bow River. And that is very hard to do. 

That is a synopsis of the rationale for moving to Mexico. I hope that it will be a sufficient explanation and you will not miss us too much when we move. The last and final step in my plan is to convince Darlene that it is a good idea. Wish me luck!

PS We return home Saturday so I have at least nine months to try to sell my plan before we return next January!