About eshieldsga

Status:

Considering a Move Abroad 

Gender:

Female

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Some Forum Posts:

Mexico: Retire in Lake Chapala Area:

I hit send too fast! I sent you a private message. I have further suggestions for newcomers to this group. Browse back through the posts - there are many detailed discussion on health care and insurance, for example. I find it better to browse than search, because I benefited a lot from questions I wouldn't have thought to ask. In addition to the Facebook groups, consider joining the webboard at lakechapala.com - I have received loads of useful information there. It's a really different group from Facebook. I also learned a lot from reading selectively through older posts. You will see one from me asking about what features make a house comfortable to live in: people gave very thoughtful answers. Also, if you want a book, consider the one by Judy King. She has chapters on history and culture, but also very practical. I sometimes imagine that the oldtimers on these boards assign odds to the various prospective residents - who will end up doing it (and lasting) and who won't.

Mexico: Ajijic Questions:

As someone who's had roots invade a sewer line, i know that poop dissolves very quickly and paper does not, hence it's the paper that causes problems. I was told on another web board that older pipes are made of terracotta. They are actually wider than metal or plastic pipes, but they have a rough surface on which the paper catches.

Mexico: Does anyone bank with USAA?:

I see Schwab mentioned often as a relatively expat-friendly bank, but it seems to me that USAA has been mentioned a few times. My husband and I are USAA members, though we don't bank with them (yet), and Schwab houses my IRA. So I would like to hear from anyone who wants to share their experience with USAA. Thanks!

Mexico: Attending retire in Mexico seminar:

People learn in different ways. I learn some things best by reading, others by walking around, and others by having someone else do the work for me and bringing me the results. So I am mixing all of them by reading, participating in forums, and looking at pictures and videos on real estate sites before coming down; participating in this seminar, which is a series of meetings with insurance agents, lawyers, and visits to real estate in communities tailored to the interests of the 4 participants; and then 5 days on our own to walk around, loaf in coffee shops, visit shops, and talk to people. We are staying in self catering suites so we will have to do some food shopping and cooking. Oh, and visit the thermal spas! Honestly, knowing myself, I fear that I would spend all my time at the spas, if left to myself. And this is just a preliminary visit.

Mexico: Who here is heading to Lake Chapala area?:

You'll notice that your posts show up despite the message. This has been happening to me to. Just ignore it. Check the web page for the discussion to see that your contribution is really here.

Mexico: Effects of policies of new administration on lives of expats living in Mexico?:

Since I am considering moving next year, the subject interests me. I am interested in hearing any information except the political squabbling. As an academic however, I have 2 thoughts: 1. It's too soon to tell what the effects might be because we don't know what set of policies will be put in place (I am exceptionally glad I have the next 15 months before I have to make a decision). 2. There are economists and sociologists out there who are doing the complex computer modeling to see what would happen under different conditions, but it takes time to do even that. In the meantime, I expect we will hear from people when costs go up and down, or banking regs become simpler or more complicated, etc.

Mexico: Forum gone dark?:

To change the topic from the last posts - I posted over the weekend, and was answered, about health costs and insurance for people over 65. Thanks to everyone in that thread. So, some of you are not getting current emails for whatever reason.

Mexico: 65 and over health insurance:

Launia, I am so sorry. All: thank you very much. Having traveled to 37 countries, and worked in over 20 (very briefly except for living 2 years in Tunisia), I am very aware of how different things can be. I don't know a better way to pick your brains than to ask questions, even if they do seem naive to you. All of you have given me great information that's helping me understand what I need to do to satisfy myself that a move would be economically sustainable for us in later years. When we visit Chapala in the summer, I will want to meet people well older than myself to see what they are experiencing. Alex, I am going to clip and save your consolidated information. I don't anticipate we will pet sit, since we have 3 cats and a dog ourselves that we have to work into this. But someday we might be clients seeking pet sitters!

Mexico: Cat food high quality in SMDA?:

I cooked food for my cats for about a year, using a recipe given to me by a vet so it would be nutritionally balanced by them. It was a good bit of work and required specialized ingredients such as food grade bone meal (can you get this in Mexico?) and clam juice. And the cats turned their noses up at it. Despite the clam juice and I think canned mackerel, it didn't smell like what they were used to. Little wretches!

Mexico: US Expat Banking While Living In Mexico:

I would think the US Consulate would provide advice on this (at least, what the laws are and how they should apply to US citizens living abroad, and what provisions were made for us). After all there are many US citizens living abroad for many reasons. Post 9/11, there have been many changes to try to verify that people are what they say they are. In Georgia, you can't even get a library card without a utility bill. As someone has mentioned, that means that a person who lives with someone else who pays all the bills can't even get a library card. As a librarian, this enrages me. And as a future resident of Mexico, I am as baffled as everyone else. My IRA is with Schwab. Does this mean I could never trade the mutual funds I hold when I m0ve?

Date Joined:

1/29/2017

Total Posts:

15

Posts/Day:

0.21