The Newbie Invasion is Real

I remember Prudence too. And the house. 

Wasn't she taking care of Tad recently?

Trailrunner wrote:I remember Prudence too. And the house. 

Wasn't she taking care of Tad recently?

Not as I recall. Tad had a Mexican care giver named Lucy. Sadly Tad died in June.

You're right, that was the name, I remember now. Yes, I'm sorry I hadn't seen her lately. Thanks.

Trailrunner wrote:You're right, that was the name, I remember now. Yes, I'm sorry I hadn't seen her lately. Thanks.

So is Prudence still alive and around. She was also a decent golfer

I don't know, I was going to ask you that.

As a follow-up, here are two actual ads (names removed to protect the ?) from the most active of the two local Facebook rental sites. I could have posted a half-dozen more but if you're not on these forums, you're missing the best (unintentional) comedic writing at Lakeside.


1. Looking a house for rent, 2 bedrooms, garage, and yard for big dog, Next to ajijic, 300 dlls per month for 1 year, No stairs, thx.

2. need a home for a minimum of 1 year or longer.
Here are some requirements
1). Single level
2). 2 or 3 bedrooms, 2 plus baths
3). Good wi fix speed
4). Pool, spa
5. Furnished preferred
6) Views of lake
7). A newer home if possible
8). Gated Community
9. Outdoor Area, Space
10. Price range 12,000 pesos all inclusive except gas and electric.

...and the second ad??

I'm sure that if they have the bucks, they'll find a landlord eager to relieve them of them.

gringal wrote:...and the second ad??

I'm sure that if they have the bucks, they'll find a landlord eager to relieve them of them.

Sorry gringal, for some reason it cut off my original post and I had to edit. The prices they're willing to pay and amenities expected for those prices are definitely needed for context/humor.

My favorite today is the post from the woman whose CFE bill is double what is was last time she paid it and she wants to know if they will "work" with her to adjust it or let her have a plan that will allow her to "pay it over 2 or 3 months".

300/mo. . . I saw this too, these endless ads used to make me laugh now they make me want to cry! This town is filling up with people I have no desire to meet.

Did you see the one from the guy trying to rent the house in lower LF? Wants a years rent in advance? Bet he doesn't even own it! lolol

solajijic wrote:My favorite today is the post from the woman whose CFE bill is double what is was last time she paid it and she wants to know if they will "work" with her to adjust it or let her have a plan that will allow her to "pay it over 2 or 3 months".

Sure, they'll work with you! But it'll be in the dark.

Did you see the one from the guy trying to rent the house in lower LF? Wants a years rent in advance? Bet he doesn't even own it! lolol.

I wonder if he thinks the "key money" rent system will work here? Not a chance.

Yeah, we need to start a new Facebook group called "Overheard at Lake Chapala." It'll be just like the one "Overheard at Whole Foods" (link below) but prices MUST be in pesos!

https://www.buzzfeed.com/lindseymetrus/if-things-overheard-at-whole-foods-were-motivational-posters?utm_term=.grMV9Jezgn#.mm0Mql0raz

Coffeeguy, that list of requirements included the house should be "Americanized." Someone asked the poster what that meant. She said a "newish" house. Only Americans build new houses?

I must confess, with great embarrassment, to being a would-be newbie.  I have been following this board since January but only managed to get signed up today (my main email address was rejected).  I initially followed this board and, yes, TOB, and then I found the Facebook groups.  And now I am developing Plan B.  My husband and I are retiring next spring, and I didn't want to sit around in Georgia, where I have been living for almost 20 years, and moulder into old age.  We visited Ajijic and Chapala last month, and liked Chapala.  I expect we will "land" there in April or May and see what we think.  I watched with horror, especially on FB, as the flood started. I speak Spanish but am losing my hearing; my husband is trying to learn.  So I think as we age we will need the support of a NOB expat community.  BUT!  I don't want to meet a lot of these people either (former Peace Corps volunteer, I know the value of people I can speak to in my own language, who share my life experiences - but I don't want to live in a kind of Miami-in-reverse).

I should mention that the couple who posted the second ad actually seem to have found temporary housing that suited them, but the rental term ends in September.  

FB seems to attract people whose idea of doing research is to ask other people to tell them everything in response to very general questions (or even statements) like, "I want to move to Mexico!! Where is the best place to live?  Is it safe?"

Very glad I finally managed to join this board and hope I won't be ostracized as one of the frightful clueless northern tide.

