BajaNomad - Where to move to?

Where to move to?

CG - 4-15-2009 at 10:46 AM

Hello!

We've been in Tijuana for the 7 years or so and I'm ready to move...

I'm taking baby steps to one day retire in mainland Mexico somewhere near Guadalajara.

For this next step I'd like to move to La Paz or Guaymas/San Carlos. I like the water and off-roading and my family wants to still be in or near all the city services.

Anybody have any thoughts about living in these two cities? and good deals on housing available? I don't need to live in the American style communities right at the beach for 200 to 300K...I'd be happy a few blocks up the hill in the 80 to 150K range.

Any information on the two cities? I know we don't hear much about Sonora on this forum but I'm maybe someone has friends there???

Thanks for any help!

Chris

[Edited on 4-15-2009 by CG]

comitan - 4-15-2009 at 11:00 AM

Chris

You move to La Paz you'll never leave!!!!!!! :lol:

Bajahowodd - 4-15-2009 at 11:01 AM

For starters, both places are extremely hot in the summer, which you have not had to deal with in TJ. Greater La Paz has about 2X the 100,000 population of Guaymas. La Paz has more American amenties such as the big box stores. La Paz has more cultural opportunities, and more gringos living there. Depending on how often, if at all you'll want to head back to the states, I believe, unless things have changed, you can only fly to Tucson from Guaymas, non-stop. However, there is a well-maintained toll road from Nogales to Guaymas that beats the heck out of trying to drive from La Paz to San Diego. That being said, since you initially indictated the ultimate goal of relocating to the Guadalajara area, I personally think La Paz has a more similar feel than does Guaymas. Just my opinion.

DENNIS - 4-15-2009 at 11:23 AM

Rent and live for a while in each of the places you have in mind. Don't listen to anybody but yourself.

Fred - 4-15-2009 at 12:21 PM

Nice little town near Guadalajara called Tequila. I am with Dennis........rent first.

CG - 4-15-2009 at 09:32 PM

My wife is from Tepatitlan, Jalisco and like the area around Lake Chapala. I've always thought Manzanillo would be a great place to live...

We will go visit both La Paz and Guaymas to see which one feels best, then we will probably rent a place for a year and look at houses for sale. That's how we found our place here in Soler.

I'm looking for good schools for the kids (7 & 12) and my wife is a Mary Kay director so she wants a social network available. Our oldest boy is 17 and will be going off to college soon so I don't think he'll be there much. I know La Paz has some universities but I don't know where he wants to go.

I like sailing and might pick up a small sailboat to put around in, I guess both cities would be good for that...

Let me know if anyone has any more thoughts about the two...

Hook - 4-15-2009 at 10:17 PM

Your wife wants a social network; she wont find one as well developed as San Carlos until you reach the Lake Chapala area. It is a gringo network, if she is a gringo. I see lots of business opportunities in San Carlos; just dont want to work anymore.

By the end of August we expects to have paid about 60k US for a 20x45 shade structure with concrete pad, a septic, a cistern attached to city water, a 20x22 bedroom/bathroom/laundry room/bodega, a 32x38 garage/workshop, city elec., telephone, DSL, a secondary full hookup 50 amp EWS pad for a visiting RV and clearing and fencing on a 25x52 meter lot. Trash pickup twice a week, too. Lot cost 25k.

We have no kids, so cant comment on the schools. We are in our 40 and 50s and are younger than the average retiree down here (and, yes, it is mostly a retirement community). But the hip Canadians keep us entertained over the conservative retirees from the inter-mountain regions of the US. They are only here about 5-6 months a year, anyway, thank God.

We were pretty sure we would like SC in retirement; it has many times surpassed our dreams in our first year. Unbelieveable social network! We are still pinching ourselves.

La Paz is WAY too big for our tastes. Actually, Guaymas is too, but it sure is nice having it 15 minutes away with no suburban sprawl in between.

Mango - 4-15-2009 at 10:43 PM

If your wife is from Jalisco, you should do pretty well in any of the places you mentioned.

