This morning I received an e mail from a friend saying she is moving out of here. I wonder how many other expats are going to make that same decision. I have been researching other countries online. Every place I look at has some major flaw for me. First of all, money. I can't afford many countries. Second is the weather. I am so used to this beautiful weather that I don't know if I could live in a hot, humid place anymore. Most inexpensive countries are in hot, humid zones.
I don't like big cities. That eliminates many places. I have been very happy here. It is close to the States so I can easily visit my family up there. The town is small. I know a lot of people here now. The weather is ideal. On and on, I can list the advantages of living here. But fear is a major factor now. How much fear can I live with and what is a realistic assessment of the situation here? No one knows that.
Some people are sending around e mails that only escalate the fears. Others are ignoring the problem, saying, "It is only the Mexicans they are targeting." My way of looking at it is this, I imagine that those people killed and hacked up were Americans.... It doesn't matter to me if they are Mexicans or Americans. They are human beings with fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers who love them and are deeply hurt.
So, I keep trying to think of other places to live. If you have any great ideas, please let me know. In the meantime, I will try to relax and not go into that fear zone.....
Hola Pat, Billy and I are staying, not going to live our lives in fear. Like you said to many good things here compared to other places.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you two will still be here. Looks like I will stay too. Can't think of any nicer place to live. P
DeleteYou will find crime everywhere you go. Don't let the recent crime wave alter your plans to live peacefully in paradise. I can't wait to return to your lovely village - crime wave or not. I found a certain peace and serenity when I visited. That says alot about Lakeside! Everyone I met was friendly, talkative, interesting, and excited to relate their story. Hope to see you there when I return next year!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna, thanks for writing. I am sure I will still be here next year. Thanks for commenting. It really is beautiful here. P
DeleteI've been following your blog for about a year and half but have never left a comment.
ReplyDeleteYou've done such a good job on your site in the writing and the photos for people interested in "Living Down on the Lake," I thought I would recommend another place for you to check out in your locale.
Here it is - Guatemala: specifically the town of Antigua the former Spanish colonial capital City of Central America. There's plenty of stuff on the internet for you to investigate. Antigua can be cheap or not so cheap, depending on your taste/budget. Though it probably has more euro tourists then you are used to.
Investigate it, and do yourself a favor- visit the place.
Time heals all wounds.
Dave
Hi Dave, Thank you for commenting and for reading my blog. I have been thinking of that area, especially the lake near there. Maybe I will go sometime this winter. Thank you so much. P
DeletePat,
DeleteI agree with the person above. You would probably love Antigua and Lake Atitlan. Visit Guatemala!
Hi Lorrie, Thanks for commenting. Maybe after I get well I will think of some kind of a trip. P
DeleteI've also been following your blog for a while. We lived in the Lakeside for three years and we moved out a year ago, because we saw the way that things were going.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to go into detail because we still look back on our time in the Lakeside fondly and we want to remember it the way we knew it. I will only suggest that if you love Mexico (and this latitude) that there are still many options to consider within Mexico itself that are just as friendly and affordable!
Thank you for your comment. I hate to have to leave here but I will check into other places around the area. I don't want to feel like I am running away. Did you stay in Mexico? P
DeleteHave you ever read the blog "Tioga and George"? A month or two ago he went to check out Guatemala. If you go back in his archives you can read about it. He found it very inexpensive and nice at the lake that he visited. Might be interesting for you to check out. Enjoy your writings and pics.
ReplyDeleteThank you Michael for that link. I haven't read it. But I was just in the process of exploring online the lake there. It looks beautiful. Thinking of going there in October. I will check out the site. P
DeleteAntigua Guatemala is pretty nice and if you look around a bit the rent is cheaper than the US. I spent a few months there in 2010 and never had any problems other than deciding where to eat that day. There must be 50 or more places to eat in town. The town sits at 5500 feet so it has a mild climate. The place gets a dusting from a local volcano about twice a week-there is more sweeping up than you would have in a steel town. The drug gangs are there as well but the police seem to have a handle on the issue, you do see them about town at times. I see drug gang people in the bar down the hill from my vacation house in Ohio so it is not just a Latin American thing...
ReplyDeleteHi Norm, Thank you for that suggestion. I will look into it. Several people have told me about Antigua. Sounds like a nice place. P
DeleteColima Mexico. Its about 3 hours away, that is where my husband is from. Manzaneo colima is ocean very pretty, good luck.
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa, Thank you for that comment. I have often thought of visiting that area. Maybe I will do it in the next few months. P
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