If learning to deal with variables keeps a person young, Mexico will make me immortal.
I moved to Mexico because I wanted to get up every morning knowing that I may not know how to get through the day.
For an adrenalin junkie, it is the perfect life. And Mexico always manages to deliver.
The mail, for example.
As you know, I am a big booster of the Mexican mail system (mail lover). I have had a mail box in San Patricio for almost two years now, and I am happier with the Mexican service than I was with Mailboxes, etc. in Manzanilo, The Mexican system is far less expensive, and delivery time is about the same.
You may be asking why I have any mail service. After all, almost everything that once came through the mail can be done electronically. And that is certainly true for all of my financial matters and most of my personal correspondence.
Most of my magazines and newspapers arrive on my Kindle or on the internet. But not all.
Two of my magazines are not available except by mail. And I have a former client who I correspond with through letters. The art of letter-writing is not completely lost.I have also started sending the occasional greeting card through the mail. Simply because it is there.
As a rule, letters going both north and south take about 10 to 14 days to be delivered. Just like Mailboxes, etc.
But there was a huge exception in June. I mailed a stack of letters, greeting cards, and a rental deposit for my upcoming highland sojourn in August. Off they went on the same day. At least, I think they did.
To my surprise, it took a full month -- or more -- for everything to be delivered.
I asked the clerk at the post office, but he had no idea what could have happened. After all, when it leaves San Patricio, he has no control over it.
But when I stopped by in the late afternoon one day this week, I learned a little more about our local system. Unlike the United States where mail theoretically is shipped out each day, our mail comes and goes only a couple times each week.
The delivery is on a pick up between Melaque and Guadalajara -- with stops at every burg along the way. The mail is sealed in these large envelopes. At least, it is delivered to the San Patricio post office that way.
I think it was the first time I saw how small the delivery van is. We do not get much mail in Mexico. Fortunately, my box is kept free of the usual reams of advertisements I receive in The States that go directly from the mail slot to the recycle bin.
June must have been a delivery anomaly. This month I received a letter from Nevada in 16 days and a magazine from Mexico City in 10 days.
I am still a mail booster.
The delivery is on a pick up between Melaque and Guadalajara -- with stops at every burg along the way. The mail is sealed in these large envelopes. At least, it is delivered to the San Patricio post office that way.
I think it was the first time I saw how small the delivery van is. We do not get much mail in Mexico. Fortunately, my box is kept free of the usual reams of advertisements I receive in The States that go directly from the mail slot to the recycle bin.
June must have been a delivery anomaly. This month I received a letter from Nevada in 16 days and a magazine from Mexico City in 10 days.
I am still a mail booster.