Why did we sell our house in Mexico? To make a long story short, I never stopped missing my very close friends (virtually family) back in the small town in Colorado where we lived for 10 years before coming to the Lake Chapala area in 2005.
We went back to Colorado for the summer in 2009, and ended up buying a cute little house from a long-time friend. We came back to Mexico and took lots of time to consider whether to keep our Mexican house as well. But ultimately, we both felt that a bi-locational lifestyle of half Mexico and half the US was not for us. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats, and we are very much into simple, sustainable living (link to my website on the topic).
So, with some considerable sadness but also with a sense that we’d made the best decision, we sold the Mexican house. We listed it with local realtors, showed it, took an offer, and closed on it, all in about three months! The new owner wasn’t coming to Lake Chapala right away, and by arrangement with her, we lived in the house for several months, till spring 2010. Then we made the long trek back to Colorado with our pets. I’m writing this now from Colorado.
Mexico in our Future
We both still love Mexico and the Mexican people, and we expect to continue our ties. We are thinking that we could have petsitters for a couple of months in the chilly deep winter in Colorado, fly down to Lake Chapala, and rent a place in Ajijic. We could explore other parts of Mexico too. We’ll see!
There’s a poem by Robert Frost we’ve thought of a lot. It begins,
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim…
Posted in Mexico and the US
Wow – quite a surprise. Happy New Year and best of luck in 2010.
Thanks, John! Readers, John has an excellent Mexican blog… click on his name to check it out.
I have been thinking of selling my house here in the states and moving down to Mexico… I've read your blogs from time to time to collect all things Mexico. Good luck with moving back to Colorado.
Rosana,
I am surprised to hear that you are leaving Mexico. I am still trying to get down there. I just spent the past weekend, with the coldest temperatures in over 10 years, if not 20 years in north/central Arkansas, keeping two wood heat stoves going, cooking on an old wood cookstove, baking bread, etc, dreaming of the wonderful climate around Lake Chapala.
For mental health, I spent some time in the unheated greenhouse, tending to young radishes, lettuce, garlic, and leeks. It gets nicely about 60 degrees in there even when it is in the teens outside.
I guess your decision somewhat reinforces my decision not to sell much of anything up here, until I know for sure. I seem to think that I will start out bi-locational, and end up full time in Mexico.
Who knows, though, but I have to wonder what is such a strong pull to lure you back. Do you miss the hard work and associated feelings of accomplishment that are lacking the paradise of San Juan Cosala?
Anyway, I wish you much luck and happiness, and maybe some day our paths will yet cross.
RE: Learning Spanish, I have re-discovered that “grammar is my friend”. When Amy and Mauricio of Rocket Spanish were headed off to the train station, and I was listening only on an MP-3 player, I realized that I better sit down and start writing down some verb conjugations. It has helped me a lot. I made up a bunch of flashcards (also your recommendation) of verbs conjugated in present tense, and got the feel for that, now I think I may be ready to go back to Rocket Spanish for a while.
Thanks for everything,
George
PS My website is not much and way out of date. I am not at all good and diligent about taking care of it, the way you are, and how many do you have?? I just stuck in on as a tiny peek at my place in the past tense.
Thanks for you long and thoughtful post, George. There are three main components to my wanting to move back to Colorado.
[1] As I say in the article, I have so many very close friends in the little town in Colorado where we lived for about a decade before coming to Mexico. I *never* thought I had given that town up; when we sold our house there in 2005, I was thrilled that we bought a lot there. But building again from scratch was daunting to both Kelly and me so buying an inexpensive place won out.
[2] After 4 years, I do have friends here too of course. But my central nervous system happens to go into overload much more easily than most people's, and has always been pretty much that way. I get overwhelmed by traffic here in Mexico, to the point that I don't drive here. This is a quirk of mine but it means that living in San Juan Cosala has limited my activities, which has been fine for a few years, but not for the long term. I've done homeopathics, nutritional supplements, EFT, self-hypnosis, etc etc etc etc etc, and I think it's my consitution at this point.
[3] I love being here in so many ways despite #1 and #2 but ultimately I would just rather be in my own culture, nuts as it may be at times!
My husband and I have been working on all this together for the whole time we have been here. He would probably just as soon stay here but after 37 years of marriage, we know how to work things out for what is best for both of us. (Thanks again to my great husband for being patient and understanding!)
BTW. I got one email from a friend asking if increasing crime in Mexico is a factor. No, not really. I think crime is worse in many parts of the US than it is here by Lake Chapala.
Rosana,
Thanks for your reply. One must be true to one's self. I certainly understand, and I hope that you both will find happiness back in beautiful Colorado.
I know that right now, I am ready for a break. It might not last as long as I think, but I am ready.
The painter/handyman who used to do some work for me had the following quote on the bottom of his business card. “If Momma's not happy, ain't nobody happy.”
At the risk of repeating myself, Thanks again for all that you have done for all of us.
George
Leaving a place where you live with your families and friends can be very difficult.
I never made the mental shift that we had truly left! I am pleased to be going back, even though I will sorely miss the heavenly weather, warm-hearted people, and so much else about Lake Chapala — even though we think of spending time here in the future. Dang, wish I could live in both places with all my animals without a long trip!
Are you the person who wrote the Blog about Kevin Witty?
Yes, I am, Judy, and you can find it here:
http://www.mexico-with-heart.com/living-in-mexi…
I would love to buy a small home in Mexico. I’t only me and my two little dogs. I have heard the Pozos, Merida, Cozumel and Belize aare very nice. I love the water. I am an RN and am living in Hobbs N.M. Would like something close to the border (maybe) if there is water there. I am am an Registered Nurse but have never been there. Any info?
Sharon, I simply cannot recommend moving to Mexico at this time. The violence is escalating. Maybe things will get better after the presidential election this summer. Suggest you hold off. Belize is another country and I don’t know its situation. One place you can follow some of what is going on is the English language newspaper guadalajarareporter.com — it has a subscription fee but you can read a good bit for free. This is going on in many parts of Mexico.
Just came upon your site again due to googling something else, and your warning about Mexico caught my eye. Thought the following would be informative for you and others who pass by here:
http://howsafeismexico.com/compare_mexico_us_cities.html
Thanks. Glad to see the article.