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Whale-ista
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Location: San Diego
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Making the transition to Baja: what was most challenging, then vs. now?
I realize this is a broad topic, but I haven't seen it come up before, at least asked in this way.
I'm curious what FT Baja residents remember as being the most challenging part of leaving their prior home, when they made the move to live SOB.
Was it moving away from friends? Famiily? Conveniences of "city life"?
What items did you import that could have been left home vs. things used most often?
Also- what did you find improved (or got worse) over time as you settled in?
I read posts about missing good Internet service, access to certain products, etc. I also read how much people enjoy life in Baja, making new friends,
volunteering etc.
So- if you are a resident, what can you share that may help people considering making the move? What would you do differently- or definitely do again?
And what has made living in Baja special for you?
Thanks for your feedback...
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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good topic Lori...I was one of the many people that traveled down to Baja every year and my visits got longer and longer and it was harder and harder
to go back north every time. I found it was like living with dual personalities and never really felt at home in either place. When in Canada, I was
constantly thinking about Baja, making lists, packing etc. When in Baja, I dreaded the day I had to leave.One good canuck friend commented...why dont
you just move there..you aren't really here anyway and he was right....baja had stolen my heart!
I had all the normal fears about leaving one's birth country but when I finally made the move, life became much easier & happier...no more
traveling back and forth, packing and unpacking. I had everything in one place and could focus on making a life here..planting a garden, fixing up a
house etc. My daughter enrolled in school and I got a job teaching English at the university. Yes, the income is drastically lower but so was the cost
of living and one cant put a price on happiness eh.
I did miss my friends & family, but made new ones and had a hard time finding books in english but people brought me books and stuff I missed like
maple syrup. One learns to adjust and begins to simply live the life as others do in your neighbourhood...eat what is available shopping locally. I
ended up marrying an amazing mexican man that has enriched my life and taught me so much about being human and raising a bi-cultural daughter. I never
ever regretted moving here.
I am blessed to live in an incredibly beautiful place that I could never afford NOB and still giggle at the thought I can go to whatever beach I want
any day of the week, all year round!!! I love the pace and low stress level and the smiles on the village folk all around me. I guess it is like
stepping back in time here...a time I revel in.
I dont miss the traffic, all the rules and regulations, the stress, the silly huge stores with a kazillion choices for every product, all the pasty
faces, rain & snow.
I brought only a couple of my Pendleton blankets and miss the native art I had. Most things I bought here in segundas and started fresh. I have really
changed as a person and enjoy life in the slow lane now. I wish I had done it years before. Yes there are lots of cultural challenges like learning
the language and mexican ways, and there are many things we cant wrap our heads around culturally but I learned to have an open mind, try to
understand and accept their ways of doing things. I now live on Mexican time and love it!
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Whale-ista
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thank you Shari- I appreciate your insights. You are a hard worker- you've accomplished so much in Baja and seem to be having so much fun doing so!
I hope others will also offer their experiences/ideas/suggestions.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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rts551
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As you get older, access to medical care. I notice that many head north when a major medical issue hits.
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Alm
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This, and groceries. Was a problem back then, and hasn't got much better in past decade.
I have to admit that the very question puzzles me: What was most challenging, then vs now? Who moved "then", won't have first-hand experience in
"now". And vice versa. Unless you've discovered a time machine. Observations of transition challenges "now" by somebody who moved "then" will be
indirect and very subjective - his recollections of "then" will be incomplete and inaccurate, and perception has changed a lot from "then" to "now".
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J.P.
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Quote: Originally posted by Alm  |
This, and groceries. Was a problem back then, and hasn't got much better in past decade.
I have to admit that the very question puzzles me: What was most challenging, then vs now? Who moved "then", won't have first-hand experience in
"now". And vice versa. Unless you've discovered a time machine. Observations of transition challenges "now" by somebody who moved "then" will be
indirect and very subjective - his recollections of "then" will be incomplete and inaccurate, and perception has changed a lot from "then" to "now".
