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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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Been to Mulege for 3 or 4 months. Good people etc.. Wish I'd gone over to Asuncion. The fishing on the Pacific side appears to be mo betta.
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tiotomasbcs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1837
Registered: 7-30-2007
Location: El Pescadero
Member Is Offline
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Reveal yourself, Amigo. You ask us to bear our souls?! DavidE tells the truth about the chilly "Alaskan" wind. Tripledigitjim knows the way.
Big chain stores a long way away. Beautiful--Yes. Go visit Amigos! Tio
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2406
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
I don't know of one single place in all of México that is "perfect" for everyone. Personally myself and quite a number of other folks I know cannot
stand so called "perfect places" such as Ajijic, San Miguel de Allende, and many many many towns and villages that have been "gringoized". A
gringoized town is where you ask something in Spanish and they answer in acccentless Ingles.
Asunción is not for everyone. No place is. Nightlife consists of listening to sidewalks roll up, doors slam and light switches clicking. It isn't
"tropical" Mexico. Most of the year the temperature is to Californians "cool" with a good sprinkling of "chilly" thrown in, and then in the summer it
can warm up plenty (which suits me but may not be ideal for folks from chilly climes).
It is isolated here and even more so if you have very limited Spanish skills. Gracias A Dios, to me having Mexican neighbors is as natural as having
O'Connors, and O'Douls, in Boston. It's one l-o-n-g drive to get to a large supermarket or big box store. The biggest medical facilities would fit
right in with the most rural areas of North Dakota, and West Texas.
It is one hell of a rare day when the wind does not blow with "Viggah" especially in the afternoons. So blowing dust and dirt makes housekeeping by
mop and sponge a three days per week ordeal for me.
But for a lot of people pure-flat-out-boredom turns out to be the most pervasive challenge living in an area like this. Shoot a thirty ought six six
inches off the ground and the bullet may travel a long way before it hits anything. The area probably ranks 97 in a scale of 1 to 100 from the
accepted "Most Picturesque" list of coastal areas in Mexico. The land is pretty bleak. Even cacti are withered and drab.
But the Mexican people (as is true in most rural areas) are friendly and amiable. Crime is extremely rare).
The road from Asunción has been partially repaired. Now the "other" 30 miles has degraded into shock absorber snapping, curse provoking, jolts,
crashes and rapid braking practicing. The joke of a bank BanComer ATM in Vizcaino seldom has worked for me, anteyer, even the cajero automatico
BanComer in Guerrero Negro failed to work at all and driving 240 miles round-trip to the nearest working ATM (BanaMex in Guerrero Negro) takes its
toll on people's patience.
I whet my whistle in the early years living in impossibly remote areas of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero and Quintana Roo. The indigenas barely spoke
español so Asunciõn poses no challenge to me whatsoever.
But everyone is different. Unless neighbors and friends can put up with your visits every day, a person has to learn to live comfortably with and by
themselves.
Anything less than a month's stay IMHO is an utter waste of time as a trial period. Folks have homes to rent here for a tryout. I heartily urge anyone
contemplating a move to get it a trial first. |
I liked your response
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bajagrouper
Senior Nomad
Posts: 964
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rincon de Guayabitos, Nayarit, Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy and retired
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looks like we lost frank.......
I hear the whales song
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2406
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
Member Is Offline
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Troll
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SwissFrank
Banned
Posts: 62
Registered: 2-6-2013
Member Is Offline
Mood: lovable
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Besides the mockers, Thank you all for the excellent responses. I'll continue to stick around. Maybe even join a nomad get together. You think these
computer commandos would even peep a discouraging word in person? I don't.
David E, Great stuff.
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
Member Is Offline
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I think many gringos who come down, look around, sometimes get a "on the beach or nothing" attitude and that could be a grave mistake. Many of the
affordable properties to rent or buy are a ways from the water LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE ON THE PLANET. Lots of very happy Nomads on this board who live
away from the water can attest to MHO. I live on the beach but sometimes drive 50 to 100 miles because that's where the fishing happens to be better
at some times of the year.
