Thank you for this and your other outstanding videos Tamara and for your wonderful recommendation to me yesterday on my Facebook post when I inquired about health care programs here in Mexico. I applied for my Seguro Salud Jalisco card this morning at the Chapala health care center. Your very timely advice saved me tons of $ and for that I thank you so much. Best to you always! Allen Bloom
I built a wall around my home here in Mexico.. It was to keep the flooding of my street out, and my doggies in. I included arched windows with very decodrative wrought iron bars. It is beautiful, and I like feeling of my secret garden.
Yes. Actually, when we buy the large bottles here, there is a deposit. We return them to any market for a refill. Smaller bottles are not refillable, but there is a good recycling program here.
Very very useful! Thanks for doing this. It seems like a great program but here's my Question: Does the proof of domicile (electric bill or water bill, etc) need to be in the applicants name? In other words, if you're renting a house then can you use the landlord's bill with your address on it?
Living in Yucatan with a native Mexican woman who visits IMSS. Wait times for any kind of specialists are unacceptably long but free public emergency care and private medical facilities are darn good. There are some remarkably good doctors in the large cities if you're an ex-pat and can pay out of pocket, but buying into IMSS is just not a good option for Americans.
Thank you so much for the information, that took a lot of research. Do you know that Salud Digna is a very good place for lab work and for non emergencies most farmacies have a doctor on site? Similares has the famous Dr Simi 😊 Hope you have some near you
Thank you for that information. I will be doing another video on other options for healthcare and will definitely add this information. It did take a lot of research and I never feel like I cover everything, but hopefully people can take it from here on their own.
There are concierges who you can hire to go to important appointments with you. Generally, though, you don’t need one. Lots of people speak English and Google Translate is adequate.
There is one really good clinic that can bill Medicare or the Canadian equivalent, but not for major stuff. People fly back to the U.S. for a lot of the big stuff if they have kept up on paying Medicare.
I hate to paint a negative picture. It is mostly lovely here, but people are blindsided that things aren't totally like the Garden of Eden when they move here!
I am finding, in my mid 70s, people are retiring very young these days, so "retiree" activities are a bit more strenuous than an average 70 year old can handle, and I've been athletic my entire life. I still walk in the woods every day, not as fast as I used to, but I do it. I am very healthy and very single. I've basically been on my own for 40 years and did many things I wouldn't have done if I was attached. Ajijic sounds very appealing. Although it seems quite wealthy and a bit expensive.
Yes. Just getting a resident Visa for Mexico has gotten pretty prohibitive for many people. Buying a house here is basically cash, no mortgage and prices here are about what houses cost when I left Oregon. So, renting is still a great option and there are good deals to be had. There is a lot to do here that is quite level, but the sidewalks and roads are very difficult for many people.
I love my cat. Rescued pregnant, now mom of 5 and spayed, but she is a devoted hunter of cockroaches and she takes them outside for me❤ Excellent bug show. Thank you!👍
greeting once again. It's strange to see my previous comment from a year ago. Now I am in west Ajijic and just signed a lease today for a beautiful house in centro on Independencia. I'm giving myself 6 months to try out living lakeside and see if it's a good fit. I've only been here a week but it's proving to be an enlightening and fulfilling experience. Meeting a lot of expats; everyone has an interesting story. Namaste
Late Spring, there is no other place I would rather be, as walking amongst the giant redwood trees, and wishing walking alongside me, looking up at God's majesty, would be someone as beautiful as Thee.
Summertime, there is no other place I would rather be, as walking amongst the giant redwood trees, and wishing walking alongside me, looking up at God's majesty, would be someone as beautiful as Thee.
Some times they shut the .water lines when they are making repairs not even in the US do I drink the water without a filter system, people come to Mexico and expect first world infrastructure In issmall second world towns there is a reason why you are able to live cheaper in Mexico than the US
Thank you. Ive watched a few “con” videos and thought they were wining about stupid things. Then i found your video which gave me useful information i hadnt thought of asking. The smoke and other airborne things, invasive dust, and filthy/unreliable water are not things i can or will tolerate since i have both asthma and allergies. I was going back and forth on the area and this is information made this area a solid NO for me. Thank you for saving me a lot of time and money checking further into this area.
I'm sorry this was discouraging, but it is the honest truth. I try not to whine, but I know many people who just go away during this hot, dry period. I have never lived any place that is idyllic 12 months of the year, but 10 months of the year is quite tolerable to me, especially if I can just go someplace else for 2 months. By the time the rains start in late June, we are quite appreciative of cooler temps and the lovely dampness that brings things back to life again. I'm glad this helped you decide.
my concerns about the recent changes occurring in Chapala, my mother's hometown. While we appreciate the interest in our community, we feel strongly that the town's beauty and charm are inherent to its original character and culture. We respectfully request that newcomers to Chapala make an effort to understand and respect our way of life. The imposition of outside influences is not welcomed, and it is important to us that the integrity of our community is preserved. We hope you understand our perspective and cooperate in maintaining the traditions and lifestyle that make Chapala unique.
This is how it has always been and this is how it should remain now we hope you can find something better like in Europe with your people or in America?
I’m single also and really feel the same as you-thoroughly enjoying this time in my life. I’m planning to move there in the next 18 months. Thanks for this helpful video! I’d love it if you’d make a video about how you’ve dealt with medical insurance. Did you keep Medicare-and Advantage or a Medigap plan? I understand it’s expensive to get private “expat”health insurance in your late 60s. I’m totally ready to make the big move except for this one issue. Thanks for considering making a video about this!
Thanks for watching! That is a great idea to cover the question about health insurance. I will put it on my list and try to get this done in the next month or two. I have a little backlog of ideas because it has been SO hot this month, I just can't get out and film, but this is a topic that doesn't require going anywhere!! Thank you.
