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durrelllrobert
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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Mexicans happier than Americans
Low wages, gaping income inequality, poor education, long workdays, shorter life expectancy [but Mexicans are] more satisfied with their lives than
the average in the OECD – a collection of mostly wealthy nations – and fall just behind a handful of countries like Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monito...
Bob Durrell
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neilm81301
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Well, ya know.....
.. when you're appointed the whole d**n world's policeman, and you're nose is stuck into every situation from one end of the globe to the other... it
get's to wear on ya.
I don't think they lose much sleep over it in Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark - or Mexico.
Think I'll move.
Neil
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bajacalifornian
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No surprise here. With a dirt floor, no problem with wind blown dust. With a single puff or beer, smoke or drink it without concern for tomorrow.
Monday morning and crudo, no voy a trabajar. "It's for the pump", liter shortage from the gas station.
One word. "Tranquilo". What Mexico is and others are not.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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sancho
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You mean Mexico doesn't going around reclkessly
starting illegetimate 12 yr wars it has no idea of how to finish?
Holding celebrities in the highest regard. Trying
to lose weight to fit into those yoga pants? Priorities?
I feel EXTREMELY fortunate to have Mex located within a short
drive. Tranquilo indeed, Viva Mexico
[Edited on 5-30-2013 by sancho]
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Curt63
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Location: San Diego, Ca.
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Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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I dont really know what is feels like to be Mexican (especially the middle class).
I enjoy my visits and realize I am an outsider and get treated very well as I spend my money. I do my best to be polite and generous and support the
local economy.
For my Masters degree in Education, I studied poverty a great deal. I have observed lots of Mexicans I've encountered living out a variety of poverty
strategies.
Their country differs from the US in that there are very few financial "safety nets" and government entitlements. This has certainly strengthened the
family unit in Mexico and weakened the family in the US.
Their lack of social mobility has forced them to be content with what they have and not pursue the accumulation of wealth as many Americans do.
I'm sure there are lots more factors to be discussed.
No worries
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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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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Ya mean like heading north to the doctor, crossing the border and gradually but irrepressibly exchanging a smile for a sneer? It's a hell of a lot
deeper than just a global policy. It's the frigidity of the society. Money and BS, rules, utterly. It's a damned shame when a poor person can see this
"as plain as day".
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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DENNIS
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When the middle class grows, and the economy strengthens, and the banks start loaning money....then the working class can get mortgages and will be
just like us. Miserable.
Until then, most don't have that problem.
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SFandH
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I wonder how much the strong emphasis on families and the fact that families tend to stay together more so in Mexico than the US has to do with it. I
bet a lot.
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Bajatripper
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| Quote: | Originally posted by SFandH
I wonder how much the strong emphasis on families and the fact that families tend to stay together more so in Mexico than the US has to do with it. I
bet a lot. |
This is often a misunderstood concept. Like Mexicans (and other less-industrialized peoples), we once placed higher values on family life and
togetherness. But a lot of that can be explained in that societies that are predominately agricultural-based (as Mexico was until recently), people
don't move away from their social networks since there really isn't any other place to go. In other words, families tend to stay together out of
necessity, not necessarily because they like each other more than families in other societies. As industrialization develops, job opportunities--often
coupled with higher educational achievements--begin to take their toll on family unity, culture, etc.
My childhood friendship network from the 1960s in La Paz are what has become, in my opinion, the first "middle class" of that city and I see this
movement in action among them. While many of them still reside in La Paz, some of those with an education have moved on to the mainland for better
opportunities and get home less and less as they set roots down elsewhere.
On a somewhat related note, I always get a kick out of Americans who, upon learning that many undocumented workers from Mexico live in a one or two
bedroom apartment shared by 8-12 people, arrive at the conclusion that they must really like to live in such close quarters. Likely, some of them like
those living arragements, but I doubt most of them would choose to live with such little privacy if given a choice(but that's just probably my
cultural biases being displayed here and they all love such intimacy).
While I know when I'm happy or not, I'd hate to be the one who had to decide if other people are so, especially people from different societies than
my own. Some people I know seem to put a lot of effort into cultivating unhappiness in their lives.
Just an observation.
There most certainly is but one side to every story: the TRUTH. Variations of it are nothing but lies.
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redmesa
Senior Nomad
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Location: Van Isle and Bahia Asuncion
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And the list is...
Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Luxemburg, U.S.A .... And Mexico is not in the
top 20 of the Forbes list.
[Edited on 5-30-2013 by redmesa]
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MrBillM
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Don't Worry - Be Mexican ?
THANKFULLY, I've endured the burden and misery of (relative) wealth common to USA folk.
It's a cross to bear, but better me than them.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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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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MrBillM,
Can I come over and borrow a cup of "happiness"? 
Being "comfortable" may mean being "Insulated" To me, this is not the issue here. The issue is we have lower income folks that make TEN TIMES AS MUCH
MONEY as the poor in Mexico and HAVE TEN TIMES AS MUCH MONEY left over after paying for the basics of life.
And they riot and loot and burn. And shoot up, and complain. They can get food assistance and social assistance.