I didn't really like Guaymas too much, too hot/dusty little truckstop/fishing village. It's OK.. but.. well that was about all for me. San Carlos (as I flew over in the air in a turboprop from Phoenix to Guaymas) seemed opulent, green, well kept, barricaded off, and way out of place. Not my cup of tea either; but, it may be perfect for others.

I do love the area around Guadalajara; and if that is where you want to go.. maybe give it a try.. There are several nice towns with plenty of gringos around Guadalajara. Guadalajara has good transportation, schools, and shopping.

or even think of Puerto Vallarta which is not too far away and has a little of everything.

Bajahowodd - 4-15-2009 at 10:59 PM

Frankly, after reading all the responses, I'm at a loss to understand why you don't just go to the GDL area in the first place. Second biggest city in MX. Universities, culture. Easy long weekend drive to Puerto Vallarta. Abundant international flights at GDL. Your wife is Mexican. Don't know if that's good or bad if looking around Chapala, since that's a big time gringo area. Frankly never understood the idea of moving to a foreign country and putting up a wall to to keep the locals out. Just me.

fishbuck - 4-16-2009 at 01:29 AM

La Paz is sort of a smaller version of Tijuana with a better beach. It's a very busy port city and everything that goes with it. And the city extends miles back from the beach.
The malecon is really the only thing La Paz has that is unique. I ran the entire length in cool weather. There is good fishing close by but you need to get away from the city.
It does get hot. Alot of people I met have a summer home. somewhere cooler.
I don't know anything about GDL but I think there might be beautiful women there. And a little town named Tequilla near.

stanburn - 4-16-2009 at 06:46 AM

Well you have mentioned some towns that are very different from each other.

If you want to live in Mexico with all of the advantages of living in the US, then San Carlos is a good choice for you. I call it Tucson south as it is so close to the border people don't think twice about hopping to the US when it is convenient for them, like for a jar of peanut butter.

I like LaPaz. I think one could easily live either within the foreigh community if you wanted to, or completely ignore it and live as a local without any trouble. If you are interested in boating then it is a great place, but it does seem to get popped by a hurricane every couple of years.

Manzanillo, well as I live there I have to say I love it. During the summer there is not a large foreign population and even during the winter when all of the foreign tourists show up the foreign community is not that developed. Unlike Ajijic, Manzanillo does not have a bunch of gringo activities so you have to be self motivated, or learn that their is life without book clubs, green growth groups, Meditation parties, etc. Manzanillo is primarily a working port city as it is the busiest port in Mexico. There is quite a bit of tourism, but not like PV or Acapulco. Winter brings foreigners and summer brings National tourists. However if the tourism disappeared Manzanillo would recover in a very short period of time as that is not the primary industry here.

Since Hook mentioned his living costs in SC, I will tell you what I paid in Santiago. I bought a 440 square meter lot with 150 square meters of construction in a Mexican neighborhood 5 blocks from the beach without a view of anything. It was a fixer upper, but I am retired and needed work to replace the work I did on our boat (we lived aboard a sailboat for 5 years 2 of which were cruising in Mexico). In August of 2007 I paid $694,000 pesos for that, which at that time was about $62,000 USD.

Mexico is a huge country with lots of different areas. You need to decide what you are looking for and focus on those areas that provide what you are looking for.

Good luck and if you want more info on Manzanillo just holler.

Bajahowodd - 4-16-2009 at 10:50 AM

Keeping in mind that one must research any area when thinking about relocation, one very big issue comes to my mind when thinking about an otherwise very nice town-Manzanillo. There is a huge CFE power plant that spews smoke, which can be a constant problem to a rather wide downwind area of town.

DENNIS - 4-16-2009 at 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Keeping in mind that one must research any area when thinking about relocation, one very big issue comes to my mind when thinking about an otherwise very nice town-Manzanillo. There is a huge CFE power plant that spews smoke, which can be a constant problem to a rather wide downwind area of town.

Just like Rosarito?

