Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth

Posted by: tanstaafl.

Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 06:46

I am now the owner of lakefront property on Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico. I intend to retire there by the end of this year.

If you have Google Earth installed on your computer, double-click the *.kmz file attached to this post and you can take a look at it. Because of a "feature" in Google Earth, you'll have to run the *.kmz file twice. The first time, it flies into a mountain and then jumps a couple miles back up into the air. Then if you do the *.kmz file a second time it will zoom in on the property. Rotate the compass rose on the upper right corner of the screen, and you will see the view from my property.

When the satellite photo was taken the lake was at historic low levels; the water is much closer to the property now, and all the land between my property and the actual waterline (wherever it advances or recedes to) is federal land that cannot be sold or developed.

Why Lake Chapala? A glance at the chart at the bottom of this page will give some idea.

Why retirement? I am the oldest person on this bbs (Sorry, Boxer!) and will be 62 years old in a couple of months. In more than forty years of working, I have taken less than 10 weeks of vacation, and have missed no more than five days of work due to illness or other reasons. I'm ready to stop, now.

I will be retiring with my newly wed (June, 2006) wife Jean. She is a former high school sweetheart from 45 years ago, and we got together largely because of this bbs. You know her as kayakjazz.

I hope to have my new home built and be settled in by this time next year, and hope that some of the people I have met here (especially you, Rob Schofield!) will stop by for extended visits.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: julf

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 06:52

Excellent! Congratulations!

Elaine and I occasionally have similar thoughts, but with all the global warming going on, we have been eyeing beechfront property in Norway...
Posted by: drakino

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 11:52

Congratulations. With the weather there, looks like an excellent place to retire. Good luck on the big move when it comes time.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 13:09

I still remember this quote from you a few years back:

Quote:
It's not so much that I like my job. I revel in my job. I would much rather spend time here at work than face the uncertainties and discomforts of vacationing in some strange place where I'd have to make decisions in unknown circumstances and they wouldn't cook the food the way my Mommy used to make it.

The old saying about "...nobody on his death bed ever said 'I wish I'd spent more time at the office' " may not really apply to me.

And yes, I do have an appreciation of just how incredibly fortunate I am to be in such a position.
Posted by: JeffS

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 14:00

Nice!
Posted by: RobotCaleb

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 15:26

Awesome! That looks like a pretty sweet setup.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 16:49

Quote:
I still remember this quote from you a few years back:


The key phrase there is "...a few years back."

Since that time, Clear Channel bought us, and understandably they had us use their own software so that they could get the same reporting information across all of their stations.

I won't go into detail*, except to say that it is very likely the worst software I have ever had to use. It was designed by top management and the emphasis is entirely on reporting capabilities. My workload with this software has more than doubled, and the quality of the work I can produce is at best 70% of what it was before.

It isn't fun any more.


*OK. One detail. A simple change in the software that would take perhaps half a day by one of their programmers to implement (I was told this by their truly excellent tech support people) would cut my workload (and the workload of perhaps 600 other people) by about 40% will not be implemented, because it would also require re-writing a report generator that produces a report that is completely useless in running a radio station and could only be of interest through idle curiosity to management -- but you just don't mess with corporate reports. Another detail (OK, don't get me started!): Periodic "upgrades" to the software inevitably make things worse -- they add more capabilites, don't fix the problems, two days after the last upgrade I compiled and sent a detailed list and description of the 50 most urgent items needing attention, got a polite response thanking me for my input... and that's it.

It really, truly isn't fun any more.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 16:57

Ah, I thought you always worked for the Great Satan.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 17:15

Quote:
Since that time, Clear Channel bought us

Ooo, 'nuff said. Sorry to hear that, although I'm happy to hear you're getting out of it! The place looks great!
Posted by: loren

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 18:12

Quote:
I hope to have my new home built and be settled in by this time next year, and hope that some of the people I have met here (especially you, Rob Schofield!) will stop by for extended visits.


I haven't met you, but there's excellent paragliding around those parts! I might just have to come by for a visit in the next year or so. =]
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 29/01/2007 19:42

A question I forgot to ask when we were discussing this privately: What's the internet access like at that property site?
Posted by: jimhogan

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 00:03

Quote:
I will be retiring with my newly wed (June, 2006) wife Jean. She is a former high school sweetheart from 45 years ago, and we got together largely because of this bbs. You know her as kayakjazz.

Holy shit, man! I know I have been pretty unattentive, BBS-wise, but are you trying to make poor Jim have a seizure?

This is too much! Too much, I tell you!

Please don't ever do this to me again!
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 00:28

What's the internet access like at that property site?


Both wireless and DSL are available.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: jimhogan

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 01:48

OK, I have settled down.

Doug, this is way too cool. You'll have to excuse me, though. I was in kayakjazz shock. Way too cool. Too much!

