David Simmonds

It has been well-documented that the 20th century was America’s century. Or at least it has been since the end of WWII, about the time the first wave of boomers were born. We began the year 2000 as the lone super power with an economy that was the envy of the world. But there were cracks in the foundation and the past eight years have seen these cracks morph into rapidly expanding sinkholes. And there aren’t enough life-jackets to save everyone.

With a disasterous, unlawful war that is eating up $3 billion per week, our unfunded goverment obligations now total some $57.3 trillion, or about $500,000 per household. Now consider, the average household net worth is about $70,000. I’m no math genius, but how do you get the money to pay the bills? The typical American household is broke and in debt. Eventually, these numbers come home to roost and when it does America will not be the same place as it was when we grew up. Indeed, it is not now. Our country is in decline at the time that many of us are about to retire. Much of the world is catching up and there’s only so much to go around.

The oil producing countries, with the tacit approval of some in our government, have been orchestrating the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world, from oil-users to oil-owners. At the start of the war a barrel of oil was $24.00, now it is heading towards $200.00. A gallon of gas will soon be $5.00. George Bush has just returned from Saudi Arabia, where he reportedly asked his old business friends for a price break. They told him to pound sand. Do you feel a shift in power here? Yeah, me too.

Let’s face it, most Americans are going to have to change their lifestyles and priorities in the next few years, if not right away. You better start making long term plans now. You can hunker down and hope for the best, or you can lift your head and look farther down the road, the road heading south, and find an area of Mexico that you think you might enjoy. Whatever money you have will go 30-100% farther in Mexico, depending on where you live and what your requirements are. Start your search now, or prepare for a life you had not imagined.

Yes, I believe that America will someday rebound from the pendulum swing. But it will take time, maybe a few decades, and some of us don’t have that much time left.

David Simmonds

There was a recent Wall Street Journal story describing the number of boomers who are now borrowing money to live day-to-day. The content of the story isn’t as suprising as that it was in the WSJ, a once-reliable publication now owned by far right-wing idiot, Rupert Murdoch. They usually don’t report bad news under GOP leadership.

The AARP study reveals that one in 10 middle-aged and older Americans are borrowing money to pay their bills and to help out family members who need financial help. With spiraling gas and food prices this is a trend that is sure to worsen. Virtually everyone around my age that I personally know is worse off than they have been for years, and I’m talking about mostly professionals with higher educations. And do you know what they are asking me? “Tell me more about moving to Mexico. We need to find a way to live well on the money we have left.” I live in San Diego, a pretty conservative town, and many of my friends vote Republican. But most of them are voting for Obama in November because they are seeing the results of three decades of policies that have benefitted corporate America instead of its citizens. But just as is took many years to get to where we are, it will take many more to fix the problems that got us here. And that’s why they ask about Mexico: they want to live well for less money…now.

So, I tell them what I know to be true. I tell them that they have bought all the toys, eaten at all the restaurants, taken the cruises and the Vegas runs, and look where they are. Those things were fun, but think back about your life. When were you truly the happiest? Usually they will admit to a time in life when they didn’t have the money to buy all the toys, take all the cruises. A time when contentment was a walk on the beach or the woods, a good conversation, changing diapers and quiet evenings with the family. And I tell them that that life can be recaptured, and I tell them about Mexico.

David Simmonds

Everyone who thinks about, or actually does, move to Mexico has their own personal reasons. The list is long and varied, but a factor on everyone’s list is the appeal of the lifestyle that Mexico offers. By that I mean the slow, uncomplicated pace of every day living where you know your neighbors, the local shopkeepers, cops and community honchos. Where there are not strip malls on every corner that look the same in Los Angeles as they do in Atlanta. Where houses are built to live in, not to impress, with 2,000 more square feet than you need. Where you can walk to buy most everything you require, often without driving your car (if you even own one) for several days. It’s just a different life than we have in the U.S., and once you experience it, you’ll never want to return to the mind-numbing, ulcer-causing treadmill in el norte.

Maybe.

Because here’s what I see way too often: some people are so wired and conditioned into Americana burnout that they can’t slow down and adapt to the Mexico tempo - and so they try to change the place they have escaped to. You see it in the expat havens that have become so popular, especially around Lake Chapala and the once idyllic beach towns like Sayulita in Nayarit and Playa del Carmen on the Mexican Riviera. They come, settle in, and then the complaints start. “We need to control the dogs in this neighborhood!”, “I’m goint to to buy a few lots, tear down some jungle, and build spec homes”, “Doesn’t anyone speak English around here?”, “Whaddya mean the maid wants more than $5.00 to clean the house?”…it goes on and on. These people, and their numbers are not small, try to turn their new home into the crappy place that they left. They act like they friggin’ own the place, and it creates a resentment amongst the locals that poisons the relationshp for everyone else. They think that because they have lighter skin they are superior.

So I’m asking you, think very hard about whether you have the right personality to live in Mexico. Before you make a permanent move, rent a place for at least 6 months and try it on. Check your temper and anxiety when you try to get something done and it’s not like it was back home in HeartAttack, CA. Can you handle it? Can you mellow-out and just appreciate a different culture without trying to change it? If not, please…stay home. You’ll only frustrate yourself and piss off everyone else.