CaboRon - 4-16-2009 at 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Just like Rosarito?

Yes, it is Rosarito's dominate feature .... really pretty and terribly stinky :lol:

Hook - 4-16-2009 at 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Frankly, after reading all the responses, I'm at a loss to understand why you don't just go to the GDL area in the first place. Second biggest city in MX. Universities, culture. Easy long weekend drive to Puerto Vallarta. Abundant international flights at GDL. Your wife is Mexican. Don't know if that's good or bad if looking around Chapala, since that's a big time gringo area. Frankly never understood the idea of moving to a foreign country and putting up a wall to to keep the locals out. Just me.

How far is GDL from the ocean? I cant be away from the ocean to save my life.

San Carlos does have it's share of gate-guarded enclaves..........but there are far more neighborhoods without them. We live in one of them; the Ranchitos.

I have to concur about Guaymas; not a place I'd want to live. But it's waterfront is going through a major redevelopment. Most all the rusty shrimpers are gone. Still, any concentration of Mexican vehicles creates a hellacious smog. Too many cars that dont change their oil enough means lots of piston blowby. It really adds up.

Cypress - 4-16-2009 at 02:23 PM

I'm gonna stick with the USA! Hunting, fishing, and everything in between. You can be assured that you actually own your property and don't get blindsided by some off-the-wall bureaucrat or individual that says otherwise. Baja is a fine place to visit. Love the wild country, the people, and climate,but there's plenty of wild country north of the border. :bounce:

CaboRon - 4-16-2009 at 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
I'm gonna stick with the USA! Hunting, fishing, and everything in between. You can be assured that you actually own your property and don't get blindsided by some off-the-wall bureaucrat or individual that says otherwise. Baja is a fine place to visit. Love the wild country, the people, and climate,but there's plenty of wild country north of the border. :bounce:

..........................................

comitan - 4-16-2009 at 02:57 PM

Ron

Do we get a countdown to cast off. :rolleyes:

Bajahowodd - 4-16-2009 at 03:03 PM

Actually, I seem to recall that the plant in Manzanillo was bigger than the Rosarito one. And for the life of me, it seemed to really belch smoke that drifted over a good portion of town.

What has surprised me in this thread is that it doesn't appear that any La Paz folks took any sort of issue with fishbuck's characterization of La Paz being a smaller version of Tijuana with a better beach. IMHO the only thing similar is that the signs are in Spanish.

tripledigitken - 4-16-2009 at 03:04 PM

Today's a day I wouldn't mind paying to play here.

:lol:

I hope Doug didn't read that.

[Edited on 4-16-2009 by tripledigitken]

tripledigitken - 4-16-2009 at 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Actually, I seem to recall that the plant in Manzanillo was bigger than the Rosarito one. And for the life of me, it seemed to really belch smoke that drifted over a good portion of town.

What has surprised me in this thread is that it doesn't appear that any La Paz folks took any sort of issue with fishbuck's characterization of La Paz being a smaller version of Tijuana with a better beach. IMHO the only thing similar is that the signs are in Spanish.

Good thing Las Hadas is north of town because I don't remember seeing any black smoke when Bo Derek ran down the beach in "10". But then again I probably wasn't looking at the sky. :coolup:

Ken

Bajahowodd - 4-16-2009 at 03:22 PM

Quote:

There is a large lake, Chapala, not far from the city. It's around the lake where there is a huge gringo community. One of the better aspect of the area is the climate. It sits around the same elevation as Denver, but being so much farther South, it really doesn't get cold. Worst weather is probably the T-storms late summer. Puerto Vallarta is a bit far for a day trip, but makes a nice long weekend.

fishbuck - 4-16-2009 at 03:31 PM

I certainly didn't mean to insult La Paz by comparing it to Tijuana.
Both are cities. Both are very crowded and busy. The big power plant does leave a big smoke cloud over La Paz bay sometimes. Although I read in here that they did put a scubber on that plant so maybe that helps a little.
Tijuana has a nice Pacific ocean breeze. La Paz can have some very high winds.
I like La Paz and did look for property there but decided it was too expensive and not really the pristine experience I was looking for.
It is a very busy and noisy city and just a little dusty and smokey too.
But the Malecon is nice.
So peace! :cool:

