How to Kill a Scorpion

Scorpions are a fact of life here in Mexico - they hide in your laundry baskets, they lurke in closets, they sleep in your tennis shoes.

Well....I killed my first one today. I opened the front door and a big one came running into the house. IT WAS HUGE. it was so HUGE I could hear it running across the tile..although locals said it was really very small.. The trick to killing a scorpion is to make sure you stomp the tail first - if you stomp it on the head, the tail will whip up and sting your foot - if you happen to be wearing sandals - which is exactly what I was wearing. And then, you never, ever pick it up with a paper towel, it can still sting you even after it is dead. JEEZ these things are brutal.

So now if you are ever charged by a HUGE scorpion, you will know - STOMP the tail!! And screaming helps too.

Cost of Living

I have been in Mexico for a couple of weeks now so I'm adjusting to the cost of living. My casita is $500 USD a month - this includes all my utilities. All inclusive rentals are rare - most homeowners who rent out their casitas only cover water.

I eat out for most meals - either in restaurants or at other peoples houses when I'm invited to parties or lunches. A restaurant lunch will run around $7.00 USD - but if you have seafood or steak - it can go up to around $12.00. A night out to a fancy restaurant with wine or drinks will cost you about $25 to $30. Prices here are reasonable - but costs can add up.

I have made a commitment to only eat out (where I actually pay) once a day, meaning I cook or make a sandwich here in my kitchen. Cooking is not really an option since I only have a 2-burner hotplate - but I do have a toaster oven and a small microwave. If you eat 'local' your food costs are much, much less. Imported American food is very expensive. A box of Ritz crackers will run you about $8.00 at a grocery store that caters to Americans and Canadians, but a box of Mexican crackers is about $1.00. Street food like roasted chickens, tortas, tacos, soups, etc. are very cheap; for about $2.00 you can eat a feast; add a beer for another $1.00 - best lunch you have ever had.

I drive a Prius so gasoline costs are not an issue - a gallon of Unleaded is about $2.10 - slightly less than the States. You can buy 10 black market movie CD's for a couple of dollars - the quality is not that good though. Clothes are really cheap - a embroidered shirt will cost you $8.00.

Since I visited here 6 years ago - a Walmart appeared - YUCK. It is very much like the Walmarts in the States - except there are relatively few things from China - most of the stuff is from either Mexico or the Philippines; Mexico has a long history of trade with the Philippines.

Overall, you can live comfortably here on $1,500 to $2,000 a month - that would include a small but comfortable house, good food, entertainment, some travel, and a maid and gardner...not bad.

New Pictures

http://picasaweb.google.com/lkarelee/Mexico#

What the Heck is THIS??

When I was considering moving to Ajijic, one of things on the top of my 'Bucket List' was to find a community that was active and like to socialize. My life in Austin had become sooooo routine. I went to work every day, came home at 3:30, walked the dog, figured out something for dinner, watched TV and went to bed. On the weekends I would go to estate and garge sales with friends, fix things around the house, take the dog to the dog park, yadda yadda yadda.

Now everyday I meet someone for breakfast, meet someone else for lunch, go to someone else's house for dinner and watch a movie. In between all this eatting, I visted a friend in the hospital and went to the market. Tomorrow a friend is coming for lunch and a swim and then I'm going to a fashion show. WTF - I need a NAP!!

Market Days

Every Wednesday is Market Day here in Ajijic. A narrow street downtown is closed off and hundreds of people set up awnings and tables and sell their wares. There were fresh fruits and veggies, chickens, flowers, CD's, clothes, anything you can think of. It is crowded with people shopping, eating, petting puppies, bargaining with the vendors and squeezing tomatoes. I loved it. I going to start doing my meager shopping there, you can get anything you need except maybe fresh milk, and it's considerably cheaper than the stores.
One vendor was cooking tacos on this big, flat wok looking thing; it had onions, peppers, chicken, sausage, cabrito, steak all going at once. In the middle were little corn tortillas. When you ordered, he would grab a hot tortilla and scoop up some onions and peppers and whatever meat you ordered and just hand it to you. They were delicious, hot and greasy.
I bought some bananas and a beautiful shirt covered with embroidered butterflies.
The weather here continues perfect - 70's during the day and 50's at night. No need for AC or heaters - very good sleeping weather.

