I wrote a post not long ago that got a lot of comments. It had to do with how to be a successful expat.
The key thing that seemed to resonate with people was the first rule: Know Yourself. If you don’t know what you like and dislike you’ll never be able to successfully choose your new home!
First – the weather. Frequently people who spent their adult lives shoveling snow want to move somewhere warm, and people who suffered through hot and muggy summers will opt for cooler climates. There’s no right or wrong, it’s a purely individual thing. A lot of full time expats here in Mazatlán use the hot summer months to catch up on indoor projects, travel, or rent a house in a cooler clime. Friends of ours are spending from 1 -3 months this summer in San Miguel de Allende, Ajijic, and Guanajuato. Isn’t that a great way to get to know another place? Paul and I spent so much time in the cloudy and rainy Northwest that we love living with so much sun and warmth, we (almost) can’t get enough!
Next, the people. When we first visited Mazatlán – for one week only – we knew it was a very special place. People here are friendly, inclusive, interested in the give and take of real conversation. So when you evaluate a place, notice how you interact with the people there. Are they sharing and inclusive or are they judgmental and interested only in hearing themselves talk? Do they complain a lot? Do they ask about you, and then actually listen to your response? For me, one of the joys in life is good friends, but only you can decide how important they are for you.
Do you like to garden? If you love to garden you should think about buying a few blocks inland, as the salt air is hard on plants. If you want to grow lettuce or other cool weather vegetables, head inland, but if you love tropical flowers and peppers, check out Sinaloa! Do you want a large plot of land or will containers on a patio be enough?
How about lifestyle? Do you love a city? Or do you want to doze undisturbed in your hammock in the country? Do you need interesting restaurants and coffee shops? What about night life? Opera, symphony, current movies, and city sponsorship of events? Do you want zoos, parks, and – oh – how about a citizenry who pick up after their animals? Do you like to wear shorts and sandals or are slacks and loafers more your style? It is all worth thinking about.
Do you love sports? I mean do you love to play sports or watch sports? You might want a beach, a malecón, or a bike path – or a sports bar or a TV. What’s right for you? I have friends who enjoy spending their free time hiking up to the lighthouse, rollerblading the malecón, and working out at the gym. Others are content to watch them do it! There is no right or wrong, it is just important to know what’s right for you.
What about community? Do you want to participate in the community? Maybe you love animals and want to help catch, spay and neuter street animals. Maybe you know a lot about AIDS or hospice care or the elderly and want to share your time. Is literacy your thing? Sharing good food? There might even be a way for you to participate before you move, bringing school supplies or clothes with you, for example. Just make sure the community you choose is a good fit for you.
How about infrastructure and shopping? Do you mind driving an hour to get to movie theaters and bigger stores, or do you want everything close by? I wish Mazatlán had a bit more choice, but we like taking a shopping trip to Guadalajara every once in a while, so it’s no big deal for us. (And a new Wal-Mart and Liverpool under construction in the Marina district is pretty nice, too.)
What kind of housing do you like? US – style housing with a front and back yard? Condos? Older historic structures? Do you need a garage? Great water pressure? We are really enjoying living in an 1890’s house in Centro Historico. But our last house was more modern and we were looking for a change. What do you like? We wanted a full-on urban lifestyle, and that’s what we have. It wouldn’t suit everyone!
After four years I can say we are very happy with our choice of Mazatlán. I actually think that the warm climate has made me more generous and accepting than I ever was before… I know without a doubt that I couldn’t live in a cool place where I had to wear shoes and socks all the time or where people are cranky and irritable any more than I could live on the moon! But that’s just me – to quote my grandmother – “It takes all kinds to make a world.” I think she’s right, there are a huge variety of people in this world. I believe there is a perfect place for everyone. I know Mazatlán is just right for us.
August 16th, 2011 at 8:32 am
I love the new look to the blog. great post!
August 17th, 2011 at 6:04 am
Okay, that does it! I’m not going!!! I think you are trying to make me homesick for Mazatlan before we even leave, Nancy.
You are so very right about everything that makes Mazatlan special and to us, mostly the people. Other than having family somewhat nearby, I am hoping that if we have just a handful of special people in our new life, like you guys, and a sunset or two to take our breath away, it will be fine. If not, Mazatlan is just a four lane carretera away.
August 17th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
You’re very right about knowing who we are when choosing a place in Mexico (or other places). We live in BC, Canada with so much rain and cloudy days in winter, we have chosen Manzanillo, Colima for our winter destination. As you pointed out in your list, we liked city living with amenities and access to beaches, it worked well for us. I like the fact it’s a working city with a large port and an electric plant, that means the city’s main income source is not tourism. As we’re only part timers, we escape from humidity down there and spend wonderful BC nature in summer months.
August 17th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Linda Lou, Thank you so much, I have been having a bit of fun redecorating.
Zoe, Well, I could be trying to make you change your mind…. not really, this post was specifically directed at a former amigo you might remember as being kind of a pain about Paul’s immersion experience. Kind of a long story.
Midori, BC in the summer & Manzanillo the rest of the time is about perfect. We love Manzanillo, too. I went there quite a bit during the years that our son Adam went to college at Tec de Monterrey in Colima. I wonder if Pepe’s is still there? With his monkeys and birds and wiener dogs?
August 25th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
It is so rare to find a place you love as you do Mazatlan. Your positive attitude is so refreshing, Nancy, and I continue to learn so much from your worldview.