Retirement ANYWHERE

Borregoman - 4-16-2009 at 04:04 PM

It is so tempting to dream about living at one of the destinations you have vacationed at over the years...I'm 2.5 years away and believe me, I dream about many places.....checking out the falling housing prices....very tempting to buy a place in a past loved vacation spot now while the prices are low....but how smart is that? I have seen many people from my work, sell, buy immediately in a former vacation spot, then realize that it isn't where they want to be and that they can't move back!
A vacation spot is not necessarily a full-time retirement spot. The prudent prospective retiree will become a nomad for awhile, renting here and there until the most important retirement criteria are met. Some might find out quicker than others what that is, some longer.....My good friend "HOOK" on this board decided that San Carlos met his criteria after a relatively short time....
My GF has a place in San Felipe.....a wonderful place CERTAIN times of the year....retirement...NO. I will be a nomad...renting and camping until I find those two corona bottles in the bucket on the beach.....

Good Luck!

Bajahowodd - 4-16-2009 at 04:46 PM

Other than Corona is a crappy beer, I totally agree. My sense is that most folks seeking a retirement setting are looking for affordability, safety, and a certain amount of the amenities they have grown used to. In my mind, such amenities, include, but not exclusively, good internet access, access to a wide variety of TV stations, decent shopping options for both food and dry goods, 21st century healthcare, an international airport, and cheap tequila.
:yes:

EnseNADAslim - 4-16-2009 at 05:43 PM

I found it interesting that you did not mention Ensenada, much nicer that TJ, maybe not as nice as La Paz, but then again, not as hot in the summer.

stanburn - 4-16-2009 at 05:58 PM

GDL is just a little over 4 hours from Manzanillo, so you could get to a beach from GDL in 3 1/2 hours.

Regarding the power plant. Yes it smokes. They are in the process of building a regasification plant and converting the plant to natural gas. should improve things significantly and is scheduled for a 2011 completion.

Still prefer Manzanilo over San Carlos (tucson south) or Lake Chapala area (gringolandia).

Just my opinions and a few facts. Your mileage may vary

Fred - 4-16-2009 at 07:12 PM

Don Jorge................any places to camp in Tequila??

comitan - 4-16-2009 at 07:16 PM

The smog you see in La Paz when there is an inversion is from vehicles not the power plant they moved it to the other side of the of the ridge on the east side of La Paz. a couple of years ago.

fishbuck - 4-16-2009 at 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by comitan
The smog you see in La Paz when there is an inversion is from vehicles not the power plant they moved it to the other side of the of the ridge on the east side of La Paz. a couple of years ago.

That is good to know. It may have sounded like I was badmouthing LP but I do like it there.
There were just a few things (like that smog cloud). I really like the Malecon and I know that they were planning on improving the beaches along it too.
On my last trip I only briefly visited and went to the Cortez Club for a beer and then to La Ventana. More my style.

Bajahowodd - 4-16-2009 at 11:09 PM

Slim- Show me the way. I'd love to live in Ensenada.

Hook - 4-17-2009 at 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BorregomanMy good friend "HOOK" on this board decided that San Carlos met his criteria after a relatively short time....

Yeah, it "only" took 5 years of vacationing here for a week or two each year, then waiting another 18 months (renting here for 8 of those months) before we decided to start building. The investment on the bare land was minimal.

I will say that you can learn alot about an area, offsite, if they have active message boards. That gave a glimpse of the social scene in SC. It appeals to us mightily. We now have a new set of friends that we have travel plans with within and without Mexico. I began monitoring the SC boards many years ago.