If you leave out a couple trips to Nuevo Laredo, I think I have been to Mexico 5-6 times, just to Puerto Vallarta and towns around there. Mexico has some problems, but on a person-to-person level, I have really enjoyed my brief times there. People, whether locals or "local tourists" in Jalisco have been very nice. I have always come away feeling that I was treated fairly and well. I tell my sisters about my plans to disappear there in the not-so-distant future. They think I am joking

Anyhow, congratulations! What you are doing sounds *great* to me. Whoop! Whoop! If I can manage a pale imitation in 8-10 years, I will be a lucky boy. But my high school sweetheart emailed and said she hates my guts

(Hmmm, time to go see if I can register empeg-match.com!)
Posted by: mlord

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 03:20

Wow. I just spent hours pouring over and reading everything from the linked site and others .. we've just gotta have an Empeg meet down there at your new digs!

Cheers!
Posted by: tahir

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 08:55

Congratulations guys, wow that's some hours you've put in, enjoy your retirement.
Posted by: peter

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 09:08

Great, now I've got that Paul Simon song running round my head: "Why... why don't we drive through the night, and wake up down in Mexico...?"

Hope it all goes well for you, it sounds like an idyll...

Peter
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 16:38

I'll chime in with my own congratulations. Best of luck with the building, and the move!
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 17:34

Quote:
Both wireless and DSL are available.

Ah, then you have my blessing.

I mean, what good is retirment if you can't use the free time to surf?
Posted by: andym

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 17:44

Sounds great! I'm sure it'll be a bit of a change from Alaska.
Posted by: gbeer

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 30/01/2007 22:22

Quote:
I am now the owner of lakefront property on Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico. I intend to retire there by the end of this year...tanstaafl.


Do you mean "own" in the sense of the long term lease kind of thing. Cause I may be under the impression that USians were not allowed to buy such desirable real estate in the land south of the border. Unless, of course I'm mistaken about the other side of that equation.
Posted by: frog51

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 31/01/2007 19:18

Very nice - impressed at the altitude. Google Earth says 1.53 km!
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 31/01/2007 22:48

Quote:
Quote:
I am now the owner of lakefront property on Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico. I intend to retire there by the end of this year...tanstaafl.


Do you mean "own" in the sense of the long term lease kind of thing. Cause I may be under the impression that USians were not allowed to buy such desirable real estate in the land south of the border. Unless, of course I'm mistaken about the other side of that equation.


No, the land is mine.

The Mexican government does not allow foreign ownership in the Restricted Zones (scroll about halfway down the page) but other than land within 50 kilometers of the coastline or 100 kilometers of the National border, foreign ownership of property is permitted.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: ShadowMan

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 01/02/2007 13:28

One word... Sweet!

Have fun!
Rene
Posted by: Redrum

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 01/02/2007 14:28

Looks very nice.

I would be a little nervious about moving to Mexico.

Hope it works out well for you.
Posted by: gbeer

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 03/02/2007 02:16

Fred on Everything

A US expat who lives south of the boarder. Some of his columns are about living in Mexico.
Posted by: mlord

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 03/02/2007 16:23

Quote:
Fred on Everything

A US expat who lives south of the boarder. Some of his columns are about living in Mexico.


Wow, great reading there! Love his book title, too!
Posted by: FireFox31

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 03/02/2007 19:32

Congratulations on many fronts! It's great to hear that you're doing what YOU want because it's what you enjoy.

Now we know the man with the greatest car audio in Mexico.
Posted by: jimhogan

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 03/02/2007 20:19

Quote:
Congratulations on many fronts! It's great to hear that you're doing what YOU want because it's what you enjoy.

Now we know the man with the greatest car audio in Mexico.

I was gonna ask: is the SHO Wagon making the trip?
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 04/02/2007 00:09

Quote:
Now we know the man with the greatest car audio in Mexico.
I was gonna ask: is the SHO Wagon making the trip?


Yes.

I will sell the Porsche, and my beloved 1969 Land Cruiser snowplow truck, and my "spare" Taurus wagon. If I had my way, I would cross into Mexico with the ShoWagon and my Visa card plus the clothes on my back and nothing else. But SWMBO has other ideas about that.

I don't remember -- did you hear the stereo with the five Blaupunkt amps, or was I still running the single 8-channel amp?

tanstaafl.
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 04/02/2007 00:19

wOW, congradulations! I just found this thread and the title had me hooked. Good for you! Marrying your high-school sweetheart and retiring within a year so that the rest of your days will be your honeymoon, who could ask for more... Awesome.

Post pics!

(on my way to read the rest of the posts, reading your initial one, I had to comment!)
Posted by: Mach

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 04/02/2007 01:40

A very nice way to live the dream. Good luck with the move and congrats on a super exit strategy.
Posted by: jimhogan

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 04/02/2007 05:13

Quote:
Quote:
Now we know the man with the greatest car audio in Mexico.
I was gonna ask: is the SHO Wagon making the trip?