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Then we sold everything in the U.S. and moved here full time.
Now we have created a part time residence up there/ U.S. and when we have medical issues we go up there and stay its a lot more convenient and we
are really enjoying the time we spend up there at this point in life I wouldn't be too disappointed if I had to stay in either place , But on the
other hand why worry about it.
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Whale-ista
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Thanks for the comment re:healthcare. That definitely is an issue for many over time.
Alm- I agree, recollections change. So do people's sense of what's important once they live in a new place and get out of their routine and habits.
I've met people who love Baja, and will never leave (barring health issues, as mentioned above).
I've also met others who never fully adjust, and return back to their previous homes to be closer to family, friends, etc.
Let me phrase my question another way: after moving and living in Baja for a period of time, and looking back at the process and your current life:
what have you learned?
Would you do anything differently - or exactly the same- if you did it over again?
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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BajaBlanca
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Most challenging for me was, and is, the language. Of course I speak it well but I still don't feel fluent LOL Spanish is radically different from
Portuguese and I thought it would be easier - it ain't!
I thought I would be bored and brought down hundreds of books and many jigsaw puzzles- hahaha I have read a lot but not nearly as much as I thought I
would and the puzzles are gathering dust and have NEVER even been done.
At first we brought down lots of goodies - I brought Brazilian goodies and Les still brings down some of his favorite European goodies - mostly
because his kids keep him supplied come Christmas time!
Like Shari mentioned, there are things that one will never get their minds around but I am sure they think we are just as odd - no one in town
understands why Les almost never washes his pick up. Trust me on this - that is a major NO NO in Baja, and unfathomable to most Mexicans.
Healthcare access as one ages is very important and remains a huge impasse where we live.
Fun topic!
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rts551
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We also kept a part-time residence in the US. I know of people who needed to be treated for cancer or needed an operation and had to lease
something in the US during treatment.
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Alm
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| Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista |
So do {change} people's sense of what's important once they live in a new place and get out of their routine and habits. |
Very quickly! Our environment NOB is an artificial one, influenced by population density, marketing and brainwashing. Once you're out, it wears off
quickly. This void, however, may be filled with nothing, arrested development, Baja-variety neanderthal. When you're neither here nor there, like
snowbirds, all these effects are less pronounced.
| Quote: |
after moving and living in Baja for a period of time, and looking back at the process and your current life: what have you learned?
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Not Spanish for sure. Being in Baja didn't help much, anyway. Language can't be learned by simply being there, unless you're 3 year old. It's a hard
work when you're adult over 50.
| Quote: |
Would you do anything differently - or exactly the same- if you did it over again? |
Still dreaming about that time machine, are you?
[Edited on 4-22-2015 by Alm]
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Whale-ista
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Location: San Diego
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Thanks Blanca- not surprised to hear your books/puzzles didn't get used. You and Les like to travel, socialize, run your B&B and keep busy.
You are also very busy teaching English, cleaning up La Bocana, and supporting students who want to go to college. Whew- so much energy!
As for learning Spanish or any other language- I had a new student in class today: 85 years young, still working on learning more about computers (I
call my class "CSL"- computers as a second language).
She has trouble seeing the computer screen, but keeps working to improve her skills.
Anyone who keeps exploring, asking questions, learning- and teaching- keeps growing throughout life, in or out of a traditional classroom.
[Edited on 4-22-2015 by Whale-ista]
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Gulliver
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Registered: 11-18-2013
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I'm a half timer and I don't see that changing soon. Why am I here? I love the weather. Winters in the San Juan islands really get to me. Housing and
utilities are dirt cheap down here. I'm not a food person so I get along fine with ordinary local fare. The people are sweet and hard working and
honest. And they put up with my stupid language skills. And laugh at my mangled jokes. I love the lizards and Geckos and even the occasional snake. I
love riding up into the hills West of Mulege and hanging out with the ranch families at the end of horrible roads.