Joyce's House on the Hill

We arrived at a friends house around 6:00 the second day; exhausted, smelly, numb-assed, and starving. I connected with Joyce thru a group of women here in Ajijic who stay in touch thru a yahoo group. I agreed to bring down a bunch of new sheets and towels Joyce had ordered and she let us stay in her house for a few day; worked out great for me.

Joyce is typical of most American retired women who find their way to this community; financially secure but not wealthy, indpendent minded, adventureous, and love to help other American women find their way around down here. She rents this spectacular house on a steep hill overlooking Lake Chapala. It had 2 nice size bedrooms upstairs and a huge master suite downstairs with 2 walls made entirely out of glass. Since Julie has cats and because Joyce has 4 dogs plus my little Boston, she thought it safer for Julie to stay downstairs. Although my room was darling and comfortable - I really would have liked to watch the sunrise from my bed in the mornings like Julie and her cats.

To get to the house - you have to descend down these really steep steps - a couple of trips up and down with a numb ass - was all I could take for the first night.

The next day, Joyce brought me out to meet my new landlady and see my home for the next two months. It is adorable - a little outside the village but quite and secure. It is on a large walled estate with a pool, beautiful flowers, a yard for my dog, and a little patio to drink my coffee in the mornings.

Federalies and Butterflies

We crossed safely into Mexico near Laredo - my friend Julie and I were caravanning for safety. Before we left, I bought a pair of cheap walkie-talkies - worked very well, we were able to keep in constant communication without using our cell phones.


Mexico is such a mixture of beauty and violence. Along the border we saw hundreds of Federalies - riding in the backs of pickup trucks, wearing ski masks and Kevlar - brandishing machine guns. They had several roadblocks you had to slow down for - they never stopped us - but they were very intimidating. At one stop - they had about 6 or 7 young guys lined up with their hands in the air - Julie said they probably would be shot before nightfall; I guess they have given up with due process - there are just too many gangs and cartel members - so they just shoot them.





We stopped in a tiny village that had reasonably clean rooms - I was traveling with my little Boston Terrier and Julie had two cats - so not many motels would take us. I only got a couple of hours of sleep - there was a tremendous thunderstorm all night long -quite a light show. Needless to say - between the storm and my fear of scorpions falling from the ceiling - I didn't get much sleep.



The next morning we were treated with a spectacular sunrise - but needed to get back on the road to stay on schedule. The rest of the drive was a blur of highways, toll booths, questionable bathrooms, and the most beautiful vista I have ever seen. You could travel for miles and miles without seeing any civilization; it reminded me of taking car trips in the 1950's. Mexico is really quite beautiful and empty.



Julie spotted an old woman along the road trying to hitch a ride and picked her up. Julie doesn't speak Spanish and the old lady didn't know a word of English. After a few hours, I saw Julie's van swerve off the road and stop. The old lady got out in the middle of nowhere - requested Julie give her some clothes for the winter (Julie had an old coat and gave it to her) and within 5 minutes a pickup truck comes roaring up and she hops in. WTF?? How did they know she was going to be there at that time? Jungle drums?

Counting Down

10 days remaining before we leave for Mexico....so many conflicting emotions - love the thought of an adventure - hate long car trips; love the idea of immersing myself in another culture - hate not being able to speak the language; love the idea of moving to a new community with lots of interesting people - hate meeting new people.

I am reading entirely too much about violence in Mexico - it can be terrifying; but most blogs talk about how safe it is down there for Americans - very conflicting. My living arrangements are ideal for a single woman - but there is always that element of fear. I am not taking much of value with me - nothing flashy - but I also worry about leaving my own house empty for 2 months - I probably have a greater chance of getting broken into in my own neighborhood.

Here are some pics of a recent visit to my lake house in Louisiana - beautiful but HOT!!