Florida. "Stop the Mexicans from coming in and stealing our jobs! It's a ripoff, they come in and do field piece work when "we" could be out there
working on a by the hour basis (two crates of vegetables versus 20) for a good wage". Utter psychobabble garbage. The Mexicans whistle and sing as
they send part of their wages home to Mexico. The wannbe's would still riot and shoot up and whimper.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13195
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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I had the most incredible experience the last time i was crossing the border on foot. My mom dropped me off in San Ysidro and i had 2 rolling
suitcases to carry up and over the sloping walkway. No sooner had mom taken off and had i crossed the street when the first Mexican lady next to me
offered to help me with my bags. One minute was all the time it took to be reminded why this is a wonderful country to be living in!
Now, i have found that people on airplanes, esp. gents, are very kind and often help others with overhead luggage. But, i don't think this is so on
the "streets".
An aside: in Brazil, they have enacted laws that really make senior citizens' lives better: on buses you get free passes, movies and theater tickets
at half price, and best of all: you are automatically allowed to jump to the front of any line in any place (eg. banks, post office, DMV).
Another aside: i read that a study discovered that people are happier when their house ceilings are high. Isn't that odd?
And the last aside: a study on happiness years ago revealed that (and this study did not include the poor) there are 3 key common factors in happy
folks
1. They have many friends who share the good and the bad moments.
2. They have positive attitudes (the half full glass).
3. They were happy with themselves physically, not wanting a different nose or legs or hair.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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What Mexicans do as well as anybody in the world is keep their feelings to themselves, so I don't know how anyone thinks they can say how they feel
about anything without being told directly.
Very private people they are.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
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Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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Somewhere there must be a reason I love living here and am very content. Being from Europe, I wouldn't live anywhere in Europe nor wanting to return
to the US. Canada would be my only other consideration if they only would warm this place up a little.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by whistler
He was a Mexican. |
On the Grapevine? I wonder what the chances of that are?
Did he say, "Bienvenidos a California?" 
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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You're nailing it.
Being Mexican is being yourself. We're all the same. My closest family of friends began without a trace of inhibition or belief I or we were any
different. I learned the language, a must. I prefer hand lining which I've done for 12 years. I prefer conversation without negativity. These, I
guess are axioms of my being Mexican, assimilate and enjoy..
One needs not go outa their way to be generous, 'cause they're whatever.
An outsider perhaps, but if you like the people, they'll know it.
This country offers entitlements in a well dignified way.
A friend in Lopez, because he is hardworking and contributing to his community by selling fish to the buyers, and buying staples from the tienda, and
responsible people have written letters in his support . . . has a property with a house on it. He pays very little for a little period of time.
Following closure of construction on his home, he promptly set about building his real home . . . which is outdoor living, with a dirt floor.
Bikes and cement are provided on a need basis during election cycles.
My sons college educated friends are writing business models for their new business pursuits seeking seed money to get them started. Interestingly,
most, regardless of University Major are going "Green" businesses. Mostly reclamation. New 4 stoke outboards in Lopez are cause for drool.
Fishermen pay a short percentage and it gets 2-strokes off the water.
Teachers have special housing opportunity in teacher's neighborhoods, but teachers is another story. US or Mex, costs of the teachers vote, from the
beginning is now understood.
Social lines cross extensively, short of the drug leaders. Hunting clubs, horse and mule rider organization etc . . . the President of Cabo rode the
last San Javier ride. At stops, a buddy of mine was jumping out of his police truck to mop down with a towel the big white warm blood the president
rode. The one with a black saddle covered in silver.
Mostly, the successful working folks have successful working offspring. Store owner's sons own stores, extensions of the family business.
Pharmacists sons are vets, and vets sons are vets and physicians sons are their assistants when young.
A fisherman who made it through grade school thinks nothing of his son quitting school to fish. That's the way they know it. Wealth is an American
Madison engineered Avenue. Not sought after here, other than human nature.
The most successful of the successful here will not borrow money. Would they wish to rush home, returning to their jobs to pay the bank for all their
shick? Na.
Less is more, here.
Got to mention education cause it intertwines so heavily. My sons, grade 5 & 6 regularly had group studies in homes of their peers . . . here in
the afternoons at my home as well. Special students are accepted from this early age. Funny lookig kids get nicknames as such but all were and
remain unified. School goes south in prepa for a good education. Larger cities are host to world class universities.
[Edited on 5-30-2013 by bajacalifornian]
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajacalifornian
Being Mexican is being yourself. I prefer hand lining which I've done for 12 years.
An outsider perhaps, but if you like the people, they'll know it.
Less is more, here.
[Edited on 5-30-2013 by bajacalifornian] |
Good topic, I'm with you except for the hand lining,
Mex Nationals will know if you are sincere
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BajaBlanca
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interesting ... I find that the neighbors here in town are very open with me about very personal issues. moreso than people in the States.
what does seem to play a big part in satisfaction here, methinks, is role definition which is clear as can be. my neighbor thinks nothing that
although she would love to live in la bocana when her husband retires, he has already decided that they will live in san ignacio. when he was
debating taking a job in ensenada and I asked her about it - she was totally against the idea. when I asked if she would talk this over with her
husband, she looked at me as if I was nuts. "it is his decision" she said.
I think if I were a man, I would definitely, without a second's doubt, marry a Mexican lady ....
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BajaBlanca
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whistler - that was a GOOD story !
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