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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
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mulege gets my vote...stop by and visit when you're there...#54 in the oasis
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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speaking of mulege,what happend to the airplane that was stolen at gunpoint?,was it recoved?
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jadams
Junior Nomad
Posts: 63
Registered: 10-5-2010
Location: Campo Delicias / Ramona
Member Is Offline
Mood: wish I was at the campo
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San Felipe has a lot to offer and its close to the states in an emergency
[Edited on 1-25-2011 by BajaNomad]
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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Why not make a chart,
first take a map of Baja and divide it into at least 4 regions north south east and west.
second make a chart with your interests, desires and goals, if you have any:
sports? Do you like to walk, run, sail, surf or fish etc? Does this require you be near the water, the mountains, near a bay? remote or near a city?
Do you have a weather preference? do you like hot weather or cold weather? North is much colder than the south, east is warmer than west.
Do you like people? Do you enjoying being in an insulated private community environment with poorly educated egotistical self-centered Americans or do
you prefer poorly educated insular self-centered Canadians? Or would you prefer to be in a mixed community or would you like to live in Mexico with
heart-warming people?
Do you plan on working, do you need to be near customers?
Do you have a hobby or skill that requires materials and supplies that must be easily available?
Do you need to be near an airport? There are very few airports in baja for commercial flights, TJ, Loreto, LAP, or SJD. Only TJ and SJD are
convenient, while Loreto and La Paz are more expensive and require more connections and longer flights.
Would you prefer a rental to visit once or twice a year, or do you expect to be here full time, if your not here full time it's quite costly to
maintain a vacation property in your absence.
Would you prefer a yacht that you can move or something like a charter or timeshare?
[Edited on 1-25-2011 by gnukid]
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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gnukud,, well said!!
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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To achieve your goals and aid decision making you may use a visualization technique:
1) picture yourself inside a chain linked barbwire fenced in campground, where you pay to be inside. Each morning you wake up inside your dusty camper
and you walk to the communal coffee area and there you meet the regular group of obese narrow minded gringo friends, well lets just call them jerks,
and there you argue about things, for example you yell at the coffee host for scalding the coffee, then you argue about whether the pressure gradients
at the four corners 1500 miles away affects the weather in Baja, finish off the morning by blaming the conservatives for all the worldwide woes and
worse the liberals for being, well, liberal.
2) picture yourself inside a gated community called Caleta Palmilla where you pass 5 gates and an empty golf course to enter your personal gate,
inside the gated mansion you manage a staff of 10 employees to "not scald the coffee beans and over time you learn to speak spanish well enough to ask
them if they think the pressure gradients at the four corners 1500 miles away affects the weather in Baja?"
3) picture yourself on a remote cliff inside a lean to shelter, the wind whipping through the cracks in the paper thin walls, tired because you can
not sleep for fear of coyotes, hungry without supplies and thirsty without water-paradise!@#$%
Now, go pack your bags and move to Baja and pursue your dreams!
[Edited on 1-25-2011 by gnukid]
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E.D.R.Rick
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 2-24-2010
Location: sacramento/san felipe
Member Is Offline
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Thats 4 for San Felipe!!
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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Things to consider,whaT are your main interests,are you into fishing,surfing,boats,water,mountains,beachs,warm or cold water?
Many things to consider cost of living,doctors handy? are you going to rough it alittle or spend a bit more,are you the type that needs a
Costco or Walmart handy.
If it were me anything Mulege or south of there,but thats just me.
Rob
Anyone can catch fish in a boat but only \"El Pescador Grande\" can get them from the beach.
I hope when my time comes the old man will let me bring my rod and the water will be warm and clear.
