the cauldron bubbles

That is how many work days I have before I retire.


Hard to believe. But now the final kick starts on my sprint to Mexico.


I was going through some of my old posts and email to put together a final checklist for the move. My decision to not sell the house has postponed a lot of decisions. However, there will be plenty of things I need to do before I show up in Mexico this Spring.


Exactly one year ago, Andee Carlsson sent me her first critique of my blog. She liked it, but she was worried that I was a bit too tied up in financial concerns (a theme Michael Dickson has echoed several times).


Rather than paraphrase, I will let Andee speak for herself.

Hi Steve,

When I wrote that, I was thinking about something along these lines.

I am not sure what is drawing you to Mexico, but if it is in hopes of
having a very different life, this was my thought.

It might be hard to balance the sort of gringo thing of wanting to make things as financially secure and as out and locked in as possible.

i think we have be brought up to try to make a safe economic nest for ourselves. And I have the impression that might me what you are trying to do. And that might not be the important thing.

Of course we all know we can't predict the ups and downs of the world economy or whatever, but we can focus on day to day contentment and friendships and satisfactions.

i guess I was reacting to what seemed like your trying to make everything as financially safe as possible. Maybe other things are more important, especially since the money thing can blow up in our faces in a second.

other thought. Don't buy a non-regularized lot. No ejido lots that haven't been regularized. Really really really.

Have you thought about buying something were you can rents a unit out?. Or live in the little place and rent the big one for the three or four months of winter. Of course you have.

And you working hard at learning Spanish????

Get your own lawyer for real estate deals. The notary is a special attorney and is not for you and probably has established relationships with the other party and your realty. Your realty is not your friend. He is making a commission. You need your own English-Spanish attorney recommended by an independent party, when you are ready to buy.

anyway. Andee

And there it is.

• Don't worry about perfect finances
• Relationships trump finances
• Avoid unregularized ejido land
• Practice your Spanish
• Hire your own lawyer

Good advice then; good advice now.


As a result of Andee's encouragement, I decided not to buy a house in La Manzanilla (it was not regularized), and I started looking at my finance realistically. But I still need to get serious about my Spanish studies.


Andee, of course, is merely representative of the long line of advisers who have joined discussions on this page. I have learned from each of you.


But, Andee was first. And she will always have a special place in my decision to move to Mexico.


Next month, we will pause to remember her. Or we can do that right now.