BajaNomad

Losing trust in Baja

Sharksbaja - 8-25-2006 at 02:16 PM

Being a home owner in Baja and a Nomad for almost two years I have certainly learned much. Sometimes too much.
Recently, but mostly in the last few months I have read many troubling posts regarding many issues that deal with trust.
This is a very important issue that affects and thus has effects in many facets of life on both sides of the border.
In my life I have seen a general loss of trust both towards corporations and politicians and businesses to the neighbor next door. Recently I discovered my neighbors(not next door)were pirating my water in Mexico to the tune of almost 50,000 gals a month. I immediatley rectified the problem w/o so much as even talking to them besides they were no where around. Why cause conflict? I just will never trust them. But I won't move away from them either.
Now, with that as a tiny example of trust. I emplore you to think how collectively our thoughts and fears come to bear on the Baja we love. My feelings are that, according to regular posters, many folks will contour or change their existing plans in favor of assuring a safer trip. Probably a good idea for some.
My worry is that while, yes, there are violent freaky things going on and I feel awful about the loss of a wonderful human being, I also feel that maybe we should consider the consequences or ramification(s) involved with "dumping " one area in favor of another.
Example:

A regular traveler to Baja enjoys an area and returns time after time. That happens in so many places.... like coastal Oregon. Now, since a heinous crime has happened in that general vicinity many will take heed and circumvent or otherwise try to improve their safety by minimizing the risk.

Ok, so with that said, where are these folks gonna go? What will happen to the little family biz in San Somewhere that depends on your undying love and addiction that brought them there year after year in the first place? This concerns me because we, as a whole, have a huge impact on that little place in San Somewhere. Not to mention the new place where you bring all your followers.

You extrapolate this problem and BAM, there it goes. Down to Davey Jones' Locker. Don't let that happen. Be strong but be smart. Be loyal but be brave. Don't take chances but don't give up the ship. I am not saying don't explore Baja, I'm just asking you to not to forget your own loyalty.
After all, we're all in this together.

ANOTHER excellent post Sharks...

M-AGAIN - 8-25-2006 at 05:23 PM

well said.
M

bajamigo - 8-25-2006 at 06:58 PM

And your point is????

Corky

BajaRob - 8-25-2006 at 07:49 PM

I get your point and I agree. We have no intention of leaving our dream. We did not relocate to BSM because we are timid nor will we leave because we are afraid. We will, however, be more vidilgent. We will not be victims if we can help it.

[Edited on 8-26-2006 by BajaRob]

Why not?

Dave - 8-25-2006 at 08:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Recently I discovered my neighbors(not next door)were pirating my water in Mexico to the tune of almost 50,000 gals a month. I immediatley rectified the problem w/o so much as even talking to them besides they were no where around. Why cause conflict? I just will never trust them. But I won't move away from them either.


A friend had the same thing happen to him. Only he got really PO'ed and creative. Waiting for just the right weekend, he hooked a temp greywater sewer line into his neighbor's tee. Then did ten loads of laundry.

Yea, Sharks, I get your point.

vgabndo - 8-25-2006 at 09:04 PM

It is all very complex, but I remember when we first stumbled on San Nicolas. The renting of lots to a few gringos was seen as a way for some of the old families in the arroyo to suppliment their fishing income and to help make it possible for them to stay in their village when it had become questionably viable economically. I think that my landlord gets about seven thousand bucks a year from the little group of us who rent our lots there. Twelve years ago that was a chunk of change. It is probably a bit less meaningful today, but we also hire family members for various things, and pay well. If we were ALL to leave it would have a terrible impact on the village. (Probably 20 lots are rented.)

I don't think that is going to happen because of increased crime on the highway. Far more likely will be the decreasing number of visitors because our friend, our real friends who live there, have chosen to stretch nets from the shorline, to spear fish at night with air, and generally make it tough for a tourist to catch dinner in the old Gene Kira style.

A lot of things are changing in Baja. A lot of things are changing everyplace else. It will, I think, remain a magical place for a lot longer. I think you can count on finding me at 26 degrees 32.448' by 111 degrees 33.105' as often as I have spare time and money for a long time to come.

I miss my friends.

[Edited on 8-26-2006 by vgabndo]

bajaguy - 8-26-2006 at 09:00 AM

Great idea, Dave, a little Monkeywrenching goes a long, long way.....:lol::lol: