Things nobody tells you about when going to live in Mexico
A new lifestyle
This is the second segment in a four part series. This article will be outlining several possible adjustments you might have to make to your lifestyle. When deciding to relocate to a resort town like Playa del Carmen in Mexico’s beautiful Riviera Maya, you will be surprised how life swings 180 degrees. We are here to offer a bit of insight when leaving the confines of your familiar surroundings and your daily habits.
Have you ever thought about waking up in the morning and not having to dread the hustle and bustle that takes a can-do-attitude, along with having to be out the door and on the road by 7 o’clock? Could this be the first hint of changes coming to your everyday routine? This is one of the biggest stress relievers ever. Change is not always for the worse.
One of the most important things you will need to learn first is how to get around in Playa del Carmen. In the United States, we are programmed to think that we need to drive our car everywhere we go. Public transportation in Mexico is very accessible, inexpensive and very efficient. Leave the driving to the professionals!
In Mexico, patience is a virtue
Expecting someone to show up for an appointment at a specific time isn’t the norm in most Latin Countries and Mexico is no exception. You should always allow for a tolerable delay when figuring on an actual arrival time. For example; if you requested the property manager to come by and investigate an issue with your condo, the time agreed upon and the time they show up could waver. When in Mexico, patience is a virtue and people cannot be rushed. So forget promptness and go with the flow.
When visiting a restaurant or bar & grill in America, after you finish your meal the server usually ask if you want dessert. If you say no, most likely they will put down your check and thank you for coming in. In Mexico, the server will clear your dishes and ask if you need anything else. If you don’t specifically ask for your tab, they will not bring it until you request it. They feel that you are there to relax and enjoy the experience. There is no rush, so sit back and order another cerveza.
Walk and breath in the Caribbean Sea air
The majority of people in Mexico walk or ride their bikes everywhere. The sidewalks and bike lanes are usually filled to capacity. Lots of people in Playa commute everyday back and forth to work, shopping and other places by foot or bike. The traffic jams aren’t always on the streets, but on the sidewalks. It is actually very refreshing to walk and breathe in the Caribbean Sea air. It makes you feel healthy versus sitting in a car creating more pollution. This could be a great habit to a new lifestyle, right?
You can eliminate the mailperson from your Christmas list. In Mexico there are no mail delivery people. If you need to send an important package or envelope nationally (inside Mexico) or internationally, the only real means of urgent delivery is UPS, Federal Express or DHL. But then again, how many times do you have to mail an important package? Get on an airplane and hand deliver it yourself! It’s probably quicker.
The utility companies will hand deliver your bill to your residence or management/HOA company. Speaking of utilities and/or energy. One thing you can always be assured of and that is the cost of this necessary commodity will be consistently high throughout the world and Mexico again is no exception.
The currency exchange
You don’t need to be a mathematician to figure out the currency exchange. However, you need to know its denominational value. Mexico’s money is rather interesting, especial the paper bills. Its design and print are unique in which the currency – paper bills, increases in physical size with each higher increment. For example, the twenty pesos bill is smaller than the fifty, and the fifty pesos bill is smaller than the hundred and so on. One thing I can tell you is that the US Dollar has tremendous purchasing power in Mexico’s economy.
Living in Mexico and enjoying its laid back environment can be a strong formula for having a longer life expectancy. Stress is almost unheard of and understanding how to relax is an easy lesson to learn. The above passages only touch the tip of the iceberg on things people don’t tell you when relocating to Mexico. There are very few attributes that parallel the past lifestyle you were accustomed to. There are certain traditions that will seem unorthodox to you in the beginning of a new adventure, but will make sense as time goes on. We will be talking more about cultural differences in the next segment. Stay tuned.
If you have any questions regarding real estate in the Riviera Maya, please let us know! We’ll be happy to help you. Remember, at Top Mexico Real Estate… We make it happen!
