I can see why you would lose subscribers over this article, it's not a fun read. But the trends you write about are absolutely real. I didn't read the comics interspersed in between the prose... it's a serious topic and I think the little comics chop up the writing and dilute the message. Best wishes.
I mean, it's possible that this article wasn't it at all, and that it was a coincidence or the result of some other source...but I don't think so, haha.
I'd classify the comics as "memes" instead, which I think are just so good at capturing and distilling the zeitgeist of the day, which is why I included them (also, this was a long one and I wanted to break it up visually a little more). :D
You just wrote that you lost subscribers because of this column. Really? Do you think they were Trump supporters who didn’t like what you said.? Who in the heck were they, I am wondering? Everything you said was spot on true. I am not in your financial position but I know many people are. Enjoy your writing. I also love Mexico. I lived there foe several years growing up . My father was there. With the embassy and we lived in Mexico City. and visit different parts of Mexico at least twice a year with my husband and sometimes children and grands. My dream was them to love it there as much as I do and, happily, they do. I am. sorry you lost subscribers. Hope the were not the paying ones. Keep on writing !
I have no idea! Maybe they just don't want to be bummed out. I'm not offended over it really, I know that people's inboxes get full and that they, like me, probably do some frequent culling of everything but the items they're most excited about. No one is a paying subscriber right now since I haven't turned on the option, but I was planning to once I got to 500, and it's been fluctuating between 494 and 480 ever since I published this one, ha! If that's not a sign from the gods, I don't know what is! :D
It sounds like you've had some great Mexico adventures -- thanks for sharing them! :)
I've been a lurker on this blog for a while, ever since discovering it on Mexico News Daily. I'm about 25 years older than you, Sarah - my grand adventure was a road trip from California to Tijuana to Tulum and back. My brother and I were the classic hippy types of the era in a VW van. I certainly acquired an abiding affection for Mexico, and an appreciation of the problems. In the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas we saw families living in large appliance cardboard boxes. In the interior, we encountered children who believed that us poor longhairs from America were rich, despite only having a few hundred dollars in our pockets.
Long story short, I see a huge gap between many expats and whats happening to native Mexicans. I work with a tutor in Tlaxcala 3 times a week to become fluent in Spanish, preparatory to moving down to Mexico some day. My desire is not to be the prototypical ugly American, unaware of the damage they do the culture and people, but to cherish, nurture and enjoy the culture. It is attractive in so many different ways than the hectic North American lifestyle.
Your situation sounds like the rarely told story of those expats living in Mexico on a shoestring, not as beach bums, but those trying to get by in a difficult situation. Its an important story, different than those of the American "colonists" who export their lifestyle to Mexico.
Oh, thank you, Jim! Lurking is 100% acceptable, haha.
On "the other ex-pats," I mean, I guess if they're at least honest about what they're here for, that's something. For me, the key is accepting that I'm different and not going all out trying to "sell myself" as something super special and unique, which I think is kind of an American tendency.
Colonizing is such a weird concept because no one seems themselves as colonizers. But it does seem to be what's going on in certain communities. I always think of one of my favorite phrases: no single drop of water thinks it's part of the wave!
I wish I could help somehow. What about starting a tourist guide side gig? There’s lots of out of the way towns near Xalapa you could take people to like Cuetzalan and Zozocolco. With your sense of humor and knowledge of the place it would be a natural!
Thanks, Miguel! I've thought about it (and a bunch of other ideas!) -- the thing that stops me from pretty much anything is the energy needed to start up and promote something of my own while also still needing to work a piecemeal full-time schedule to get by. Hopefully I'll figure something out soon...or land a full-time job!
I get how hard it would be--the rent does not wait for you to build a business from scratch. There is so much to see around Xalapa--an area very under appreciated by foreigners. Have you done el descenso at Jalcomulco?
I wish I had an answer for you. I'm 55 and my dual citizen husband is 65. We've been self employed for almost 25 years and have no way to "retire." My husband wants to just live in Mexico full time, but I don't think I can handle it - we have a house, but it's in a tiny village. I get bored, I miss my (grown) kids, I miss just being able to go where I want, when I want. I miss certain foods, the list goes on. We're also looking at a very slow schedule (we're in the home improvement business) in the coming weeks. No work = no money. No money to pay bills in either country. And don't get me started on Medicare which we have to start paying for even though we earn dirt. His social will be nothing so we're waiting as long as possible to take it. All this to say you're not alone and I wish it were different.
Thanks for writing, Lisa! (That's my daughter's name, too :))
It can be so hard deciding where to live...I'd imagine the house would keep you in the village, or maybe if it sold you could move to a bigger city? I know it's not always that easy, though. I hear you on the no work, no money thing...