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
Member Is Offline
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I fished Loreto from the mid 80s to 1999. Love Loreto. In 1999 I decided to get a baja casita as my vacation fishing base. Bought some land there
and wanted to build a casita. Loreto was booming. Couldn't find anybody to build a home for me. The contractors were only interested in building
2,000 sq ft plus luxury homes at USA prices. I gave up. Went to La Paz and found a great casita on 9300 sq ft of land where the building was built
recently, two miles from the airport, in an authentic Mexican neighborhood 4.5 miles from the La Paz malecon and downtown and 2 miles from the
airport, WalMart and Home Depot. The casita is only 1/4 mile from the water. Plenty of great fishing and the price of the casita was easilly half to
1/4 the price of anything similar in Loreto.
Bought the place in La Paz and never looked back. Loreto is absolutely beautiful and tranquil and quaint and I still wish that I could have gotten my
house built there instead of having to buy in La Paz. Also, Loreto is only an hour and a half drive to the fantastic town and fishing of Mulege.
But here's the point. After having my central vacation base in La Paz for the past 3 years, I have come to appreciate the perks of being in a big
town. Loreto population approx 14,000, La Paz is about 240,000.
La Paz has tons of services: all legal government agency offices including the Mexican IRS (Hacienda), numerous notarios and law and architectural and
accountancy firms, plenty of skilled labor (plumbers, electricians, metal workers and welders, construction workers and abanils at competitive
prices), tons of giant food supermarkets everywhere, a WalMart, a Home Depot, a massively large movie theater, chain stores, plenty of quality medical
facilities, sushi bars, tons of great restaurants from ma and pa places to haute cuisine of different countries, stationery stores and copy centers, a
performing arts theater, a large downtown area and large department stores with plenty of all kinds of shopping basically next to the Bay of La Paz
and the best malecon in all of Mexico (even better and bigger and nicer than the one in Puerto Vallarta), a great marina, and as I mentioned earlier,
the international airport is 2 miles from downtown.
La Paz is not a tourist town, believe it or not, and that appeals to me. It is not like Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, or even Acapulco where 20
and 30 somethings are pounding down beers like the world is about to end and the environment is absolutely configured to tourist trade alone. La Paz
isn't nearly as dependent on tourism as those towns just mentioned.
La Paz suits me and has everything one could possibly need... and that's important. Before buying in La Paz, I had to deal with services in Loreto
for the ownership of property there. The only accountant in town had me hostage to his inexpertise and monumental laziness and dereliction and
creeping prices. At the time, there was only one bank there, pain in the neck trying to get anything done. The contractors there were smug and
outrageously over priced, and I do mean Outrageous. Land in Loreto goes for about 3 times more than similar land in La Paz. In La Paz, you can find
lots all day long for $23USD/sq mt, some with concrete fences already in place and no more than 4 to six miles from the marina, the malecon and
downtown La Paz. How long does it take to drive 4 miles? About 10 minutes.
Your style is all important when choosing a place to live in Baja. Do you need services? City underground plumbed sewer and water supply, above
ground electricity and telephone supply, truly professional Medical and dental services and facilities and fully operating and equiped hospitals, a
fire department and other emergency services, competitive availability of house maintenance supplies and repair professionals, entertainment,
restaurant choices, furniture and household appliance variety and availability and repair, clothing variety, food shopping availability and variety,
materials and parts, availability of competitive legal or accounting services, engineering services, architects, etc., etc., etc.
You have to think about ALL your needs and requirements for the short term AND the long term. Don't make a mistake here.
Also, how frequently are you going to be going back and forth to USA over the year(s)? How frequently do you want to have family and friends visit
you at your baja abode? Those determinations may involve convenience and cost to and from an airport from your casita. I can tell you the frequency
of visits from them to you will have everything to do with where you locate your casita in addition to the accomodations of your casita itself.
Lastly, your style could be one where you want to be in a cultural enclave that mirrors your USA environment or it could be that you prefer an
authentic Mexican environment in a real Mexican neighborhood instead of a gringo enclave. That will be your first must-make determination as that
will influence the cost to buy a place in Baja and where it will be.