Here is a list of the activities available in SC:

ceramics, yoga, pilates, aerobics, tennis, golf, slo-pitch softball (started by yours truly!), writer's group, fishing tourneys, SPCA organization, men's and women's breakfast clubs, Rotary Intl events for indigent locals (many events!), scuba, marine swap meets, several organized book swap/trade/buy events, a performing arts council, a non-profit ocean camp that conducts free tours and lectures, two working horseback riding ranches, dance lessons, two gyms with workout equipment, organized hold 'em poker (yes, for money!!), Baja rummy, hand and foot games, a chili cookoff, a whole-community breakfast, a casino night, a weekly first run movie at the yacht club, a silent movie night with live piano accompanist, informal ATV rides with nieghbors,informal cruises up and down the coast or over to Baja.

Lots of options. But, of course, one could choose to do NONE of these and still explore the miles of empty sand beaches north and south of here.

Some prefer the off-the-grid, minimalist, lonely beach place to retire. Personally, we prefer to retire with a few more things to do than that and then VISIT those lonely beaches at our leisure.

Borregoman, one problem with the forced nomadic existence that you are referring to was evident last summer..........4 dollar a gallon gas. Do you really think it wont return? That kinda limits being nomadic in retirement; that and the undesireable RV parks that you would necessarily have to check into occasionally.

And I havent met too many people who can cooler camp their way through retirement. :lol:

You know there is no RV type vehicle in your future. What will you do when you hit retirement and your Tundra has 300k miles and the NEW Tundras are garbage?

You may actually have to buy something besides a Toyota.

MitchMan - 4-17-2009 at 02:00 PM

Hi There!
I like La Paz because there are cheap flights from TJ to La Paz or LAX to Cabo and then bus to La Paz. I love Loreto too. Living in La Paz is cheap. The real estate prices are cheap if you do a good search and are not afraid of living in a Mexican neighborhood. La Paz has all the administrative offices, plenty of banks, attornies, accountants, hospitals and doctors, architects and contractors, schools, transportation, furniture and appliance stores, pizza parlors, sushi restaurants, Soriana (massive store and a movie theater that rivals the Spectrum in Orange County, California), many big super markets, plenty of places to buy all the food you want at great prices. In short, La Paz has everything that you need to live very comfortably at really low prices. Plus, the fishing is fantastic and the Malecon (boardwalk) is huge.

My friend got a house for $60,000 last year, 900 square feet living space, modern construction (6 years ago), 9300 sq ft lot, in a Mexican neighborhood that is 2 miles from the international airport, 4 miles from downtown La Paz and 1/5 mile from the beach. He spent $40,000 USD to build an 8 ft high cinder block wall all the way around the property, painted it, furnished it, bought all new appliances, plumbed electricity to the entire yard outside, installed 5-1/2 tons of mini-split air conditioning (total cost only $2,800 including installation), new windows & drapes. The place has two large Mesquite trees (barbeque wood!) and 5 fruit trees including a prolific mango tree. I submit this because, if you search properly, these deals are available in La Paz.

That's my vote for La Paz. Hot you say, only for 3 months and with 1 ton of airconditioning per each 165 sq ft of living space - heat is not a problem and electricity is only $.05 USD/KWH.

Cypress - 4-17-2009 at 02:15 PM

Any and all Nomads that are under the impression that Mexico is a better country to locate/retire than the USA will recieve a "wake up call" sooner or later. :yes:

comitan - 4-17-2009 at 02:37 PM

Cypress, please tell us more about your ominous prediction....

longlegsinlapaz - 4-17-2009 at 04:38 PM

Those of us who live here & have lived for many years need to know if we should start packing! I've got 10 years here under my belt & I believe Comitan is nearly double that. I know a great number of people who have been in the La Paz area longer than myself & many more in various other parts of Baja. OMG! Is there going to be a total gringo mass deportation?

Please spill your guts! You'd be performing a great public service for current residents & you might save the original poster an unnecessary move! :bounce:

And....IMHO :saint:

....comparing TJ to La Paz would be about as valid a comparison as comparing Iraq to Todos Santos! :no:

BMG - 4-17-2009 at 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MitchMan

Hot you say, only for 3 months and with 1 ton of airconditioning per each 165 sq ft of living space - heat is not a problem and electricity is only $.05 USD/KWH.