Things that drive me nuts?
I do stuff and always have and always will. Motorcycling and ham radio and fixing things and building things. I can't get ANYTHING down here without
some giant logistical hassle and bugging my friends to bring things down. I needed one little two dollar part for my ham station. It took a month and
six phone calls and a friend to drop it off. Why can't I buy stuff on line and get it delivered to my door? My partner ordered a small thing from
AliBaba as a test. It took nine weeks to get it. And having anything but an envelope sent from the states is a joke. Gets stolen half the time and
takes five weeks if it gets here at all. I'm horrified by the gringo bar crowd that seems to have settled in down here. People I wouldn't want to live
next to up North. I hope the locals don't think we're all so low class.
I can deal with the power going off randomly. The water system likewise. The comical road repairs and priorities. It's a poor country and I accept
that. The politics are sane and honest compared to the U.S. I don't give a rip about killing fish or drinking so that's a wash.
Unlike some of my friends, I am looking forward to heading North in a couple of weeks. I miss my machine shop, my steam launch and even mowing my
lawn. I get tired of looking at dirt all the time. I miss Amazon and Harbor Freight.
In the Fall I will be very happy to flee the drizzle and start the wander South. No easy answers from me.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by Alm | | Our environment NOB is an artificial one, influenced by population density, marketing and brainwashing. |
Sounds like you are repeating hippie brain washing!
What you so simplisticly stated can be equally said about mexico and baja, for urban and rural areas. Silly hogwash to think the simple quaint
peasants of Baja are not living in a plastic world, spending their few meager pesos on the shiny baubles and fast foods they see on TV.
Everyone has been assimilated into the collective. Even hippies (and retirees) that profess their wisened independence from USA suburban rat race
conformity of Madison Avenue plastic life are just additional cogs in the machine acting out a role scripted by an unseen collective puppet master.
Don't worry, be happy!
Peace out!
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Alm
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | Silly hogwash to think the simple quaint peasants of Baja are not living in a plastic world, spending their few meager pesos on the shiny baubles and
fast foods they see on TV.
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Their country has been taken same as ours. I would say - more than ours. To make choices you must have knowledge and disposable income, and they
don't have any.
[Edited on 4-22-2015 by Alm]
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Hook
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"I can't get ANYTHING down here without some giant logistical hassle and bugging my friends to bring things down. I needed one little two dollar part
for my ham station. It took a month and six phone calls and a friend to drop it off. Why can't I buy stuff on line and get it delivered to my door? My
partner ordered a small thing from AliBaba as a test. It took nine weeks to get it. And having anything but an envelope sent from the states is a
joke. Gets stolen half the time and takes five weeks if it gets here at all."
*****************
I agree, this is the most astounding thing about living down here, and I live in an area much closer to the border and much more developed than
Mulege. We have to resort to pony express style deliveries from gringos going north and south.
Sure, if you are living in a rented trailer on the most meager of incomes, you can find everything to get by. But if you have a few toys like a boat,
cars, an ATV, household appliances and power equipment for gardening, you need the occasional part and it's maddening how poor the postal system is.
The private courier services are a bit better, but SOOO expensive. Say what? Wages are 1/10 of the US. Fuel has only recently gotten more expensive.
It makes no sense.
I'd willingly pay the 16% IVA on having stuff shipped down, plus a reasonably amount for carriage costs (like Fedex and UPS give you) but it's obscene
how often products ordered just "disappear" into the system. Anything that manages to arrive is measured in weeks, yes weeks!
I sometimes think there is a covenant between the postal union and the Mexican oligarchs, with their monopolies, to prevent access to easily
delivered goods from outside the country. It's one of the biggest things keeping the Mexican people down. True free exchange of goods would create
untold jobs and bring the price of internally produced products down, in order to compete. Too much graft, adds to the cost of everything.