BTW, it gets hot in Baja California Sur. Here's the complete remedy. Make sure you provide your casita with 1 ton of minisplit airconditioning for
every 125 sq ft of living space and you will be fine. Make sure that your minisplit also operates as a heater. It is a marginal cost to the overall
cost of a casita. Also, make sure your vehicle has a good airconditioner.
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
Member Is Offline
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Mitch. Jeff Petersen here . . . perfectly said. In the beginning, it was at the Hotel Los Arcos, Baja took flight. I picked my favorite, happened
to be Loreto. As time passed and my desire for a movie, shopping or the need for medical and dental came around, La Paz offers more consumer
services. I find balance in staying very close to the tranquilo lifestyle.
In time, create a favorite satellite. I balance climate, fishing & the mangroves in Lopez along with Loreto, & stay with my sons studying in
La Paz Universities.
Sometimes even a blind hog, gets a grain of corn.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19925
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
Why not make a chart,
first take a map of Baja and divide it into at least 4 regions north south east and west.
second make a chart with your interests, desires and goals, if you have any:
sports? Do you like to walk, run, sail, surf or fish etc? Does this require you be near the water, the mountains, near a bay? remote or near a city?
Do you have a weather preference? do you like hot weather or cold weather? North is much colder than the south, east is warmer than west.
Do you like people? Do you enjoying being in an insulated private community environment with poorly educated egotistical self-centered Americans or do
you prefer poorly educated insular self-centered Canadians? Or would you prefer to be in a mixed community or would you like to live in Mexico with
heart-warming people?
Do you plan on working, do you need to be near customers?
Do you have a hobby or skill that requires materials and supplies that must be easily available?
Do you need to be near an airport? There are very few airports in baja for commercial flights, TJ, Loreto, LAP, or SJD. Only TJ and SJD are
convenient, while Loreto and La Paz are more expensive and require more connections and longer flights.
Would you prefer a rental to visit once or twice a year, or do you expect to be here full time, if your not here full time it's quite costly to
maintain a vacation property in your absence.
Would you prefer a yacht that you can move or something like a charter or timeshare? |
| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
To achieve your goals and aid decision making you may use a visualization technique:
1) picture yourself inside a chain linked barbwire fenced in campground, where you pay to be inside. Each morning you wake up inside your dusty camper
and you walk to the communal coffee area and there you meet the regular group of obese narrow minded gringo friends, well lets just call them jerks,
and there you argue about things, for example you yell at the coffee host for scalding the coffee, then you argue about whether the pressure gradients
at the four corners 1500 miles away affects the weather in Baja, finish off the morning by blaming the conservatives for all the worldwide woes and
worse the liberals for being, well, liberal.
2) picture yourself inside a gated community called Caleta Palmilla where you pass 5 gates and an empty golf course to enter your personal gate,
inside the gated mansion you manage a staff of 10 employees to "not scald the coffee beans and over time you learn to speak spanish well enough to ask
them if they think the pressure gradients at the four corners 1500 miles away affects the weather in Baja?"
3) picture yourself on a remote cliff inside a lean to shelter, the wind whipping through the cracks in the paper thin walls, tired because you can
not sleep for fear of coyotes, hungry without supplies and thirsty without water-paradise!@#$%
Now, go pack your bags and move to Baja and pursue your dreams! [Edited on 1-25-2011 by gnukid] |
Newkid:
Sometimes you are a friggin' riot. (and sometimes you are a libertarian paranoid conspiracy theorist; while other times you appear to live in a
delusional utopian fantasy.)
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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Goat,
Thank you, it's important to know yourself to know your world and that can only happen through discovery, discourse, perhaps over coffee. When you see
others as insane and delusional one can ask, am I insane or is everyone else insane? What do you see when you look into peoples eyes as they walk down
the street where you live? Who would lead masses to war except for the insane? These are questions Jung discussed as well as many others throughout
time. We can ask how is it possible that so many are apparently so delusional about their role, so insular, so egotistical and ungiving... complicit?
Brings to mind some questions, what is spirit? What is spirituality?