Not quite. Use an A/C all summer and you might end up with a 2 month power bill of M$24,000 like some friends of our did last summer. Or the other friends that had a M$20,000 bill. And then you get to keep paying that super high KWH rate for the next year until you can reduce your 12 month consumption total. KWH rate is only cheap if you don't use much. Ask your friend in October about the U$.05 KWH electricity after running those A/C's all summer.

It's best to plan on getting out of the heat during the summer or get used to the heat if you stay. Comitan and Baja Dove are so used to the weather here that they need their polar fleece when it drops below 80.

DianaT - 4-17-2009 at 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

And....IMHO :saint:

....comparing TJ to La Paz would be about as valid a comparison as comparing Iraq to Todos Santos! :no:

Of course you cannot compare TJ to La Paz---it doesn't get so darn hot in TJ. :lol:

Diane

fishbuck - 4-17-2009 at 04:52 PM

I really started to understand the siesta when I spent some hot months in La Paz. I got up early when it was only 80-90 and did stuff. Then home for a cold shower and a nap under my cieling fan. Then back out in the late afternoon. You can get kinda use to it.

fishbuck - 4-17-2009 at 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
Those of us who live here & have lived for many years need to know if we should start packing! I've got 10 years here under my belt & I believe Comitan is nearly double that. I know a great number of people who have been in the La Paz area longer than myself & many more in various other parts of Baja. OMG! Is there going to be a total gringo mass deportation?

Please spill your guts! You'd be performing a great public service for current residents & you might save the original poster an unnecessary move! :bounce:

And....IMHO :saint:

....comparing TJ to La Paz would be about as valid a comparison as comparing Iraq to Todos Santos! :no:

Iraq is a country. Todo Santos is a relatively small village. Your analogy makes no sense.
Tj and La Paz are both cities in Baja. Not that different.

longlegsinlapaz - 4-17-2009 at 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

And....IMHO :saint:

....comparing TJ to La Paz would be about as valid a comparison as comparing Iraq to Todos Santos! :no:

Of course you cannot compare TJ to La Paz---it doesn't get so darn hot in TJ. :lol:

Diane

Diane, if you were to be stranded for an indefinite length of time (sorry Diver if I hit a tender spot!) :yes:

would you opt to be stranded in TJ or La Paz....at any time of year. :?:

DianaT - 4-17-2009 at 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

And....IMHO :saint:

....comparing TJ to La Paz would be about as valid a comparison as comparing Iraq to Todos Santos! :no:

Of course you cannot compare TJ to La Paz---it doesn't get so darn hot in TJ. :lol:

Diane

Diane, if you were to be stranded for an indefinite length of time (sorry Diver if I hit a tender spot!) :yes:

would you opt to be stranded in TJ or La Paz....at any time of year. :?:

OK, you win---maybe--then again. If it is January, La Paz, but in August it would be TJ because I could walk home to Imperial Beach from TJ.

Diane

vandenberg - 4-17-2009 at 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter[/i

OK, you win---maybe--then again. If it is January, La Paz, but in August it would be TJ because I could walk home to Imperial Beach from TJ.

Diane

Why bother with that walk. May as well stay in TJ, not much different ANY time of year. :no:

longlegsinlapaz - 4-17-2009 at 05:17 PM

And....IMHO :saint:

....comparing TJ to La Paz would be about as valid a comparison as comparing Iraq to Todos Santos! :no:

Quote:

Iraq is a country. Todo Santos is a relatively small village. Your analogy makes no sense.
Tj and La Paz are both cities in Baja. Not that different.

TJ population = Approx 3.5 MILLION
La Paz population under 200,000

NO comparison! And the not so subtle differences don't end with population, nor temperatures!

Thanks for the geography lesson, I KNOW Iraq is a country, it was a toss up to use Mexico City or Iraq as a comparison to Todos Santos. Either would have been equally as ludicrous as comparing TJ to La Paz....I simply opted to use Iraq. :bounce:

fishbuck - 4-17-2009 at 05:29 PM

Another geography lesson.

