where in Mexico should I start renting?

Answering the third question conjures up one of my favorite scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The knights approach the Bridge of Death and must answer three questions correctly. A wrong answer results in a plunge into the Gulf of Eternal Peril. Sir Lancelot correctly answers his name, his quest, and his favorite color (or “colour” in this instance). Sir Robin, seeing how easy the questions are, approaches and correctly answers his name and his quest. But the keeper of the bridge changes question three to “What is the capital of Assyria?” to Sir Robin’s eternal peril.



So it goes. There are a lot of correct answers; I just do not know which answer is correct for me. All together now: You will not know the answer until you go to Mexico and try each one for yourself.



At least, I am not starting from scratch. Fortunately, many pioneers have gone before me and have been good enough to leave their findings behind. (See my reading list posted below.)




The following list is going to change. I am certain of that. But here are my random thoughts.

1. I love being near water. I have always wanted to have a house on the coast. I cannot afford one here in Oregon – and the weather is not conducive to beach living. In this category, I initially included Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Zihuatanejo. My Pacific Mexico Moon handbook convinced me to add Chacala and Barra de Navidad to the list. And an internet listing for a house that had already sold caused La Manzanilla to join the ever-growing crowd.
   




2. I started with Puerto Vallarta because it had been one of my favorite vacation spots for years. That passion soon cooled, though, when I saw the prices for houses. Puerto Vallarta’s success as a resort had also turned it into a sleep beach town to a city with stretched infrastructure. I will visit, but I could not abide living there. I started looking north and struck off all the likely candidates because they were already suffering overload from Puerto Vallarta’s growth.
   




3. I took a look at Chacala as the result of the great write up in Pacific Mexico and from reading Andee’s blog (My Life in Chacala). A little research convinced me that Chacala was every bit the physical paradise it was advertised to be, but it did not offer as many cultural opportunities as I was looking for. In particular, the archaeological sites in the area are limited. There are some great petroglyphs that I will go out of my way to see on a future trip, but Chacala did not make the cut.
   




4. A visit to Zihuatanejo in October 2006 convinced me that it would be too hot for a year-round residence, but I loved the town. If I could be close enough for occasional visits, it would be a nice vacation spot.
   




5. And Mazatlán. I have visited several times and it struck me as Ensenada on steroids. I obviously was not looking close enough because Nancy and Paul extol its virtues. I need to take an additional look.
   




6. Because I was enthralled with La Manzanilla and Barra de Navidad, I took a quick trip in November-December of 2007. My travel journal is posted below. I could live either place even though there are negatives. The first is the summer heat. Even the natives stay inside as much as possible during that season. Everyone who can skips town. La Manzanilla has the additional problem of ejido land. I cannot bring myself to overcome that problem – for purchasing. Renting is not a problem. Barra de Navidad is still on the list to purchase, but I would like to avoid a fideicomiso if I can. If I am buying property, I would like to own title. Between renting in La Manzanilla and Barra de Navidad, I would prefer La Manzanilla for ambience and Barra de Navidad for infrastructure. They are both still in the running.
   




7. For culture, weather, and archaeology, Pátzcuaro is going to be hard to beat. I am going to spend some time there in February or March with my brother getting a feel for what the town and area have to offer. I will look at a house for sale that interests me, as well as rental possibilities. Who knows? Maybe I can convince my boss to let me spend some time telecommuting from Mexico.
   




8. Michael at La Vida Bougainvillea has convinced me to take a look at Querétaro and San Luis Potosí. Nancy and Paul visited there, but chose Mazatlán. I should, at least, take a look. I have not yet done any research on either city – other than to read the odd paragraph here and there. The highlands have only recently become a strong option for me.
   
   
   
   
9. And, of course, I should not forget about Guanajuato. Doug and Cindi Bowers make a compelling case for it in their books. I had seriously considered visiting until my interest focused so intently on Pátzcuaro. Back on the list it goes.

The answer to this question is yet to be decided, but I think I am on the correct track. I know when I will go to Mexico. I know I will try to sell my house. Between now and April or so, I need to spend at least a week each in Pátzcuaro and Mazatlán – with followup visits to Huanajuato, San Luis Potosí, and Querétaro to see where I should start renting.

After all, this is just the beginning of the journey. I need to keep in mind, as so many of my fellow bloggers have already warned: there is always the possibility that the first date will result in residential marriage. At least, the Gulf of Eternal Peril will not be my “reward.” I doubt there is a wrong answer on the list – for rentals – and that was the question.