Home sweet - Casita

Thanks to a couple of friends I met on the web - I have found a little Casita to rent in Ajijic - hope to post some pics soon. It is on the gounds of a large home owned by a woman - recently divorced - it is one bedroom - gated parking for the car, large grounds for my little CK to run around in, completely furnished, it sounds perfect. It is about 5 minutes drive to the village and has a HEATED POOL - sounds like a winner to me. The owner has agreeded to hold it until I arrive in October. OMG I love the internet.

I am taking a total leap of faith here - I don't know this woman - she would be a serial killer for all I know, she could take my deposit money and fund some drug cartel - but.......hold nose and JUMP.

Leaving in exactly 1 month....let the countdown begin

Friends and other Things We Leave Behind

I have never been a very social animal - I don't have a wide range of friends; I'm sort of a recluse. I don't 'cultivate' friends; I'm terrible about remembering birthdays, going to class reunions, attending weddings, cooing over baby pictures, showing up for showers, volunteering to feed the neighbors dogs, or watering their plants. It's not that I don't have the time or energy - I just don't make the effort. Consequently, my circle of friends has become very small.

When I move to Mexico I want to turn over a new leaf. I want to isolate less, socialize more, walk neighbors dogs and water their plants. I want to be the person they can depend on to bring a killer casserole to a pot-luck diner or help them with jump the dead battery on their car. I want to be the neighborhood gossip and the go-to person for picking out new drapes.

Retirement Isolation is a very seductive state - you can take naps, listen to books on your MP3 player, mentally balance your checking account, and day-dream. Socializing requries you to actually be present, not something I'm comfortable with.

I want to work at finding a balance.

Head Packing

I'm counting the days until I leave - September 25th - I'm starting to pack in my head - sheets, medication, fan, dog food...where is his leash? I've read countless blogs about what to bring and what to leave...I keep forgetting it will probably be a lot cooler there especially in the evenings. I need a jacket - don't really own one - time to do some thrift store shopping.

I have this obsession with my sheets - everyone in Mexico says to bring them from the States - I've already bought a new set to take along. The person I'm staying with until I find my own place is asking me to bring down some new linens for her new house - seems Mexican sheets are all polyester....makes me itch and sweat just thinking about it.

Officially

I am officially retiring on 8/31 - which is a Saturday. I have spent my entire working life planning in 4-day intervals. Take off Friday and Monday so I can go to the lake house for a couple of days - take off Friday and Monday so I can go see my kid in Chicago, have day surgery, go to Dallas and buy a new car...everything in 4-days.

For the first time in my life - I'm thinking in terms of MONTHS - not days. Going to Mexico for 2 MONTHS, going to help my kid out when she moves for a MONTH, going to the lake for a MONTH...OMG - 30 days in a row.

I could work for another 14 Months and increase my retirement check/social security check/savings accounts - but having more than 4 days off in a row - is so intoxicating.

Letting It Go

I sold my favorite toy this weekend - my 1996 Honda Elite Scooter. I bought it a year ago to haul on the back of my RV so I could have some kind of transportation when I camp. She was a beauty - kinda beat up - a little worse for wear - but never failed to start. But I got a fair price for her - so here's to Letting Go of Stuff and paying off debt.

I am trying to become 'debt free' - except for the house - before the end of the year. I will be living on about 75% of my salary so I need to get rid of as many monthly obligations as I can. So far, I have eliminated all my credit card debt - but my car and my house payment still remain a worry.

Next toy up for elimnation is my 1992 29' Class C RV...bye bye toy - hello freedom.

Selling Stuff

As I progress thru this 'winding down' process - I'm beginning to look at all my possessions and put a price tag on them. $700 for my scooter, $3000 for my RV, all of which translates into time I don’t have to work.

I have a real love/hate relationship with STUFF. I love shopping for it, researching it, comparing it, experimenting with it, negotiating the price, and then possessing it - for a brief time. There are very few of my possessions that I maintain any kind of loyalty to over the long-haul. My STUFF is a brief distraction. Had I not owned half of my distraction STUFF – I would be a whole lot better off financially.