Currently, the Tijuana metropolitan area is the sixth-largest in Mexico, with a population of 1,483,992.

Bajahowodd - 4-17-2009 at 05:52 PM

Thank goodness for Wiki, eh? All the more reason to look at the GDL area. Very moderate climate, and even though it's the second largest city in Mexico, it doesn't take long to out in the boondocks. So, with major universities, world-class medical facilities, A driveable weekend to Manzanillo and Puerto Valarta, and a climate that will rarely get over 90 degrees,............

longlegsinlapaz - 4-17-2009 at 06:27 PM

"WikiAnswers - What is the population of Tijuana
Tijuana has an approximate population of 3.5 million habitants"

[Edited on 4-18-2009 by longlegsinlapaz]

fishbuck - 4-17-2009 at 06:39 PM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Currently, the Tijuana metropolitan area is the sixth-largest in Mexico, with a population of 1,483,992

DianaT - 4-17-2009 at 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7
But frankly, I've found that most people who complain about the heat have never spent a summer here. They leave because it must be unbearable because everybody else leaves. :rolleyes:

Kate

We have been there a few times in the summer---not living, just visiting and it was waaaaaaay too hot for me. We also lived in the semi-tropics in Honduras and for several years in Calexico , several years in California Central Valley, and I never adjusted to the heat.

I think some people do adjust to heat and humidity and love it. It is one reason we are on the other side of Baja. And even there, right when I think the weather is perfect, the locals are walking around wearing hooded sweatshirts. :yes:

I really do love La Paz and have had great times there even in the heat.

Diane

Bajahowodd - 4-17-2009 at 11:33 PM

Ensenada Rules! For the life of me, I can't understand why there's not a greater gringo migration to there. Climate is almost ideal. close to the uSA, multiple amenities that compare to the USA. You folks in La Paz would love it in Ensenada in August. It's similar to people in Phoenix going to San Diego in the summer. Folks in La Paz go to Todos Santos. But not in the numbers that go to San Diego from Phoenix. La Paz is a wonderful place to be nine months of the year.

BMG - 4-18-2009 at 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7

n summer (May through October) we can use 1200 kWh per two-month billing period before getting into the high rate. In winter it's only 350 kWh, so they're allowing 850 kWh to run "summer stuff" like AC. Our average for the year has to be over 1000 kWh before we get charged at the DAC (high consumption) rate. Very fair, IMO.

Kate

Running A/C constantly during the summer will get you into the DAC rate if you're not careful and it's much higher than U$.05 KWH no matter if the exchange rate is 9 or 15.

DianaT - 4-18-2009 at 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG

Quote:

Running A/C constantly during the summer will get you into the DAC rate if you're not careful and it's much higher than U$.05 KWH no matter if the exchange rate is 9 or 15.

It is nice being where air-conditioning is really cheap---we just open the windows.

OK, we do run an occasional ceiling fan.

vandenberg - 4-18-2009 at 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7

Add a pool, and you've got my AC system.

Kate

Isn't it tough keeping your head out of the water when sleeping. :?:

vandenberg - 4-18-2009 at 03:01 PM

Is it just me, or is this thread slowly going down the drain.

Cypress - 4-18-2009 at 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
Is it just me, or is this thread slowly going down the drain.

Yea! Along with the money you invested in property south of the border.

Bajahowodd - 4-18-2009 at 04:03 PM

Yeah. Smart folks invested in the California market in the last three years. IMHO, the next couple of years will find Mexico a great real estate investment opportunity. Way too many gringos got involves in second homes and will be jonesing to get out from under. Especially properties within an easy days drive from the border.

Hook - 4-18-2009 at 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7
Geez Cypress, did somebody snow on your parade or what?

Living in Mississippi or Louisiana or Alabama has that effect on people.

You'd be grumpy, too.

Bajahowodd - 4-18-2009 at 05:29 PM

:lol: