“What’s the Allure here”…?

 

Several weeks ago I was relaxing at a new location on Los Muertos Beach enjoying a refresca and watching the local people frolicking on the beach in beautiful 80 degree weather, and I heard a voice asking the question “what´s the allure here?”  I quickly looked around to locate the source and noticed a 30 year plus young lady asking the question of a couple ex-pat´s whom I knew were very capable of providing a clear reply.  The questioner went on to explain that she had just arrived in Puerto Vallarta and was on her first trip to Mexico.  With a laugh one of the ladies whom had just been addressed turned to the other and said this one is yours.  The succinct answer that was given was “the climate, the people, the fact that you could live “outside of the box”, and re-invent yourself to become whatever you desired.”  You could tell that the answer was totally “lost” on this young lady who would probably return to the northeastern part of the United States with no appreciation of her limited exposure to Puerto Vallarta and Mexico.

However, that comment kept repeating itself in my memory and caused me to reflect on why I decided to make Mexico my/our “home” when Dolores and I retired from the corporate world in the United States. In 1972 Dolores and I started taking 7-10 day trips to Mazatlán, then Cabo and finally to Puerto Vallarta where my sister and brother-in-law had been living for many years.  They were able to pass on to us their enthusiasm and love of the customs, people, flora and fauna, and living “style” of Mexico.  While Mexico was already part of Dolores heritage I was hooked   

What´s the allure,,,

Mexico offers a relaxed lifestyle, low cost of living, special residence status for retirees -- and lots of sunshine. An estimated 700,000 US and Canadian citizens now live in Mexico or spend a substantial part of the year here.  Mexico does offer lower costs of living; however, that is just one of a multitude of reasons to stay. Many expats are drawn to its rich and complex history, much of which serves as the foundation for today’s Mexico. It also has plenty of places to explore.

Another endearing quality of Mexican culture is the tendency to accept people for who they are. Mexicans are usually very forgiving of foreigners who butcher their language, as long as they put in the effort.

We don't live in Mexico to save money. However, a major contribution to that quality of life is that we can afford a little decadence.

Decadence is expensive in the states. Some comparisons: Our Maid in PV comes twice a week (2.5 hours ea.) for $200 pesos or $13.60 per visit.  Premium dark roasted coffee (Starbuck quality) that I buy from Costco (French Roast 1 Kg) is $5.50 per pound. I also enjoy premium dark beers, good cabernet sauvignon, Spanish brandy, and triple filtered vodka.  My Spanish brandy I buy for $8.00 a liter and my Negra Modelo beer (selling for $8.00 a six pack in the U.S.) is priced at $4.75 here.  The vodka is almost a give-away at $8.20 a liter.

About the cost and quality of medical care in comparison to the United States, I have learned that medical insurance in Mexico, prescription drugs, surgeries and dental procedures are one third the cost of comparable services in the U.S. . The reasons are: the lower income of medical service consumers, government cost controls on medicine, the scarcity of malpractice litigation in Mexico and the average earnings of health care professionals.

One question that is always asked by newcomers is “what’s the quality of medical care?”  The quality of care we have received from physicians, other specialists and dentists in Mexico have been outstanding. I would not trade my state of the art dentist for any professional north of the border.  Medical training and practices in Mexico are of the highest standards if your physician or hospital is offering services in the private medical sector. Also for major surgeries, this system also offers world class specialists and care.

If you own a car gasoline prices are higher in México but the real savings are in automotive repairs, particularly body shops with labor costs about 80-90% less than garages north of the border. General mechanics typically charge about 1/3 of what mechanics demand in the states and they’ll even do “house calls.” Buses in Mexico, which have improved dramatically, in quality and comfort over the past five years, cost about 20% of what bus fares cost in the U.S.; the number of routes are significantly greater than in the states.

Finally, living in Mexico has given me a different perspective of Mexican cuisine.  The whole array of Mexican cuisine is astonishingly varied and rich.   I emphasize this point because Northerners often write off Mexican food as inevitably too spicy and too greasy. Or that it only consists of tacos, beans, burritos, chimichangas, nachos and guacamole.  That's a shame, because many who study the matter insist that Mexican food, when viewed as a whole in terms of diversity of appealing tastes and textures, imagination used in combining ingredients, and being appetizingly presented, compares favorably with any cuisine in the world, including that of the French.

Overall, living in this country and Puerto Vallarta has resulted in us having a better quality of life.  When you add up the warmth of the people, the great places to explore, and the slower pace of life, what’s not to love about Mexico?  I think the question of the “allure” has been answered…at least for Dolores and me.

 

The Circle Marks the Spot