Yes.

I will sell the Porsche, and my beloved 1969 Land Cruiser snowplow truck, and my "spare" Taurus wagon. If I had my way, I would cross into Mexico with the ShoWagon and my Visa card plus the clothes on my back and nothing else. But SWMBO has other ideas about that.

While I have heard that the used snowplow market in Mexico is underrated, the ShoWagon certainly seemed like the pick of the litter, landedgentrymobile-wise. You might even find a Ford dealer.

Interesting to see the distribution of makes in Mexico and elsewhere. I remember a bazillion Nissans in PVR but having to strain to see the occasional Toyota. So maybe you can find a Patrol with a snowplow! I see that Subaru has started selling in Mexico, so maybe there is hope for driving the WRX wagon down some day. It would be the perfect car...if I can figure out how to make it into a convertible but keep the roofrack!

Quote:
I don't remember -- did you hear the stereo with the five Blaupunkt amps, or was I still running the single 8-channel amp?

tanstaafl.

February 2004. No I don't think I heard the Blaupunkts. But if you are getting ready to tell me your stereo sounds *better* now... well that dog won't hunt
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 05/02/2007 01:30

Quote:
February 2004. No I don't think I heard the Blaupunkts. But if you are getting ready to tell me your stereo sounds *better* now... well that dog won't hunt



Oh, ye of little faith!

I will stop by and visit you in Seattle on my way to Mexico, and I promise, you ain't heard nothin' yet! At the risk of sounding like a braggart [risk? Hell, I am bragging!] my stereo is finished. I cannot think of anything I could change to make it sound better.

You'll see.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: loren

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 05/02/2007 03:58

Make sure and stop in SF and say hi on your way down... I'd LOVE to hear the SHOWagon!
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 05/02/2007 15:35

Me too, meeee toooooo!
Posted by: altman

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 05/02/2007 17:51

Ditto from me!

I was crossing the road a month or so ago and noticed that in the line of cars at the stop light there was a SHO sedan. Think that's the first one I've seen here...

Hugo
Posted by: mlord

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 19/11/2007 01:28

Quote:

I hope to have my new home built and be settled in by this time next year, and hope that some of the people I have met here (especially you, Rob Schofield!) will stop by for extended visits.


So how's (preparation for) the move going?
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 19/11/2007 22:10

Quote:
So how's (preparation for) the move going?


In a word: Badly. [

As I've been predicting for the past 18 months, the housing market has crashed, unfortunately several months before I had anticipated.

With 20-20 hindsight, I should have skipped the renovations that delayed putting my house on the market, and sold it as-is for about $100K less than what I'd like to get for it now. However, the real estate people tell me that there is nothing moving in the $300K+ market in this town right now.

To make it worse, there are a lot of brand new crackerboxes for sale for $50K less than my asking price. This is OK if you don't mind living in half the floor space on a lot half the size, with no view and no privacy. The realtors tell me that people will overlook all that -- because it is a new house (with all the little problems that a new house entails!) and that makes it special. I'm reminded of the time I overheard a car salesman at the local Ford dealership selling a brand new Ford Escort (an absolute bottom-feeder economy car, piece of sh*t under the best of circumstances) to a young soldier on a 60-month contract. He'd be upside-down on the car payments until the day he paid it off, but it was a new car so that made it OK.

Well, at 3500 FT^2 my house is not a crackerbox (see attached pic.) and if I have to wait out the bad times to sell it... so be it.

tanstaafl.

ps: Can't someone please extend the time an unsubmitted post can sit before it disappears? Or is that not an adjustable parameter with this software?
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 19/11/2007 22:20

Yeah, the post timeout is fixed in the next version of this BBS software, but Tom had to put the upgrade on hold for a bit.

Nice digs.
Posted by: drakino

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 20/11/2007 03:04

Quote:
ps: Can't someone please extend the time an unsubmitted post can sit before it disappears? Or is that not an adjustable parameter with this software?


If I could adjust something, I would have long ago. Or just backed off this version, but sadly the older releases have a huge security flaw that resulted in every web page on the server having ads attached.

I do cringe every time I see people having problems with this, and really do apologize for not getting the 7.x software quicker. I'm going to get to it by years end, though odds are the site will look a little off for a bit. I think at this point dealing with stylesheet issues is much better then posts being eaten. I do appreciate the effort so many people put in here to provide excellent posts to continue to keep this community going, it's about time I give something back to ensure it continues.
Posted by: mlord

Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth - 20/11/2007 13:32

The timeout must exist somewhere in the source code for the existing installed version of BBS software. Surely we could locate and change it there, without the huge mess of a forced upgrade for this one feature ?