SMALL TOWN BLUES

As threads often go, people wander off into a whole different subject, and that's what happened on the Trip's Burger thread.
However, the different subject could merit discussion:

I lived most of my life in big cities and took for granted the services of late night taxis, restaurants open till who knows when, and all the good (and bad) of big city life. Then, fate stuck me in a small town; a California rural area that turned into a winery centered place. One main drag with the usual sorts of stores you'd expect, including one supermarket. Even so, new wealth and wine tasting notwithstanding, it was still a small town about the size of a few collected lakeside villages. Late night eateries? Taxis after dark? Roving policemen? Of course not.

So, why should we hope to have such amenities around here?  This IS the equivalent of a small town just about anywhere.  
Thoughts?

Would it not be in bad taste to criticize a place one voluntarily moved to?

Ojalero wrote:Would it not be in bad taste to criticize a place one voluntarily moved to?

I don't know about "taste", but it might be contrary to the dictum's of Logic.

My intent using the word "taste" was to be genteel, not logical. Logical is too strong a word for me to use about the complainers, especially when it comes to noise or local customs.

Ojalero wrote:My intent using the word "taste" was to be genteel, not logical. Logical is too strong a word for me to use about the complainers, especially when it comes to noise or local customs.

Over on TOB, this topic has been beaten to death. Plenty on here, too.  One camp seems to think that "local customs" includes anything and everything going on.  The other camp believes that there are limits; that Mexican law defines them and should be followed.

My  view of the matter is that when the laws are being broken, the complaint is valid.  Cohetes and such are just part of the situation we deliberately moved into, so complaining is inappropriate.  "Local customs" does not include modern sound equipment gone wild in residential neighborhoods.  I know very well about "normal" noise since I live a block from the main church and get the full benefit of the various celebratory events.  They also shut up at a reasonable hour.

The new push is to grow the city through tourism and turn it into a beach style resort town -- without the ocean. That vision of the new administration has stirred up residents who have been pining for night life, activity, dining late into the night. This is what people live in larger cities for. People should be careful what they wish for.

Yep.......and then they will be complaining about the noise.........and on and on......jaja.

I came from a resort area complete with beaches for almost 30 years. I came here to get away from it. There are plenty of places that fit the bill for late night entertainment, dining at 10:00, taxis looking for fares all night long but this isn't it. Those that want it should go where it already is. I don't think that's a difficult concept. It's like a young couple who move here & then bitch because it's mostly old people. That's a surprise?

Too true Carry bean. I point all my socially disgruntled friends to PV.

CanuckBob wrote:Too true Carry bean. I point all my socially disgruntled friends to PV.

There are folks who spend days looking for the right suit in the right fit. They seem to spend less time making a decision on where to move.
If I wanted big city life, I'd be living in Guadalajara or Mexico City.

So, you would be upset if they placed a statue of Mainefool next to Jesus as a result of him saving us all...from growth?

benjji wrote:So, you would be upset if they placed a statue of Mainefool next to Jesus as a result of him saving us all...from growth?

....Could you be a little clearer about your point, por favor?

I grew up in the 50s in a small rural town in Illinois. The police were always on duty and taxis were always available. Before moving here in 2005, we lived 8 miles outside a small town in rural Oregon. There again, the police were always on duty and taxis were available 24hrs. a day. Neither town was a tourist destination. It was about service and security.

We aren't in Kansas any more, Toto.

I was replying to the OP post, she was in California.

David wrote:I was replying to the OP post, she was in California.

You got a lot better service where you were than I did in California.

David wrote:I grew up in the 50s in a small rural town in Illinois.  The police were always on duty and taxis were always available.  Before moving here in 2005, we lived 8 miles outside a small town in rural Oregon.  There again, the police were always on duty and taxis were available 24hrs. a day.  Neither town was a tourist destination.  It was about service and security.

Thank you! That's exactly right!

Unlike city cabs, rural taxi drivers don't sit in their cars all night long driving around waiting for a call, they're like firemen, cops, paramedics - they work 'on call'. They respond from home or wherever. And that would be sufficient here.

There are ton's of "on-call" taxi's around here. Just about every driver will give you a card and tell you to call them. I have 3 taxis drivers that I call regularly for guests.

I know, and that's great for us! But not so great for tourists from Guad who don't know anyone here.

Signs all over town, Taxi - phone#. The dispatcher calls the next up taxi and he responds.

All the businesses open late need the same 3 taxi driver cards then.......jaja.

Yeah, but I was envisioning a much bigger tourist industry here in the near future than 3 taxis.

Gotta start small and build up to it. Once the other cabbies see these guys making all the dough they will want in on the action too.

I agree with CBob. If there is money to be made there will be people willing to get in on it. The need has to be there.
Harry B is doing a lot with Ajijic and Chapala officials. The people here who share the vision of a bustling tourist town could maybe PM him on TOB and offer him their suggestions.

Trailrunner wrote:Yeah, but I was envisioning a much bigger tourist industry here in the near future than 3 taxis.

Trailrunner, what kind of big tourism do you envision?

Off to Guad, will answer later.