Mexico Expat Forum

SintiaMS
Joined 2018
Posts: 2

6 years ago

Considering Moving to Mexico...

6 years ago

Hello, everyone!
I'm a twenty-four and a single female. I'm considering a move to Mexico. I envy the low cost of living, have a good hold of the Spanish language (I'm level B2, at the moment, but still advancing!), and enjoy learning about the culture. I'm not quite sure where I want to move, however. I've considered many aspects (I'm the spreadsheet type of person), and I thought I'd narrowed it down to Merida. However, I've heard that the heat there can be absolutely stifling. I don't tolerate extreme heat well. Here are some aspects that I'm taking into consideration.

1. Weather
I am fine with having four seasons. Summer can be difficult, because it's so hot. I don't mind the cold, although I do chill very easily. I'd like somewhere that is temperate, like where I live, now. I live in Tennessee, and - although the weather gets crazy - it's usually not extremely hot or extremely cold. I'd prefer nothing under the fifties (F) or over the eighties (F, again). A little deviance from that is fine. Also, I'm very fair-skinned, so the Sun can be extremely harsh on me. I do wear sunscreen, though.

2. Natural Disasters
I'm a bit paranoid about this one. Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, sinkholes; they all terrify me. I know that the western section of Mexico experiences earthquakes the most by far, so I'm not too keen on living there. I'm trying to avoid the volcanic axis, as well. I love the beach, but I don't want to live too close to the water; I'd like to avoid water damage, flooding, hurricanes, and - I know this will probably never happen (Like I said, paranoia...) - tsunamis. I've not really heard of tornadoes in Mexico. Hurricanes on the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula and earthquakes around Mexico City and the western area of Mexico are the two things I've probably heard the most about. Oh, and the cenotes in the Yucatan, too!

3. Safety
Of course, this is a big one. A lot of people seem to think that Mexico is extremely unsafe. I know that - just like anywhere else - there are states and areas that you want to avoid, but I believe there are safe areas of Mexico, as well. I've done a lot of research on safety in Mexico. I'm concerned mostly about violence. I don't want anything stolen, either. I may be going to Mexico alone, though, and - as a petite single woman - I am concerned about finding an area where I feel secure.

4. Nuclear Power
I would really prefer to live far away from nuclear power plants. I'm not particularly fond of them; they make me nervous. I know Mexico has a fairly small one in Veracruz, and I was relieved to know that is the only one in the entire country.

5. General Area
I'd prefer not to live in a big city. I like the suburbs and, maybe, more rural areas. I'd like to be able to walk to local places. If people don't speak English or only have a slight grasp of it, that's okay. I want to go to Mexico to experience Mexican culture and interact with Mexican people; I'm not looking for a place packed with tourists. Cities are too loud and crowded for me; not to mention the pollution.

Sorry for the very long post, but I just wanted to provide as much information as possible so I can get the best advice. Thank you in advance to anyone who responds to this post!

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Contribute
Help others in Mexico by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Mexico.