Here I am living a new life in Merida, Mexico. Fusing two cultures together, speaking span-glish and adapting to changes. I certainly enjoy the daily challenges that I have encountered. My wife and I developed a Mexican Corporation in hopes to support ourselves. It covers our education and diversity. Included our links to our developing businesses, as we scratch out pesos to survive, we have watched our savings plummet as we invest in Mexico's Economy and network ourselves to other businesses, and people. We are very fortunate to live with such wonderful accepting people from our pueblo to all of those throughout our travels.
We bought our home in San Pedro Nohpat, as a vacation home after a cruise of the Mexican Riviera with our boys Zach and Ian. Ian and I had a revelation flying a kite in Isle De La Piedra, Mazatlan. (A great stress reliever and a great way to think and make changes as you mind wanders like the kite.) I expressed to Ian that I could live here and he replied "Me too!" We presented our idea to Deb my lovely wife as she lied in an outdoor hammock drinking a Pacifico beer. When I met Deb at the peak of economic boom in the United States we spoke of our future and dreams. Deb wanted to live in a cool environment with ocean setting (Vancouver Island) this was here dream. As for me I liked the Southern California scene (Venice Beach) for other reasons than just the history of "Muscle Beach". Ian and I were surprised by Deb's reply as it took no thinking and she quickly said "Yes".
We ventured home and Deb began researching from South America to Mexico and arrived at the conclusion that Merida best fit what we were looking for as a vacation retirement home. We put ourselves on the 6 to 8 year plan to retire and occupy the home full time. In my home office I was always entertained by Ian's artwork on my dry erase boards I still have visions of his drawing depicting himself, Deb, Zach and I on a boat and a caption with my stick figure flying a kite exclaiming, "I could live here." and his reply, "I could too."
Diligently searching the net for real estate in Merida, my wife found "White City Properties" and Carol Kirby Williams in early May of 2008 we flew to Merida to view a property located in San Pedro Nohpat. It was advertised as a perfect little two bedroom bungalow connected to the Hacienda San Pedro Nohpat, landscaped to the hilt, and with the amenities of the hacienda, a pool, restaurant, hotel we thought we found Paradise (at least as far as the internet).
We arrived at the airport to customs and were greeted by what later transpired into being a great friendship with an employee of immigration here. We stayed at El Presidente Hotel in Central Merida and met our real estate agent. After a tour of several downtown locations and seeing the urban living conditions of what we could afford and how much we would have to invest in remodel we set out for what we came for:(our bungalow in paradise). We drove fifteen minutes from downtown to a struggling patch of street with a large hacienda as we entered the hacienda we found a full service hotel with amenities owned by a Canadian immigrant. Her friend had bought the property and was selling it. She was using the property as her honeymoon suite as part of her property to entice and satisfy customers until the property was sold.
After meeting her, we had concern of her selling the hacienda and what would happen to our bungalow once walled off and all use privileges gone, left with a postage stamp lot, and surrounded by poverty and nearby Kanasin we left our dream behind. We retired for lunch with our realtor at "Hacienda Teya" an exquisite hacienda which even Hillary Clinton has visited. Discussed what we saw completed our Yucatacan meal and headed back out for our last stop. We drove back toward San Pedro Nohpat taking a different entry and headed into a new sub-division with two streets of new homes. I was amazed at how perfect it was for us as it had all we needed for a vacation home and the price was ridiculous twenty seven thousand dollars. Deb and I looked at each other and new this is it paradise at last. With great joy I handed over the monies for a down payment and never even saw the beach. We had reached euphoria with our new investment and discussed our future all the way back to the United States.
As the United States economy continued to decline, consumers demanding lower prices cut in to past profits, as I had strong emotional ties to my employees I was not about to reduce wages. Instead I raised their wages and tried expanding my small business with new supposedly educated people a new set of goals and a lot of trust I opened the door to:"What brought me here hard and fast!"
Mortgages were abundant as the refinance war began; small business throughout the United States looked to the value of their precious home to bail out their business endeavors. I owning a large amount of equity in my home jumped on the trend and set the bar high. A over achiever at all I do. I set forth with confidence and expanded the business. Knowing that my employees were suffering also I refused to lower wages I raised them and brought on new employees looking forward to expansion. The bottom dropped out of the real estate market as I watched the home which was now refinanced plummet in value as did many. I was watching my investments dwindle to nothing.
Seeing the handwriting on the wall I invested into myself. My wife Deb suggested that I continued my education and turned toward passion as motivation. I have been a competitive athlete all my life from school organized sports to owning the courts in the concrete jungle of the parks playing pickup basketball and even being a local ringer for corporate teams or churches in many city leagues. I played many a year of slow pitch softball also as I aged. Staying in physical shape was always important to me so I could participate at a level younger than I truly was not to mention the vanity of the sport I would pursue in my late thirty's and still compete with those much younger than myself bodybuilding.
Deb and I were drawn together at the start by exercise as we met on the internet site Match.com, once we started dating we were never separated for long. She knew what made me function at a level others could not it was exercise and a shot of testosterone. After her suggestion I enrolled back into college and pursued a grueling schedule of nutrition, anatomy-physiology, and strength training as well as other exercise science courses. I jumped in with both feet, while still managing my business and a full load of school. I did a internship with the YMCA. I truly enjoyed working with the staff as well as members as they all new me as "Physical Ed" the bodybuilder.
In January of 2010 I tested and passed with the American Council on Exercise. I began pursuit of a new career at age forty eight. Continuing my business and paying for my clients work to be done with my employees, my savings was quickly diminishing. I started training individuals and offering free advice to others in the gyms in hopes of other income. Many wonderful friendships were made as well as clients, but not providing enough income. Deb and I wanted to stop the bleeding.
In March we had a conversation and made the decision to take a leap of faith. We put all assets and worldly possessions out for yard sales. Weeks passed like days and we watched our possessions be sold for pennies per hundred dollars. We prepped our families for the big jump and set a date to arrive 05/3/2010. I continued to work for the Y and administrate my business and of course selling practically everything I own.
Deb working diligently as always did the research and planned our itinerary. The trip would take five nights and six days with two stops in the overnight in Texas. Deb knew every road and hotel as she started booking them in April. We were concerned about driving our two vehicles with the two of us and the dogs through Northern Mexico along with what possessions we had left.
During the last of the massive yard sales I asked my amigo Bart if he would be our escort and drive with us all expenses paid. Bart agreed and did me a favor that I will owe for a long time. "Thanks Bart You Are the Best!"
On 4/28/2010 we packed up was left and headed to our vacation home which now is our residence touring the Gulf Coast route to Merida. Not having a single problem with the exception of Deb falling in Matamoras and reinjuring her shoulder from a broken acromion process debacle at my daughters wedding three years prior. All we were told through the media in the United States proved false. Arriving 5/3/2010 exhausted we were thrilled to occupy our new home.
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