Living in Mexico takes a little more effort. What does a "little more effort" mean? It means there are many little things that one must do on a daily basis that one just doesn't usually encounter north of the border.
Kay and I open the house in the morning. Which consist of opening a number of doors, and windows throughout the house while making sure the screens are closed. The house is nether heated or air conditioned as most homes in this part of Mexico. Therefore, one must ensure the best air flow through the day. If it starts to rain, some of the aforementioned chores must be reversed. Since the house is two stories plus a mirador, that's a fair amount of up and down the stairs; three flights to be exact.
The kitchen is medium, but has no dishwasher or ice maker, yes I spill water on the floor each time I fill the trays. Dishes and utensils, must be allowed to air dry, because thry are washed and rinsed in non-potable water. I am told this process will not make the dishes sterile, but acceptable and won't make us sick (remember Montezuma?). We do not have a house hold water purifier.
For some reason the upper cabinets in the kitchen are set at 24" above the counter tops which makes it impossible for Kay to reach the upper shelves without a stool. Since Mexican people are not known to be tall, I am somewhat puzzled by this. The stove is gas, which is fine. However, the temperature in the oven is difficult to regulate. There is no temperature displayed on the knob; simply, low, medium and high. I think it is simply a quality issue, or this is how ovens are made in Mexico. Bettye brought an oven thermometer with her when she came. We still cannot accurately regulate the oven temperature.
The laundry has both washer and drier. After setting controls, both have to be started by a switch on the machines. The drier has a 110-volt element which takes longer than an American dryer. Plus a Mexican Maytag, a sink/wash board combination. Many Mexican women have washers, but just do not see the need for a dryer since the sun/wind will do the same in less time ... and cheaper.
The house water is gravity fed, from a storage tank on the roof. You have a pump which delivers water to the roof from a cistern in the ground. It operates through a float switch when the roof tank needs filling. The only major draw back to gravity fed water is if you are enjoying a shower and some one decides to flush the toilet. Yikes! The water temperature changes in a hurry ... and not for the better. One can have a pressurized water system. This increases the cost to build, plus a pressurized water system increases the electric bill. There is what is fondly (or unfondly) referred to as the "death penalty clause" in the electric company's billing. You do not want those rates. However, we've learned that you have to have a pretty big house and a lot of electric use in order to have to pay those rates. I think we may be safe on those counts.
In order to have potable drinking water, we make two trips to Walmart every month for 4 5-gallon bottles of drinking water, twenty gallons each time, at a cost of $16.00 per trip. That little feat means that you get to haul eight 5 gallon bottles of water weighting 40 lbs each out to the car, then home and into the house. No wonder I am loosing weight! Did I share with you that at least 10 gallons (2 bottles) are needed on the second floor each month? The water that's delivered to the second floor then must be pumped in to a pitcher for transport to the separate bath rooms as needed. If all this seem a little much, remember Mexicans don't drink water from the tap. Actually, nobody drinks water from the tap unless they pay for a water purification system.
The ceiling fan/light combinations must be adjusted as the needs arise for air flow and light during both day and night. There are some three-way switches in this house, but not like the US, so there is more walking to accomplish the levels needed. Even though we have screens there is a need to kill more flies, than back home. Those buggers get in the house somehow! We have a fly swatter in every room.
During the rainy months we do not have to water, otherwise there are plants and flowers to water both in and out. There are sprinkler systems around but not many. Here in San Antiono Tlayacapan the flora grows spring, summer, fall, and winter; which requires a great deal of clipping, pruning and hauling to the trash. The front terrace (of the casa) must be swept each day. I don't know why, it's what Mexican women do each morning. So I do the same (I think I may have the roles reversed, or maybe I'm the gardener, which are usually men).
Mexico is, for the most part, a cash society, however that is changing. One is constantly thinking, do I have enough cash to do what I need to do? Some bank ATMs will let you have 3000 Pesos, that's around $225.00 at a rate of 13.25 peso to the dollar; some only 1500 pesos. That seems like a fare amount of cash, right? Think about it. $100.00 at the food store, $50.00 for car gas, lunch out $12.00. We have yet to cover the doctor, dentist, meds, oil changes, car washes, movies, church contribution, etc.
If it sound like I am complaining, please forgive. Kay and I are enjoying our new life here in Mexico. I have always enjoyed living in different cultures, and we now have an opportunity to learn from some of the most kind gentle people I have ever met here "Lakeside" at Lake Chapala in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.
Remember, God only gives us a certain number of days. I don't plan on wasting the ones I have left.
Until we talk again.
Mike
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