Moving - not my favorite thing

But some moves easier than others. Finished my second trip to the Chapala area a few days ago and will head back for the third in a few days more. Silvia, my helper, wants to be back in her hometown for Independence Day on the 16th and I should have another load ready to go. Sounds exciting as I've only experienced the fiesta and Grito in the small town of Melaque and Seattle.

Got very lucky to locate a nice house on the first trip with the help of Trailrunner my new neighbor. Second trip was to sign a contract, pay rent, buy some furniture (unfurnished) and clean the place up.

Place has a great yard for the cats (out at night), fruit trees (from avocado to pomegranite), covered fiesta area, four bedrooms and I can almost see the lake from the second floor.

Quite a different feeling to use a sheet or even a blanket this time of year. The house has no fans.

So when you buy a bed-frame and mattress ... why would the price be the same for a double or a single. Mexico only!

Melaque landlord will be here this weekend to figure out what he wants to exchange for rent or just buy ...... because I installed an air-conditioner, replaced the stove and fridge, replaced the hot water heater, painted the place, added a security gate on the front door and fixed the older cyclone fences. I want my washing machine but the new place has no fridge so we'll see what happens there.

And I just rebuilt the well (I wasn't going without water for a few weeks or even a few days in this weather).

Got back from Chapala and noticed the pump was running but tinaco not overflowing. I had water so just turned the pump off over night. Next morning the toilets would not fill. Seems a combination of the water level dropping and the well filling with sand clogged the intake and ate the pump. Had to sink a new 6" casing inside the well, extend draw pipe a meter, new intake valve and rebuild the pump. Worked perfectly 'till the tinaco filled and we found the shutoff float was stuck.

No lessons here ... just stuff that happens

Settling down in Mexico

I've created other BLOG's for areas along the Costalegre as well as a few others about places I've been ... but have ignored this one. Since this is more about my life here rather than Melaque specifically - here goes.

After living for almost a year in a nearby bungalow the landlords personality just became too much of an issue. My neighbor (Barbara) and I finally just had to get our own places. No pool this time but a lot more peace of mind. Landlord issues are just another thing you may have to deal with in Mexico - especially if they are on the property. Believe me, gringo (or ex-gringo) landlords can just as bad as Mexican ones - and you can understand the words but don't have a clue where they are coming from !!

So Barbara got the place I originally wanted but since I've taken on a family the landlord was too skeptical about the kids. The pictures below are of our place which is very basic, suits the purpose well ... but lacks in the aesthetics department. We put up the palapa for afternoon shade ... and rather than a real pool we have a kiddy pool in the rear garage space.

For those interested in prices, ours is $3250 pesos a month (a little less than $300us), a large 2 bedroom that we made into 3 easily, 2 bath, secure parking, air-conditioning (we pay electric which is expensive), water-garbage-cable TV are included. We pay phone, DSL, drinking water and electric.

Barbara is paying $4000 pesos for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath - a block from the ocean and it has a beautiful garden. We´re 6 blocks away and have no real garden. I'll post another picture or two if I get good ones - and maybe a foto of Barbara's. It takes some looking to find decent places ... and if at all possible, avoid realestate agents, some here want as much as 20% a month for their services.

So quickly, my family now has 5 kids from 4-13, 2 boys and 3 girls. Then there is Mari who is really either aunt or grandma to these kids - an amazing woman who really keeps them inline ... and is a great cook !!

Adios for now

Front of our new house

Kitchen area

The living room from the kitchen - a lot of furnishings were included