Brenda declares that she cannot say enough of how well she has been treated as a Canadian expat living in Guaymas, Mexico. Here, she recounts her experiences on things like what made her decide to move to Mexico and the cost of housing, and imparts some words of wisdom to those planning to make a similar move.	Brenda

September 20 2006

-Where were you born?
Saskatchewan, Canada and then moved to Alberta, Canada

-In which country and city are you living now?
Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. It is located on the Sea of Cortez on the mainland of Mexico, approximately 250 miles south of the USA border. Guaymas is a shipping port and is known for its fishing and shrimping industry. There is also a ferry based there which goes to Santa Rosalia on Baja California.
 

 
-Are you living alone or with your family?
I'm living here with my spouse.

-How long have you been living in Mexico?
Approximately 8 months

-What is your age?
52 years old

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?
We originally went to Guaymas to escape our frigid Alberta winter. We had never been there before and were not even sure that we would like it there. We had read that you either love or hate Mexico with few in betweens. We had done 10 or 11 months of researching/planning and emailing before deciding on that location. After spending a couple of months there, we loved it so much that we began to plan on how we could retire early and live there permanently. We briefly returned to Canada and sold everything we owned (except what would fit in our car) and returned to live there.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Mexico has several different types of visas. You can either get a tourist visa which is good for up to 180 days, or an FM3 which is renewable every year for 5 years. After the five years you can apply for an FM2 which you do not have to renew and gives you more rights as a citizen than the other types. It is very easy to get a tourist visa; the FM3 on the other hand involves more red tape and the conditions for it vary a bit depending on your location. We do not have work permits as we do not work here.

Work permits are available; but not always easily, some employers will assist you in getting one. Mexico has fairly strict rules in regards to foreigners working in their country.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
We do not at present have medical insurance; but there are several types available.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?
We are at present living off of our savings. We have no income generated from Mexico.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Where we came from in Canada there was virtually no Spanish spoken. We are trying to learn Spanish and do feel that it is very important that you learn to speak the language of the country you are living in. The people there are very forgiving of my bad pronunciation and are very friendly and helpful. There are many ex-pats who never learn to speak Spanish and I think that by doing that you are missing out on a lot.

I think that it is necessary to respect the local customs and that it is not always appropriate to “observe” certain things. Some customs are private and should not be made into “tourist events,” in my opinion.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
We stay in touch with family by email, and at times by telephone. There are times when you miss things; but the pluses out number the minuses. Activities available: wander along the malecon (waterfront) and then sit and relax in the beautiful plaza, walk along the beach collecting shells and you might see a whale or some dolphins; snorkeling, fishing-regular and deep sea scuba diving, horseback riding, ATV’ing, para sailing, swimming. There are many beautiful beaches within a $.40 bus ride.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
At the moment we intend to stay in Guaymas. We do a bit of house sitting when we feel like we need a vacation. We have no plans to get involved in any business ventures.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We are renting an apartment that is built right onto our landlord's home. Mexico has rules about foreigners owning property within so many miles of the border and coastline, to get around this property can be purchased through a bank trust and leasing; if one wants to own.

We are paying 1100 pesos per month (approx. $110.00 US.) plus our electricity, Internet, cable TV. The cost of water is included in the rent. We furnished the apartment and put in the air conditioning and hot water heater. This is for a small, one-bedroom apartment, which is brand new. Rents vary, depending on what you are looking for.

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?
 We spend around US$1000.00-$1200.00. Per month for the 2 of us, this again varies depending on your lifestyle.

-What do you think about the Mexican people?
We cannot say enough good things about how we have been treated and accepted into our neighborhood and the city in general.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?
POSITIVES: Definitely the people that we have met. The weather, beautiful scenery, being right beside the sea, the fresh fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices, lower cost of living. Few mosquitoes. The excellent bus system, we use it frequently and rarely use our car.

NEGATIVES: There are things that you cannot get in the stores that you are used to having. If you see something in a store one day, that does not mean that it will be there the next time you go shopping. There is a lot of garbage lying around the streets. 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?
You need to be open minded, do not expect things to run the same way as they do in your own country. If you expect this, you’d be better off staying where you are. Mañana does not necessarily mean tomorrow, it just means not today. Be flexible and be prepared to listen to the street dogs and roosters at odd times. It is a wonderful, colorful, sometimes noisy place and you need to adjust your attitude to enjoy and fit in with it.