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| Just one week to go! |
Final
Count Down to our Mexico Move!! The past 2-3 months have been extremely crazy.
Steve was finishing up his contracts and I was doing prep work followed by working
onsite at three week-long conferences - Dallas, Tampa and Houston (two of which
were back to back). All three took place within six weeks. Back for just a week,
I’ve been focused on conference wrap ups. I’m also focusing on writing specs
for a software company to program a registration system for one of our clients.
In
addition to our crazy work schedule, we’ve had to get our visas, plus compile a
mountain of other required documents, get them US notarized, bank guaranteed and
get the Apostille for Spanish
documents (the equivalent of Spanish notarized).
Meanwhile reactions from people when we tell them our plans range from “you are
so lucky, wish I could do that” (do they really wish that?) to “you have to be crazy
out of your head because it’s so dangerous in Mexico”. How can these people think
that Mexico is any more dangerous than any cities in the US that are now
experiencing all sorts of shootings, riots and other violence? At least it’s
not legal in Mexico to walk around carrying guns.
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| Sadie -- didn't we do this just a year ago? |
We
now virtually have almost no furniture or clothes and we are down to one box of
books, the only remaining books being Spanish language books. Getting rid of
possessions has been quite a liberating experience. Even though I’ve moved
across the Atlantic a couple of times, I still had far too many possessions. For
Mexico, we have to list all items no matter how small that we are taking across
the border. Since we are moving into a furnished condo, our possessions have
been slimmed down to include only a few warm weather clothes (the rest went to
either Good Will or Dress for Success), music CD’s because, being “old people”,
we still like physical CD’s and can’t
fully operate in the cloud and office furniture and files. We are keeping dishes
and pots and pans and of course Steve’s bread machine and pizza stone. Having
to list absolutely every item you own and box it up with labels is a real wake
up call. You realize just how much “stuff” you actually own – yet never need or
use. Preparing for the move has also been an exceptionally virtuous experience
because you can’t import anything purchased within the last six months so no
last minute shopping! I’ve had to think twice or even harder before buying
anything but Steve is always reminding me.
Photos
aren’t something you automatically think about on a daily basis but moving lots
of photographs is expensive and they take up precious room. A couple of months
ago, I went through our boxes of photos and sorted them for scanning and Steve
and I went through the ones that I’d kept. We decided that all photos apart
from originals of our parents and photos of when we were young, we’d have
scanned and then we’ll just have the digital images, or rather, they will be in
the cloud. We’ll have access to them whenever we like. Scans were received
while I was away and they have been backed up so the originals of the children
have been sent to each of them to decide what they want to do with them.
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| Our welcome to Mexico |
Our
move a week from today means we’re prepared to execute precision timing – (more
or less) Mexican precision timing. Since its Mexico and we can’t find absolute
rules, the timing could slip quite a bit and we’ll just have to go with the
flow. The US side should be fairly straight forward. A truck containing our few
remaining possessions and detailed lists will be loaded on the 28th.
On the morning of the 29th Steve will drive it to Laredo, TX (a
border crossing) where all contents, along with relative lists, will be moved
into a truck owned by an International Border Crossing Company. They will maneuver
the customs check and crossing for us. I will follow in our car with the cats
which will be a fun experience (not) because they both hate the car. This will
just be the beginning for them and for us too because we’ll have two more long
days in the car.
At the crack of dawn on the 30th we’ll head for the border
crossing. We have a page long list of things that can’t be imported in the
truck but can be taken in for personal consumption so I have a feeling the car
is going to be crammed full! Once the truck passes inspection, it will be
sealed by Customs and driven down to Puerto Vallarta.
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| Our welcome to Puerto Vallarta |
Our
preparations have truly been an extraordinary experience. Since our condo is completely
furnished, as are most rentals in Mexico; we knew we’d have to get rid of
nearly all furniture as well as other miscellaneous items. Selling our
possessions has been a “Craig’s List” experience. Extra beds, dressers, sofas, dining
table and chairs, pretty much everything has been sold and I have to say, I’ve
had no emotional ties to seeing any of it moved out. Does that make me a
“cold-hearted” person? Perhaps! But I also know that I’m going to have all the
comforts of home when I arrive so I don’t really need to keep much at all.
Some
ex-pats decide to ship almost all of their possessions because they want/need
the security and comfort of familiar things around them. Since neither of us feels
that need, the only things we are being consciously aware of keeping the same
are cat accessories such as blankets, scratching posts and their “tree”. YES - we are crazy cat people!
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| Locally grown produce |
We’ll
need to purchase some smaller items not included in the condo rental such as
throw rugs, bath mats and various other items that we probably can’t even think
of now. Finding these will be a good introduction as it will get us out and
exploring Puerto Vallarta. Although, since the condo is furnished, it means
there's no urgency in “getting the house put together” after moving in. We will
also have to find places to shop for food. I’m already familiar with the mega
Mercados so one of my first searches will be a fresh produce market.
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| Center of PV |
And
I want to explore the area surrounding our condo as quickly as possible. We’ve
been told the beach is just a 5-minute walk and it will be a 15-minute walk
into the center of Puerto Vallarta so there will be lots to explore. I think
one challenge will be avoiding all of the touristy shops and bars.
Further
afield trips are already planned to San Miguel de Allende, a wonderful artsy
and historic larger village. I also want to go back to Guadalajara, a favorite
of mine but Steve hasn't been yet. Our first month will be filled with official
things such as obtaining resident visas, bank accounts and post office boxes –
all have to be taken care of pretty quickly.
Nothing is simple, easy or familiar while transitioning to a home abroad but exploring as much as possible every day is top of my list. I’ll be posting updates to our “moving story” as we progress through this adventure. And hopefully, we'll be like the photo below.