I can see why you would lose subscribers over this article, it's not a fun read. But the trends you write about are absolutely real. I didn't read the comics interspersed in between the prose... it's a serious topic and I think the little comics chop up the writing and dilute the message. Best wishes.
I mean, it's possible that this article wasn't it at all, and that it was a coincidence or the result of some other source...but I don't think so, haha.
I'd classify the comics as "memes" instead, which I think are just so good at capturing and distilling the zeitgeist of the day, which is why I included them (also, this was a long one and I wanted to break it up visually a little more). :D
You just wrote that you lost subscribers because of this column. Really? Do you think they were Trump supporters who didn’t like what you said.? Who in the heck were they, I am wondering? Everything you said was spot on true. I am not in your financial position but I know many people are. Enjoy your writing. I also love Mexico. I lived there foe several years growing up . My father was there. With the embassy and we lived in Mexico City. and visit different parts of Mexico at least twice a year with my husband and sometimes children and grands. My dream was them to love it there as much as I do and, happily, they do. I am. sorry you lost subscribers. Hope the were not the paying ones. Keep on writing !
I have no idea! Maybe they just don't want to be bummed out. I'm not offended over it really, I know that people's inboxes get full and that they, like me, probably do some frequent culling of everything but the items they're most excited about. No one is a paying subscriber right now since I haven't turned on the option, but I was planning to once I got to 500, and it's been fluctuating between 494 and 480 ever since I published this one, ha! If that's not a sign from the gods, I don't know what is! :D
It sounds like you've had some great Mexico adventures -- thanks for sharing them! :)
I've been a lurker on this blog for a while, ever since discovering it on Mexico News Daily. I'm about 25 years older than you, Sarah - my grand adventure was a road trip from California to Tijuana to Tulum and back. My brother and I were the classic hippy types of the era in a VW van. I certainly acquired an abiding affection for Mexico, and an appreciation of the problems. In the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas we saw families living in large appliance cardboard boxes. In the interior, we encountered children who believed that us poor longhairs from America were rich, despite only having a few hundred dollars in our pockets.
Long story short, I see a huge gap between many expats and whats happening to native Mexicans. I work with a tutor in Tlaxcala 3 times a week to become fluent in Spanish, preparatory to moving down to Mexico some day. My desire is not to be the prototypical ugly American, unaware of the damage they do the culture and people, but to cherish, nurture and enjoy the culture. It is attractive in so many different ways than the hectic North American lifestyle.
Your situation sounds like the rarely told story of those expats living in Mexico on a shoestring, not as beach bums, but those trying to get by in a difficult situation. Its an important story, different than those of the American "colonists" who export their lifestyle to Mexico.
OK, I'm rambling, but thanks for your blog....
Oh, thank you, Jim! Lurking is 100% acceptable, haha.
On "the other ex-pats," I mean, I guess if they're at least honest about what they're here for, that's something. For me, the key is accepting that I'm different and not going all out trying to "sell myself" as something super special and unique, which I think is kind of an American tendency.
Colonizing is such a weird concept because no one seems themselves as colonizers. But it does seem to be what's going on in certain communities. I always think of one of my favorite phrases: no single drop of water thinks it's part of the wave!
I wish I could help somehow. What about starting a tourist guide side gig? There’s lots of out of the way towns near Xalapa you could take people to like Cuetzalan and Zozocolco. With your sense of humor and knowledge of the place it would be a natural!
Thanks, Miguel! I've thought about it (and a bunch of other ideas!) -- the thing that stops me from pretty much anything is the energy needed to start up and promote something of my own while also still needing to work a piecemeal full-time schedule to get by. Hopefully I'll figure something out soon...or land a full-time job!
I get how hard it would be--the rent does not wait for you to build a business from scratch. There is so much to see around Xalapa--an area very under appreciated by foreigners. Have you done el descenso at Jalcomulco?
I’ve been to Jalcomulco many times, but if you mean water rafting by “el descenso,” no -- I’m not as adventurous as I look! 😂
I wish I had an answer for you. I'm 55 and my dual citizen husband is 65. We've been self employed for almost 25 years and have no way to "retire." My husband wants to just live in Mexico full time, but I don't think I can handle it - we have a house, but it's in a tiny village. I get bored, I miss my (grown) kids, I miss just being able to go where I want, when I want. I miss certain foods, the list goes on. We're also looking at a very slow schedule (we're in the home improvement business) in the coming weeks. No work = no money. No money to pay bills in either country. And don't get me started on Medicare which we have to start paying for even though we earn dirt. His social will be nothing so we're waiting as long as possible to take it. All this to say you're not alone and I wish it were different.
Thanks for writing, Lisa! (That's my daughter's name, too :))
It can be so hard deciding where to live...I'd imagine the house would keep you in the village, or maybe if it sold you could move to a bigger city? I know it's not always that easy, though. I hear you on the no work, no money thing...
I wish you (and me) luck!!