I have many liberal leanings, especially socially, but all it takes is a few years down here to realize how great a largely free market
system like the U.S. and Canada is. Sure, our lives and our govt. are run by corporations, NOB. But at least they compete against each other for our
dollar and it creates great economies.
Geez, I can't even get decent flour down here, for artisan breads. Ferget finding rye flour.
Admittedly, I am a bit of a foodie and have a few toys, so these gripes will seem insignificant to many.
[Edited on 4-22-2015 by Hook]
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Gulliver
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Yeah, the bread here is tragic. But it's not a bread culture so I'm resigned to eating sponge. But why can't I buy a stinking tire for my motorcycle?
Like are we protecting the Mexican motorcycle tire industry? There isn't any such animal.
I too gladly pay the 16% IVA. Taxes 'make the world go round'. Given the miserable tax base and the almost universal tax avoidance, a lot gets done if
you wait a bit. But it is, indeed, a major drag on the economy here that they are sooo far behind the times on buying things on line.
Stateside I live on a small island and buying things is pretty much like here in Mulege. One grocery store and one small hardware store. But I have an
internet connection and a U.P.S. truck comes by every day. Problem solved.
There are shippers who will receive a package at their San Diego address and for 25% take care of the IVA and deliver it to a location here. I will
have to bite the bullet and start using them.
On the other hand, it's shaping up to be another beautiful day here in Floodlandia. (Another entertaining issue.) And NOT one that Mexico caused.
Thank you for all the SUV farts.
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willyAirstream
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I am working on a full post for this thread, but have to jump in now.
Motorcycle tires and parts are very easy to get here. You are new here, but once you get to know the locals, you can find everything you need. Tires
are available at the big tire store in Loreto via email and Baja Pak, 3 days. Loius at the tire shop by light house road can also get most tires for
cars, motos and off road. Danni can get tires from Ensenadia, 4 days. And FB classifieds are another great source. Contrary to rumors, tires are
cheaper here than usa places such as tire rack. I buy tires and tubes often.
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rhintransit
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Been here for almost 10 years. Lived in a relatively isolated off grid palapa. Lived "in town" Loreto. Now live in Gringolandia Loreto Bay, Nopolo.
It's all a transition, what works now vs what works in a few years.
Agree, inability to get what one needs for life above bare necessities is the major adjustment. I look forward to my occasional trip NOB, or as I
call it, the land of stuff. I also dearly miss culture, a lack I fill by frequent travel. it would also be nice to be able to fly somewhere without
driving for many hours, overnighting coming and going, etc.
Lots of positives, but I think you were asking the negatives/challenges. Will mention one..the absolutely liberating effect of not having
stuff...watery paint plus crappy brushes plus weird construction minus decent masking tape equals a wonderful lowering of standards. It's not the
Sistine Chapel.
What would I have done differently? Primary thing would have been to haul down a trailer or fifth wheel rather than really roughing it the years I
worked on the palapa. Other than that, like I said, it's all a fine tuning process..growth potential.
[Edited on 4-22-2015 by rhintransit]
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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Cliffy
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Interesting thread
It seems to say that what some (most) NOB would call moving into a much lower standard of living, to those who have done it, refer to to it as a very
liberating experience.
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Gulliver
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It depends in what you are moving from. If you are moving down here from a fairly high pressure career with lots of belongings and from a high
population density, I can see that it would be incredibly liberating. And maybe a bit of a shock.
I have been tapering off for twenty years so the situation down here hasn't seemed that different. I know the police up there and we get along. Same
down here. My neighbors up there are my friends and I haven't so much as lost a rake out of my yard in years. Same here. I leave the keys in my bike
when I'm in the village up there. Same here.
I've never lived in a big city so I can't compare. Been self employed for twenty years so running my life at my own pace isn't any change at all.
I need to work on my Spanish. I sound like a retard. The locals seem entertained and not offended but I can do better.
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