Thank you for such honest and revealing insight into life there in the dry season. I was considering a move there but now I’m definitely giving it a second thought.
Yes. Good to do your research. Things are really changing here. I'm not sure if it is just because of El Nino or if it is a more permanent trend due to climate change. It is very uncomfortable and many people are concluding that they will just go someplace else for a couple of months while it is so hot. Only time will tell. I think most places are trending toward hotter and more extreme weather, so we just have to decide what works for us individually.
Thanks for watching. I get flack about being negative, but I really just try to paint a realistic picture of life here. Most of the time it is lovely, but this year really has us worried!
Too funny! Last year we stayed in a boutique hotel in Guadalajara, 2 different Air BnB's in Ajijic and Jocotopec and finally another hotel in Chapala. All the beds were definitely on the firm side, but I slept like a baby everywhere we stayed. Clearly my body prefers a firm mattress haha
Will mullien grow in your garden? That is extremely good for clearing the junk out. Good video today! But I have to remember to look for you.. subscribed but your channel doesn’t appear in my notifications😮
I'll be visiting the Lake Chapala area in the fall. I grew up in the Catholic church and have lived in New Jersey for the past 25 years. So none of the drawbacks you mention are a deal breaker for me. Having to worry about two houses is what they call a "First World problem." Maybe you should reassess whether Mexico is right for you. No disrespect, I enjoyed your video and wish you all the best.
I really have never considered moving back to the U.S.. Mexico is home now. 10 months of the year it is really lovely here. My videos are just a dose of reality for people researching moving here because, quite honestly, nobody else seems to talk about this stuff. I have no financial gain from glossing over what life is like, so I just put this out there so people won't be surprised. I still recommend planning travels elsewhere during April and May. Rains usually start mid-June and things quickly spring to life again.
I lived in mexico for 5 years as a kid and i drank water from the faucet all the time. Never made me sick. Never. None of us got sick from the water. We bought food from street vendors and other places. Never got sick. In the 5 years i lived there i got sick with chicken pox once and one really bad cold. Drank coca cola too with no problem. I had no cavities while down there too. I ate candy all the time. The first year i was back in the US that is when cavities started showing up. Plus i was getting sick constantly once i was back in the US.
Well, some towns are a whole lot more careful about the tap wayer than others. Exactly zero of the people I know drink tap water unless the house has a really good filtration system. I know someone who got amoebas from the water. She was very sick for weeks. No fun. Not worth the risk and you were very lucky. I do eat food from street vendors. The food is usually cooked.
@@anythingispossiblenow I was trying to remember the other time I was sick and you just named it, amoebas. Well, I know I had them but they didn't make me very sick. I just was given a bottle of medicine and told to take one a day until they were gone. At the time I wondered why I had to take medicine when I felt fine. I did love those fresh vegetables and fruit vendors. Constantly bought from them and watched them peel the cucumbers and cut them into flowers, and peeling the jicama and slicing it. And so on. I had been told those fresh veggies could make you sick if you didn't wash them, but we never did. Being a grubby little kid probably exposed me to all kinds of germs , but it probably revved up my immune system. I just didn't get sick there like i have gotten sick in the US. Probably because I was not allowed to go outside to play much. In mexico I played outside in very day. I got so dark from the sun people thought I was Mexican. At the border when we came back to the US we were stopped because they thought my mom was smuggling Mexican kids into the US. I had straight dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a good tan. And no freckles. I didn't get freckles until I came back to the US. Then they popped out like mad. My mom was a redhead and her skin was very pale. I guess we didn't match her.
The walls around the houses are to keep out intruders. Did you see when they were building the outside walls if they put chunks of broken glass at the top of the walls? That helps keep out intruders. When my mom and i went down to mexico to live we lived in a house that had outdide walls around it. San Miguel de Allende was a brautiful town. I would love to be able to buy one of the houses in mexico that are built around a courtyard. Gorgeous buildings.
Yes. There are still a few places with walls that have broken glass. They don't do that any more. It is either coiled razor wire or electrified wire around the top. Where I live now has coiled razor wire, but it is overgrown by bougainvillea, an equally thorny and impervious layer of protection. In reality, I don't feel it is really necessary, but it is tradition.
The medical care in Ajijic/Chapala is superior. Doctors treat you like you’re a person and not like a number or dollar signs on your forehead. And there’s no 15 minute timer. Lol.
So true! At first all the questions seemed invasive because it had nothing to do with my congestion, but the doctor explained that Americans often are unused to this. They treat the whole person here and really seem to care! So different!
I love the rainy season in Chapala. The nighttime rains make everything seem fresh. I also sleep better with the rain. Love seeing the green mountains.
He Tamara 😊 it’s good to hear that you are feeling better! Spring has sprung here in Canada 🇨🇦 and most of the snow is gone. Temperatures are heading up and lakes and rivers are thawing. Spring is one of my favourite times of the year!! It’s great to hear from you. Your flowers on your garden wall are lovely. Take care and bye for now from Canada ❤
Patzcuaro was really lovely....also is at 7,000' and only an easy day's drive for you. I stayed there for 5 months last summer. Clean mountain air, pine forests and the rainy season was a real treat with the thunderstorms every day AND lightning bugs at dusk!
The lake Chapala area was a definite "no" for us due to the horrible dry season smoke and infrastructure problems not to mention traffic. We're living outside of Oaxaca City in Santa Maria del Tule and have not had those problems here.
I agree about this time of year being the most smokey and hot. If we could leave the Chapala area for any period of time each year that time frame would be to depart mid-April and return at the end of June. Otherwise, I'd consider the rest of the year near perfect weather.
