pappysmarket
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Everything posted by pappysmarket
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Still a lot better than the 8-9 when we first moved to Mexico.
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...but now they can brag they have given the little guy something. That's all that is about.
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Gee, both pork and still eggs, gotta be flexible...NOT
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MORE AJIJIC RECYCLING CENTER DEVELOPMENTS
pappysmarket replied to HarryB's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
When I once asked an employee why he just threw a potato chip bag on the ground he replied that once it is empty it no longer "belongs" to him and needs to be discarded ASAP. I would call that a cultural issue but I guess educating him that that is not true might work. Good luck. -
MORE AJIJIC RECYCLING CENTER DEVELOPMENTS
pappysmarket replied to HarryB's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
I certainly remember "Ajijic Limpio". Big fanfare, lots of money spent by gringos determined to change the culture... -
We were in a similar situation as you describe. Our health insurance was through British Petroleum who bought Amoco where my wife worked and retired from. The coverage was, and still is, top notch and since they have employees and retirees world wide they never cared where you lived. You paid the same for the same coverage you always had. Then in 2018 we received a letter saying that since we were eligible for Medicare our premium of $324 a month would stay the same only if we received care in the US using Medicare. To continue receiving care in Mexico the premium would increase to $1400/ mo. effective in 2019. We both had kept paying for Part B just in case and since going to the US for care was maybe doable but certainly not ideal we quickly decided we needed to sell and return which we did. If not for that we would still be in Mexico and we never saw that one coming. The upside is our premium is still the same for our Medicare Advantage plan, we can see any regular doc for a $15 co-pay, any specialist for $30 and the best part is a $2000 maximum per person out of pocket in any year. That came in handy 2 years ago and again this year. I hope nobody else ever faces this but it's always good to have a backup plan just in case. In hindsight it never would have worked trying to get to the US for the care I ended up needing. For TV you can bite the bullet and purchase a router from a VPN company that has already been "hacked" to appear being in the US. I actually hacked one myself that I bought on Amazon and it worked perfectly. My nerd quotient is barely above 0 on the meter but I followed directions and had many chats online and finally got it working. I wouldn't do it again as I could have easily ruined the router. I went with ExpressVPN and right now on Amazon they have a preinstalled ExpressVPN router for $190. Set it up and you're "in the US" but as Lou said, they are constantly trying to plug those holes so there's no guarantee. Greetings to all expats in Mexico. Viva Mexico!
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The illogic of a new one way street in Ajijic
pappysmarket replied to Ellie's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
Yeah, this forum needs that emoji. -
MORE AJIJIC RECYCLING CENTER DEVELOPMENTS
pappysmarket replied to HarryB's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
Recycling only works if there is a willing buyer who will pay more than the cost of getting the stuff ready to be picked up. Harry is trying his best but I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. When China said "No Mas" to this stuff several years ago the end was in sight. -
The illogic of a new one way street in Ajijic
pappysmarket replied to Ellie's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
I'm sure there must be a good reason for this !!!?????****** Why would an "old timer" say that? -
Any Australians here with an Australian super?
pappysmarket replied to Mexmc's topic in Mexico General
I don't get my dander up over those who choose not to follow the rules...but...when they get caught and cry that does get a reaction from me. -
Help...HBO Max through Amazon Prime
pappysmarket replied to Kalik's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
Get a router that's already including a VPN. -
Medical Exam for driver’s license in Jalisco
pappysmarket replied to Jim R's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
One of the things that does happen as we age is the muscles in our necks stiffen and us old farts have trouble turning our heads as far as when we were young. Insurance companies will tell you older folks get in more backing up accidents than they statistically should for that reason. Don't believe me, try turning your head all the way around to the left or right to see clearly as you back up. Chances are you use your mirrors or the back up camera instead. It's not you, it's all of us. -
Medical Exam for driver’s license in Jalisco
pappysmarket replied to Jim R's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
How much is the mordida to bypass that step? -
Based on the changing attitudes of people in general the last few years, I would say you have a much better chance of getting action on an animal abuse claim than trying to stigmatize poor homeless people. Not necessarily my preference but I do keep my finger in the wind to see from which direction it blows. Good luck.
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Medical Exam for driver’s license in Jalisco
pappysmarket replied to Jim R's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
Speed bumps are used, sparingly, here in the Rio Grande Valley to slow traffic and as of yesterday we were still part of the US. It does feel more like Mexico here...thankfully. -
Some say the EV manufactures are just making sure the environmental destruction takes place in other countries. They claim child labor is being used to mine rare earth minerals in horrible conditions that pollute the earth. I'm not sure where the truth lies.
