making the grade

Last August, while adding up all the factors I considered important for my move to Mexico, I concluded: "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."


I could probably stop this post right here, and say that after living here for two months, I still think the same thing.


But, as you know from reading the posts over the past week and a half, there is much more to it than that.


When I did my calculations in August, I had lived in Melaque for just over a week on a visit in July, 2008 -- without Professor Jiggs.


I weighed out the factors trying to determine what was more important -- a weight of 3 being the most important.


This was the result:

I gave additional weight to Melaque for being close to the ocean, and decided Melaque matched up to the factors with a grade of B to B-. It certainly was a good place to start.


I knew that the lack of a university would handicap the availability of cultural events and the nights would be way too hot (especially, in the summer) for comfortable sleep. But everything else received a high grade.


All of that has turned out to be true, even though I thought the heat would be less of an issue than it has been. (A factor I have noticed that has bothered even some veteran residents of Mexico this year.)


But there were issues I had not foreseen.


The personal isolation during the first two months caught me by surprise. My computer is a great tool for keeping in touch with family and friends. But it is not a substitute for sitting around a dinner table discussing the shenanigans in Honduras.


I have found good substitutes with new acquaintances in the area. But that factor is still a challenge.


And Jiggs's health has limited me in getting around to see archaeological sites. But I will have time to do that in the future.


Taking all of that into account, here is the revised calculation for Melaque:

I have readjusted the factors based on my current experience, and added bonus points for being close to the ocean.


That drops Melaque's current assessment to a C or C-.


But, as I have learned in doing this little exercise, choosing a place to live will always be based on changing circumstances.


Those of you who have made comments have added some interesting suggestions to where I should live next.


Here is the current plan.


The summer months on the Pacific coast are the worst as far as weather is concerned. The dew point regularly hovers in the "extremely uncomfortable, fairly oppressive" range.


My house sit ends in mid-December. It would be a shame to live through several months of this weather and then abandon the coast during the dessert months.


If I am going to stay in the local area, I need to start looking for a place to live from mid-December through the end of April. And I need to do it now because those are the high season months.


I have looked at a few places. I will share those as I look around. Plus I want to share some of the things around here that make Melaque interesting.


And then I need to decide where I will head in April.


But, first, I need to find a new roosting spot for the high season.