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Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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I hope I'm wrong Frank and would apologize if necessary.
Please tell us what inspired your love of Baja to prompt you to buy a house.
Where, when and how have you traveled in Baja? What activities created your Baja passion.
If you share this, we can better help your quest.
No worries
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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DAvid E made lots of excellent points. But I beg to differ with the boredom part...most expats I know who live here just dont have enough hours in the
day to get everything they want to do in...we seem to find lots to do...without the organized events that areas like Todos Santos has...no poker
nights, yoga, square dance classes or the like...but lots of potlucks, gentle walks on the beach and hangin with the peeps, kayaking, swimming,
cooking etc to keep us busy....
not to mention all those projects and aspirations one hopes to accomplish "later in life" like writing, photography, art, learning a language,
excersise....oh yeah...and fishing! whew...I'd better get started...gonna go for a walk with ms.vagbndo!
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absinvestor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
Member Is Offline
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SwissFrank- Please listen to DavidE and others who recommend patience. We have purchased a couple of homes in Baja both on the Pacific and the Sea of
Cortez. Each time we thought we were buying our forever home and each time we were wrong. The year that DavidE mentions for a trial rental period is
a great idea. It is easy to fall in love with a place and think that if you don't immediately jump to buy the "deal of a lifetime" will be gone. Take
your time- rentals are plentiful and in many cases much more cost effective than buying.
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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Frank. Asuncion is a very good place to be. I have been there several years past when there was not to many americanos. south of there is some of the
best Fishing and Lobstering that I know off.
A most important thing for anyone to be living is the connections he makes and the way he treats the mexicano People.
In my 38 years in Loreto I became involed with some Great People ended up helping my Mexican Friends build Rancho Sonrisa out North of Loreto.
Go with an Open Mind and Heart and you will be amazed at the way you will be treated/ Skeet/Loreto.
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SwissFrank
Banned
Posts: 62
Registered: 2-6-2013
Member Is Offline
Mood: lovable
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Thanks again all. I am going to check all kinds of places. I thought it might not hurt to ask for some perspectives on one of the places that I am
going to check out. Again, thanks to those who answered sincerely. The ones that think I am a troller, why would you waste your time?
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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Welcome aboard. Lots of great posts here. This is a very helpful group.
I am currently in Asuncion and my social life is way more active than at home in Oregon, but that's just me and my social life here involves both
Canadians and Americans as well as locals. This is a very welcoming, safe, friendly town.
As to the issue of places selling I think that here is a normal turn over. I was told by a Relator that the average home in the US turns over every 7
years so the only constant is change.
I have traveled all over the Republic of Mexico for some 50 years and can tell you that there is a boom happening all over Mexico the likes of which I
have not seen since the 1950s in San Jose, California, which was at that time the fastest growing city in the US. There are subdivisions sprouting up
all over the mainland and the middle class is growing by leaps and bounds. This growth has been overshadowed in the news by the focus on drama, in the
case of Mexico, the problem with Drug Cartels. That boom is also happening in Asuncion and it is not just Xpats who are building, the locals are
building too and there is some land speculation going on here. There is also a subdivision under construction here, a local developer. This is a small
town but I can see over the years I have been coming here that this place is growing not shrinking.
I believe that had there not been a downturn in the economy up north that homes among xpats would have turned over more rapidly and there would be
even more xpat construction here. I have met so many people who come here, experience the open welcome of this community, it's safety, beaches,
fishing, seafood, great xpat community that is integrated into the local community and want to buy here. This is a remote place and the ripples of the
Mexican boom are just hitting this small place.
I think DavidEs summary is on target also. There is no need for further elaboration on his perspective and input.
If you are thinking of moving, buying a place, and having an ongoing presence in Baja it would be very wise to follow the advice you have received
here to visit a number of places. There are many Mexicos and Many Bajas.
Iflyfish
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
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When my son complains that something is boring (usually school) I remind him that there are no boring things, but boring people.
