I gave the accountants at Price Waterhouse an extra day to tabulate the ballots on how I think Melaque stacks up against the 13 factors I set up back in December.
A few of you have hinted that the exercise was simply an attempt on my part to find several other postings before I slip back into discussing life in Oregon. And you were correct.
However, I thought it might make sense to look at why I am likely to choose the course I will for this coming year.
So, here they are with their respective grades. I added a small weighting calculation to reflect the changing priority of the factors. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow weather will be the most important factor. But not today.
I tried setting this up as a fancy HTML table, but failed. It will look sloppy, but the factor is followed by its weight and its grade.
university nearby -- 2 D-
archaeological sites within driving distance -- 3 B
central location for other archaeological sites -- 3 B
warm, sunny days; cool nights -- 1 F
new acquaintances; some with a love of food -- 3 A-
the challenge of a new language -- 3 A
time to read; time to learn; time to rest -- 3 A
daily learning to survive -- 2 B
facing mountains of difficulties -- 2 B
long walks with Professor Jiggs -- 1 A
living outside of a car -- 3 B
offering help to others graciously -- 3 A
accepting help from others -- 3 A
I should note that Melaque gets about another 10 bonus points simply because it is next to the ocean.
By my very non-academic reckoning, that gives Melaque a good solid B+.
So, what does all that mean?
Not a whole lot really. Other than what we all knew from my first impressions of Melaque.
Melaque is certainly not the perfect place for me to end up. I doubt that such a place exists. But it certainly is good enough for me to start talking about moving dates.
And that topic will develop over the next few months as I decide when to retire, when to leave for Mexico, and what to do with my house in Salem.
A few of you have hinted that the exercise was simply an attempt on my part to find several other postings before I slip back into discussing life in Oregon. And you were correct.
However, I thought it might make sense to look at why I am likely to choose the course I will for this coming year.
So, here they are with their respective grades. I added a small weighting calculation to reflect the changing priority of the factors. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow weather will be the most important factor. But not today.
I tried setting this up as a fancy HTML table, but failed. It will look sloppy, but the factor is followed by its weight and its grade.
university nearby -- 2 D-
archaeological sites within driving distance -- 3 B
central location for other archaeological sites -- 3 B
warm, sunny days; cool nights -- 1 F
new acquaintances; some with a love of food -- 3 A-
the challenge of a new language -- 3 A
time to read; time to learn; time to rest -- 3 A
daily learning to survive -- 2 B
facing mountains of difficulties -- 2 B
long walks with Professor Jiggs -- 1 A
living outside of a car -- 3 B
offering help to others graciously -- 3 A
accepting help from others -- 3 A
I should note that Melaque gets about another 10 bonus points simply because it is next to the ocean.
By my very non-academic reckoning, that gives Melaque a good solid B+.
So, what does all that mean?
Not a whole lot really. Other than what we all knew from my first impressions of Melaque.
Melaque is certainly not the perfect place for me to end up. I doubt that such a place exists. But it certainly is good enough for me to start talking about moving dates.
And that topic will develop over the next few months as I decide when to retire, when to leave for Mexico, and what to do with my house in Salem.
6 comments:
I'm not sure I totally understand the rating system but I think you are on the right track by acknowledging that Melanque may not be the final place you end up....but then again it may.
Billie -- The rating system -- like most rating systems we humans love to impose on our lives -- is beyond understanding because I simply made it up as I went along. I suspect my sense of irony has begun to permeate my reality.
I loved your "May not, but may" answer. It is the very essence of Mexico. I so want to be down there. Our recent spate of 100+ weather has confirmed that I can deal with heat and humidity.
There is lots to do. You seem like a thoughtful and methodical person.
Create "The List." Start working it ASAP. It does take more effort than I expected to actually get the move Done. In hindsight, moving here in 3 months was a little crazy, way too stressful.
BUT. The big But. So Worth It (so far.)
American Mommy -- The List has been in progress since last December. I just need to know an execute date. The only two big issues right now are planning for Jiggs and deciding whether to sell or rent the house -- or neither.
Steve, we're in the same boat. We opted to rent our house in Colorado Springs out for a couple of years, hubby still needs an anchor for a while. He's up North working on it for another month or so. I'm in Melaque patiently waiting to have our new house completed (which by the way is now 6 months overdue....) Originally we had planned to retire at Lake Chapala, but fell in Love with Melaque. It will take some getting used to the heat/humidity, my body is slowly adjusting, I'm sure in time you will adjust too. Forget about the lists - just DO it!
Elke
Elke -- Thanks for the advice. By the way, I really like how the house is coming along. I walked by during my last visit. Too bad about needing to add the bars, but that is life. As for the lists, they are more of a device to keep discussion going with this great community.
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