Why do people come to Baja?
p.s. here's a photo taken near where Mitchman lives, it's a special place in a narrow region of baja, a few miles to the SOC and a few miles to the
pacific, full of fresh water and farms.
[Edited on 1-25-2011 by gnukid]
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
Member Is Offline
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(Quote) captkw "The big water project caved in on itself ". . . are you talking about the reversal of the tide we see . . . .??? Based on your
reading & hearing, shall I lock my house or take the keys out of my cars and truck?
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2405
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
Member Is Offline
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I think they have decided to move and retire in Arizona
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
Member Is Offline
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wanna say, "pussy s!, but won't.
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AlanDow
Junior Nomad
Posts: 38
Registered: 1-23-2011
Member Is Offline
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Wow, I am overwhelmed with your responses - great suggestions, links, thought provoking ideas, encouragement, and … I don’t quite know how to describe
gnukid’s post that starts out “picture yourself inside a chain linked barbwire fenced in campground…” (I am gonna have to have a few cervezas and
reread that one – maybe more than once? ).
Regarding some of your questions on the specifics we are seeking - the easy stuff is that we like to fish, boat, snorkel, hike and explore (were
talking Baja right). The harder part is considering city versus small community, or Pacific versus Sea of Cortez. Like so much in life everything
seems to be a compromise - While we like some things the city offers (culture, services, and convenience) the traffic and congestion is usually too
much for our taste. My guess is if we were to consider La Paz it would most likely be a nearby community versus living in the city. We have really
enjoyed living in some small communities (3,000 to 15,000 population).
When we travel we prefer to stay in areas where we can mingle with the locals versus in the tourist/resort areas, so the prospect of living in a mixed
community (among locals as well as other expats) is more attractive, than living in a gated enclave. There is just so much we love about both the
Pacific coast and the Sea of Cortez. Again it seems to be the grand compromise - Yes the summers are blistering hot on the Sea of Cortez side, but
initially we are talking a part-time home so we would likely spend summers away.
The most important feature for my wife is a view of the water (Pacific or Sea of Cortez both work) and when we live there full-time, she wants to be
able to raise some chickens (shouldn’t be difficult in Baja). Our current bias leans toward a mixed community between the size of Mulege and
Loreto, but that could change the more we spend time checking out and experiencing different options.
Again thank you for your posts and suggestions – this site and its members are truly a great resource.
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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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Spend at least 6 months in the area you decide on before you commit yourself to any long-term location. Rent for a while. Don't rush into anything.
You've got the rest of your lives. 
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by AlanDow
Wow, I am overwhelmed with your responses - great suggestions, links, thought provoking ideas, encouragement, and … I don’t quite know how to describe
gnukid’s post that starts out “picture yourself inside a chain linked barbwire fenced in campground…” (I am gonna have to have a few cervezas and
reread that one – maybe more than once? ). |
The reason I mention fenced campgrounds is that is the majority of gringo people come to baja for adventure and end up camping for long periods inside
campgrounds that are fenced in and they pay to be there, they end up staying in there and almost never leaving, there is comfort and a sense of
community but it lacks the true benefits of what Baja has to offer.
Point is you need to visualize what you want and make it happen, or you will fall into the traps of artificial gringafied communities that are created
for you. You have to decide what you want or someone will decide for you.
Seems like a trip to the observatory created by a Nomad would be a great trip to see what is possible if you follow your dream.
[Edited on 1-25-2011 by gnukid]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
The reason I mention fenced campgrounds is that is the majority of gringo people come to baja for adventure and end up camping for long periods inside
campgrounds that are fenced in and they pay to be there, they end up staying in there and almost never leaving, there is comfort and a sense of
community but it lacks the true benefits of what Baja has to offer.
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Security is an issue here as it is everywhere. It is the wise person who doesn't lose site of this in the name of cultural interchange.
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
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I'm not gonna vote, but have to say that you've written one of the most detailed and informative "what-should-we-do" posts I've ever seen on this
forum. Good job!
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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