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Yep, the caddies from Chula Vista constructed, as the water receded, a nine hole "course" that was mainly used by themselves. Cattle and horses grazed far out and the rumor was that the administration in Mexico DF wanted the lake to disappear and for a new airport to be built there. Landowners at the former lake's edge built many improvements that they figured would be permanent including many fences. Everything ended up underwater as the lake rebounded a couple of years later under a deluge of rain that year. Many of those fences are still there and are a threat to navigation.
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Way more than "hundreds of yards". A good mile or more. There were 3 dirt roads leading to various points to the west with one road going all the way to Joco.
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We arrived in 2001 and were burned out by 2008 with our B&B business and sold it and had planned to stay in the area. The numbers of new arrivals, and especially their demands for NOB products and services, got us to wondering. Also around that time financing for used cars became much more prevalent and locals who previously could not afford a car suddenly could. We were certainly happy for them but it also meant much more traffic. The traffic problem could have, and should have, been solved by proper planning but was not. Social changes which are just as prevalent here in the US, probably worse actually, mainly the "Everything is about me" culture seemed to take firm root in Chapala. I suspect the ease of living there, so much English being spoken, had much to do with it. Most other places in Mexico where expats live have nothing close to a Lake Chapala Society which is both a blessing and a curse to Lake Chapala. We knew people who had been there for years that bragged about not knowing any more Spanish than "adios". There were always wealthy Mexicans who owned homes but they were mostly second homes used only a few times a year. The natural building cycle that happens whenever there is increased demand was haphazard at best but that's pretty normal. Depending on what you want, the weather will never be changed by increased population. It's not as wonderful as some say but it's pretty darn good, especially if you can escape to the coast during cold and hot times. It's the second best weather I ever lived in, only behind Southern California. I could still avoid traffic by using what we called the "Low Roads" and maybe that's still possible. The biggest change was the people moving in...they weren't looking for the same things we had looked for. Talk of leash laws and such was an indication to us that the tide was turning. We're not big complainers but we do vote with our feet. We decided to move to Puerto Vallarta and found it much more to our liking. The tourist part of PV is generally confined to 3 or 4 blocks near the ocean. Further inland was, who knows today, the real Mexico we came to love. Most full time expats there were not interested in anything like the LCS. We visited there once and knew it wasn't anything we were interested in. Different strokes for different folks as they say. Alas, PV has also been discovered and the Old Town area has been greatly changed by high rise buildings. The friends we made in Lake Chapala, gringos and Mexicans alike, will always be missed as well as places like Bruno's and Ajijic Tango where we knew the owners and employees as well as Barbara's Bazar. Having the opportunity to be one of the 3 Kings on Dia de Tres Reyes for several years is a memory I still cherish. Seeing the locals pour out of very modest homes to catch a glimpse and grab some candy is something every gringo there should see at least once. It's not for everyone but many of the people who post here have been there for many years and still love it which just proves that you have to try it to see if it's for you. Do yourself a big favor and rent first. One of the most asked questions by our guests at Casa Flores B&B was is it difficult to buy a home in Mexico. The answer was and is, no. The question that was rarely asked was is it easy to sell a home in Mexico. Talk to an established realtor for that answer.
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No emissions test Lake Chapala area required
pappysmarket replied to ibarra's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
...until your spouse says she needs the sanitario badly, which is within sight at the Pemex station and the officer says, "You're not going anywhere" and pats his service gun. Been there, done that and paid up. Happy wife, happy life. -
Online card problem Mercadolibre
pappysmarket replied to Eric Blair's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
Don't know about Amazon Mexico but in the US Amazon demands their price be no higher than anywhere else. They simply bury the listing so far down it's unlikely to be found since they cannot actually forbid that. They use BOTS to search for such things. -
Online card problem Mercadolibre
pappysmarket replied to Eric Blair's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
I'm sure you are correct. I was merely explaining why SOME companies, small businesses, restaurants, etc. do not accept US CC. I have personal knowledge of that fact. -
Online card problem Mercadolibre
pappysmarket replied to Eric Blair's topic in Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara
Many Mexican businesses don't accept American CC for one reason: If the customer disputes a charge it is a major hassle for the seller to respond correctly and the funds can be tied up for a lengthy period. Large companies like Amazon Mexico have the ability to hire people for that express purpose. Many smaller ones simply decide not to play. They make the conscious choice to skip that market. Life is about choices. -
Met my wife on Bastille Day in 1990 on the French island of Guadeloupe. Oh what a celebration they threw that day!