As I sell STUFF, family members and friends often say "I thought you loved that _________!" "How can you sell it?" The truth is, I did love it, but once I own it, I'm over it. So now, I’m trying a new way of possessing STUFF – second-hand only. If I can find it at a garage sale or thrift store – I can buy it – if not…..too bad.

What a strange society we live in. You are judged by two things: physical appearance and how much STUFF you own. When I talk to people who already live in Mexico, they always comment on how much further their money goes because there are fewer opportunities to buy STUFF. I hope that is true – but how am I going to fill my time?

It's Official

I will turn 63 in October - "if I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd taken better care of myself" - whatever.

I have officially signed up for SOCIAL SECURITY - what a hoot - who'da thunk it. And starting in October, they (SSA) are going to send me money every month - what a concept! I am also meeting with my retirement specialist to complete all the paper work and THEY will start sending me money. This is so foreign to me - THEY are going to actually PAY me for doing NOTHING. This Retirement thing is sweet; now if I can just learn to live of 1/2 of my salary for the rest of my life - I'll have it made.

I heard from a friend who is also driving to Ajijic in September - we are going to try and match up our departure dates so we can caravan. I'm looking forward to getting on the road....I have already started plotting out the route and what I'm taking. One thing for sure - I'm loading up my MP3 player with books and NPR interviews I've missed. I love audio books - I've spent a fortune on Audible - but I have enjoyed every single book I've purchased.

I LOVE the Internet

A few days ago - I was starting to get concerned - well not really concerned, maybe a little unsettled - about where I was going to stay when I get to Ajijic. There are a lot of great places - included Ajijic Suites (www.ajijicsuites.com) - for about
$450.00 a month. They said there was no problem bringing my little dog CK - so this
was a very good option. They are close to the town square - they have a very good reputation - and the price was reasonable. I hesitated to commit because I am not sure if I want to spend an entire month there - what if I find some place better - or what if I hate being that close to the square - all the music, fireworks, vendors, traffic, etc.

I got on a yahoo group called Comadres - which are a bunch of women from that area and posted a short message that if anyone knew of some place to rent that took dogs, blah, blah - to contact me. Within an hour, Joyce sent me a message saying I could stay with her for a week, free of charge, if I brought down a new set of linens for her new house.

http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac270/joyceraburn/Joyce%20New%20Home/?albumview=slideshow

Problem solved. Women are always so willing to help each other out...Thanks universe!

List of Lists

When you start thinking about spending 2-3 months in another country - the idea of making lists bubbles to the surface. Making a list of what to take (passport, camera, anti-diarrhea medication), list of what to do before you leave (get dog vaccinated, get oil changed), what to do around the house (turn off AC, install mail slot in door), what to kill (roaches, cats), what to create (will, blog), and finally a list called "What to do if all plans FAIL". This list is for emergency exits - Military takeovers, earthquakes, drug wars. Although this is probably the most important list - I have no idea what to put on it.

If there is a Military takeover or an earthquake - can I get out of the country - that requires a whole new set of lists. I need a series of clipboards attached to the kitchen wall.

This is getting complicated.

Starting the Countdown

It is about 2 months before I plan on leaving for Mexico and my plan so far is

1. Retire the first week of September
2. Leave for Mexico a few weeks later

Not much of a plan I grant you, but I've never been know for my detailed planning skills. Not that I don't try - believe me - it takes a lot of work to be this disorganized and live in chaos.

My ultimate goal is Ajijic in Central Mexico - it is about a 2-day drive from Austin - you can't drive at night in Mexico - well you can if you want to dodge cattle sleeping on the highway and local drivers who turn off their headlights to conserve their battery (WTF).

Why Ajijic you ask?? Well it is beautiful there, on the shores of Lake Chapala, very laid back, lots of ex-Pat's, you don't need to speak Spanish, and there are tons of single women about my age to hang out with - instant friends.

Okay - enough with the planning - I'm getting a headache.