The curse of the entire pacific side is wind. The problem diminishes as you go south. GN is windier than Asuncion and the 7 sisters is windier than
GN. If you live on the side of town north of Pt Asuncion you get much more wind than the center of town. It is not uncommon to have perfectly flat
water in front of town and whitecaps on the north side.
If I were to buy it would be in that protected area. There's a reason why the town is where it is.
I wasn't aware of people leaving Asuncion. It seems like more are coming.
I find little value in asking gringos how they like where they live. If people don't like where they are they seldom acknowledge it because by
acknowledging something they admit to themselves that they aren't satisfied. And that leads down the wrong path. So it's best to ask those who are not
committed rather than homeowners.
In fact if you get a lot of recommendations about a place then so is everyone else. And if you don't like gringo enclaves it's a reason not to live
there. But Asuncion hasn't reached that level yet.
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2406
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
Member Is Offline
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okay, I will take that back
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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One single cajero automatico y gasolinera (diesel y premium) would turn Bahia Asuncion on its ear. Put in a muelle protected by a rock jetty and the
place would explode.
But someone needs to get "I wanna be the first trillionaire" Carlos Slim off of his A$$ and get the microwave service vastly increased including Banda
Ancha, and more land lines. SAPA needs a 250,000 liter backup tinaca as well.
Invite EPN to visit, by ROAD
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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I'll talk to Carlos, next time I see him, but tonite Penelope Cruz and I are "staying in". I will be visiting Ascuncion this year....Living in Mulege
is hard to beat, but the fishing sucks, big time...And thats what I came here for 30+ years ago....Maybe Panama next? 
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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I will have to second DK's and David e's comments. I have been to BA several times and I totally fell in love with the place.
A laid-back fishing village that does have a growth spurt and is waiting for the main event.
BUT...
BA is not a destination place because it is about 1.5 hours from Mex 1. There isn't even a sign designating BA as one enters Vizcaino, but there is
one for Bahia Tortugas...roughly 100 miles away...go figger!
And if it were not for Shari's efforts and her blogs, BA may not even be something other than a large fishing village...sort of like Playa Malarrimo
is now. Huge growth spurt in the last five years.
The town owes most of it's lifeblood to her.
When our turn comes to move there, we also plan on making a difference to the municipality and blend in with the community. I plan on working
side-by-side with Shari.
I certainly hope you are not a TROLL, swissfrank, because many respected Nomads really spilled their beans because of your question. I really hope you
respect their opinions and spend some time at each considered location.
We are spending most of next week in the East Cape to north of La Paz just so we can make up our minds of where to rent part of the time, AND, we have
been traveling Baja since the late sixties, and seriously driving all over the East Cape region for 6 years (several times a year).
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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absinvestor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
Member Is Offline
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Chuckie and Cypress- Having lived on both the Pacific side, near downtown Mulege and on the beach south of Mulege your comments about fishing is spot
on. I also love to fish- however, I don't like the cold water and winds that I find on the Pacific side. Personally I have to go much further South
(than BA) to be comfortable with the weather on the Pacific. Like David says, the perfect place is illusive. "Different strokes for different folks."
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
Member Is Offline
Mood: bewildered
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All good advice, with a theme; rent before you buy.
As far as to your initial question; there are quite a few folks from NOB in Asuncion, and many of them are pretty active here. So, there is a larger
than average representation for Asuncion.
I doubt that there are any more sellers, as a per capita number of non-local owners go, than in any other area of Baja.
What you're seeing in Bahia Asuncion is present everywhere, look at how many places are for sale in Florida or Arizona for example, or Cabo, or La
Paz.....
As Dennis has said, many of us have had our retirement plans curtailed due to health issues, and have to make new arrangements. Others have had their
15 or 20 years in their dream retirement place, and their plans to die in their remote beach house has lost its appeal.
There are as many reasons to leave as there are to go in the first place. Don't let the fact that some folks are moving on, from anywhere, disuade you
from checking it out for yourself.
And to repeat, rent before you buy!!
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