Welcome aboard!! The ship is far from sinking. Some of the ole timers just hate the change from the good ole days......

coffeeguy wrote:As a follow-up, here are two actual ads (names removed to protect the ?) from the most active of the two local Facebook rental sites. I could have posted a half-dozen more but if you're not on these forums, you're missing the best (unintentional) comedic writing at Lakeside.


1. Looking a house for rent, 2 bedrooms, garage, and yard for big dog, Next to ajijic, 300 dlls per month for 1 year, No stairs, thx.

2. need a home for a minimum of 1 year or longer.
Here are some requirements
1). Single level
2). 2 or 3 bedrooms, 2 plus baths
3). Good wi fix speed
4). Pool, spa
5. Furnished preferred
6) Views of lake
7). A newer home if possible
8). Gated Community
9. Outdoor Area, Space
10. Price range 12,000 pesos all inclusive except gas and electric.

This is the one who wanted in an "Americanized" gated community. I asked what she meant by it but haven't been back to see if she replied. I was going to suggest Dallas or Peoria.

Bienvenido, esga! Look forward to meeting you.

I wanted to add my welcome esga to CanuckBob's and Trailrunner's! You sound very level-headed and thoughtful and we need more of that for sure.

There's a lot of diversity in the expat community here and those Facebook groups aren't representative. I still think Lake Chapala is the ideal landing spot to try out expat life.

Glad to see you here, Esga and a welcome in advance. You'll do very well.

I asked about the Americanized gated community and another FBer (living in Washington, I might add) asked me why I asked and that I knew already.

This bunch won't last, I predict. All they'll do is stick together and not listen to anyone who might know what they're talking about and at the drop of a hat, they'll be headed north. The ones who stay will not be here only because they can afford a maid & gardener but because they love it. Used to see this in the Virgin Islands and we'd look at our watches as the newcomers decide they will change everything around them to be like "home." Same thing here. They only listen to each other and none know WTH they're talking about. Mexico will take care of it in their usual gracious, polite way.

Absolutely right CB!

You can't make it here unless your heart and soul are in Mexico. I always say, this country can kick your ass if you aren't paying attention. I've seen it done over and over. Here's how:

You'll get robbed, hopefully you won't get hurt. 
You'll get arrested for something you never did.
One day you'll get a CFE Bill for 10,000 pesos and they'll look at you like you're from Mars when you go stomping in screaming crappy Spanish at them.
They'll come tear down your wall because it's on ejio land.
One day after ten years in your dream house they'll come and tell you you have 30 days to get out because it's on ejido land.
You'll get dengue. Food poisoning. Worms.
Transitos will shake you down for money and when you say you don't have any they'll take your bag of groceries from SuperLake instead.
You'll get hit by a drunk on a bike and held up by his family for payments for the rest of your life.
Your husband will run off with the sultry Mexican veterinarian.
Immigration will change all the rules and you won't be eligible anymore.
Your bank account will suddenly vanish and the bank will say sorry, we had a bad employee.

You get the idea.

Esga, if you were one of the people we are talking about you would not have signed up and posted. You sound like the kind of newcomer we need more of here. Welcome!

Trailrunner, you nailed it!

Trailrunner wrote:Absolutely right CB!

You can't make it here unless your heart and soul are in Mexico. I always say, this country can kick your ass if you aren't paying attention. I've seen it done over and over. Here's how:

You'll get robbed, hopefully you won't get hurt. 
You'll get arrested for something you never did.
One day you'll get a CFE Bill for 10,000 pesos and they'll look at you like you're from Mars when you go stomping in screaming crappy Spanish at them.
They'll come tear down your wall because it's on ejio land.
One day after ten years in your dream house they'll come and tell you you have 30 days to get out because it's on ejido land.
You'll get dengue. Food poisoning. Worms.
Transitos will shake you down for money and when you say you don't have any they'll take your bag of groceries from SuperLake instead.
You'll get hit by a drunk on a bike and held up by his family for payments for the rest of your life.
Your husband will run off with the sultry Mexican veterinarian.
Immigration will change all the rules and you won't be eligible anymore.
Your bank account will suddenly vanish and the bank will say sorry, we had a bad employee.

You get the idea.

Well I've had dengue, food poisoning and the worms. Most recently I had the typhoid too. Viva Mexico!!

And you're still here! Viva Bob!

Here's another good one: you wake up one morning and discover they devalued the peso of overnight and your bank account is worth 50% less than it was last night.

If you can roll with all these kinds of things, then the dust of Mexico is on your heart too.