When we moved to the small jungle town of Bacalar in 2014, there was of course much to learn and adjust to. We were looking for a slower pace and to stretch our retirement dollars. I had gone to college in Central Mexico in the 70’s, travelled the country extensively, loved the culture and spoke Spanish. We loved the pyramids, fiestas and people, what could go wrong?
- Travel – there’s a small “international” airport forty minutes from our house. In 2014 I imagined catching a flight to Austin to celebrate family events, birthdays and holidays. I should have done more research. All flights out of Chetumal pass through Mexico City’s enormous and confusing Benito Juarez airport. Connecting flights are often impossible to make requiring over night stays and $$$. Additional travel considerations were not thought out with the addition of Lisa’s mom and two dogs. Alice can no longer travel by herself and the dogs and house require house sitters, even for a long weekend in Merida. Not to mention that flying is not as much fun as it used to be.
- Friendship – While I have talked about the challenges of making friends with expats, I haven’t talked about friendships with locals. Bacalar is small enough that shop owners, fellow gym rats and Lisa’s students and parents from the school she volunteers at, greet us warmly. Sometimes we get side-eye over who these foreigners are. It helps that Lisa’s Spanish has greatly improved. After ten years it’s nice to feel like we belong.
- Transportation – For me, Mexico has always been an example of public transportation at its finest. Buses, colectivos and taxis were frequent and economical. As the Mexican economy improved, people bought cars. Individual transportation is far more common today than ever before.
For the most part life here has been a joy. We have zero regrets. A crystal ball to predict Covid would have been nice. We also don’t have to deal directly with the current political climate in the US. Hopefully in a few more weeks I will be on my feet and life will look a bit more “normal”, whatever that is.
DOS TORTAS
the adventures of dos tortas 
If it had a dollar …for every plan I thought would work beautifully –!! Love your honest blogs – they make my Sundays xoxo see youj soon
Lorrie Jones
Simple Serenity
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So true. We’d all be rich!
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Congratulations on your first decade in Mexico, I’m delighted the hear the good outweighs the not so good. That’s the best anyone of us can hope for wherever we may lay our hat. Good luck for the next decade and beyond! 😀
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You are absolutely right! All any of us can ask for.
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Ten years!
Flying is one reason I’ve opted not to move to Mexico. Flying into Mexico City is pretty far down on the list of things I’d like to do. W-A-Y far down. To visit? Sure. To pass through? No.
But to live there seems like a dream come true.
Congratulations to you!
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There have been a lot of changes to the airport but it’s still a mess.
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Yes, the political climate is making me long for somewhere else. At 78 it feel more daunting that I’m capable of. Hope you are up and about soon!
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I’m slowly making progress. Yeah!
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