Ex Pats/Why Playa?

sharkbait · 06-14-2007

I have alot of admiration for those of you that have had the kahona's to pull the trigger on a relocation to Playa Del Carmen. I too have recently been reevaluating on what "Quality of Life" really means. Freezing my butt off 6 months of the year is becoming less appealing every year and I certanily don't see anything "Quality" about it
The question I had for you Ex Pats is why did you choose Playa over say, USVI or even Puerto Rico, where immigration and employment opputunities would seem to be alot less of a hassle. Don't get me wrong, this is in no way a knock on Playa, we will be there over Christmas Week and I can't wait. We spent last Christmas on Cozumel and I would move there tomorrow if the kids were a couple of years older and I could find some sort of employment or business oppurtunity. There must be more to it than just the tropical weather, torquoise water, and white sand beaches, as you could get this at the above mentioned.
Looking forward to hearing your responses.

**Susie Q Roo** · 06-14-2007

In comparison with the places you mentioned, Playa wins because of its culture (food included), its people, the fact that it isn't an island so there's no feeling of being "trapped," and that it's way less expensive to live here than it is in those other places (if you live to more local standards). I'm sure it would be nice to live without immigration hassles, but they are short-lived, relatively, in comparison with the benefits of living here.

JudyBluEyes · 06-14-2007

I don't live there... yet, but my husband and I will be there very very soon!!

For me it's mostly the feeling I get when I'm there. The first time I got off the bus and walked down 5th I felt like I had come home, and every time since I have had the same feeling. It's more than the beach (although it is beautiful) and the weather (although I do like it hot !!

). I love the ambience of the place... the laid-back attitude, the casual atmosphere, the eclectic community, the friendly and open people, a simpler lifestyle...

Rissask · 06-14-2007

Mexico is a very common place for ex pats, both American and Canadian...Europeans too. There is likely a lot of them more simply because it is a much larger country than PR or the USVI.

Besides Playa, on the west coast there are many ex pat communities, Lake Chapala..... La Manzanilla and Barra di Navidad near Manzanillo.....the communities of Troncones and Barra di Potosi near Ixtapa/Zihuantanejo...Conejos near La Crucecita in the Huatulco area has lots of ex pats....Rincon de Guayabitos and Bucerias and Sayulita near Puerto Vallarta....yeah, we have been looking too.

The food, the people, the laid back lifestyle, the low property taxes compared to home, the weather...the weather....the weather.

Sunny20 · 06-14-2007

I'm sorry...

ex-pat..?
i understand the concept of it but dont understand why this word??

anyway, playa has that feeling of relief.. don't know what it is.. it just puts a smile on your face walking around playa..

adam_madison · 06-14-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunny20

I'm sorry...

ex-pat..?
i understand the concept of it but dont understand why this word??

anyway, playa has that feeling of relief.. don't know what it is.. it just puts a smile on your face walking around playa..

Expat is just short for Expatriate . I think it takes on a derogatory meaning when folks spell it ex-patriot, like you are a traitor to country or something for wanting to live somewhere else

. Anyway it just means you live in a country you didn't grow up in ... any country. Here is more than you probably wanted to know:

Expatriate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cheers,
Adam

Sunny20 · 06-14-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam_madison

Expat is just short for Expatriate . I think it takes on a derogatory meaning when folks spell it ex-patriot, like you are a traitor to country or something for wanting to live somewhere else

. Anyway it just means you live in a country you didn't grow up in ... any country. Here is more than you probably wanted to know:

Expatriate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cheers,
Adam

wow.. thanks

adam_madison · 06-14-2007

De nada!

PlayadelSoul · 06-14-2007

Honestly, Playa kind of chose me. I am here because my boss sent me. I think I got a pretty good deal, although I was happy in Merida, as well.

snorkeler47 · 06-14-2007

You seem to have travelled Mexico extensively and have mentioned some very interesting spots to set up a new life in the sun. We are reading a considerablle amount on moving to Mexico and Playa is definitely high on our list. Done Puerto Vallarta , Manzanillo and Barra de navidad by accident in a rented VW trying to find the Crazy Angels resort.
But seriously---if you could and wanted to do it to-morrow which one would you consider the best bet on your list.
As I say we are in the serious planning stages and value your opinion

PS--prairie skies and Saskatchewan, a Canadian 7th wonder--wahoo

Island Dan · 06-14-2007

I love playa for the food....We need better places to eat here in Cozumel. I cant believe the lack of local cheap food here on the island to choose from.

cyndyj1 · 06-14-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyBluEyes

I don't live there... yet, but my husband and I will be there very very soon!!

For me it's mostly the feeling I get when I'm there. The first time I got off the bus and walked down 5th I felt like I had come home, and every time since I have had the same feeling. It's more than the beach (although it is beautiful) and the weather (although I do like it hot !!

). I love the ambience of the place... the laid-back attitude, the casual atmosphere, the eclectic community, the friendly and open people, a simpler lifestyle...

Exactly! I'm making progress! My target date is mid-September - if I can get it all together by then, I will have a driving companion. And definitely, I'm aiming for BEFORE WINTER! My 1st year here, it snowed in mid-September, and was totally socked in by the end of October - snow banks meeting rooftops. SO....here's to gettin' there.

mikeybikes · 06-14-2007

We too have been searching for the right place to re-locate to. We visited Lake Chapala and the nearby Aijijic where most expats live. I didn't get the sense of community there. The lake is nice but not an ocean and fairly pricey. We just got back from Sayulita in late May. Lot's of Americans buying homes and great atmosphere but. the Pacific just doesn’t compare. We went to La Paz in Baja, not touristy (good) and the Sea of Cortez is beautiful and city interesting but too desert looking.
Playa is just right, the ocean is fabulous, it's very international, 5th Ave is incredible, there are tons of flights out of the Cancun Airport, and there is something that just feels right.
We may never live there permanantly but we are 3-4 years away from being able to spend 3-6 months a year there.
For now 10 days in Winter will have to suffice.

**Mindbender** · 06-14-2007

I came here to replace commuting and grey skies.

Now I get to drive regularly to Cancun searching for better suppliers in tropical rain.

Debbielasvegas · 06-14-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindbender

I came here to replace commuting and grey skies.

Now I get to drive regularly to Cancun searching for better suppliers in tropical rain.

Hey there again Mindbender,
was great to meet you in April.
Question.... what the hell do you do anyways ???

You never answered me that night I asked.

(I still cant find any of your favorite tin of beans here!!)

06-14-2007	#1 (permalink)
sharkbait life=playa Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 693	Ex Pats/Why Playa? I have alot of admiration for those of you that have had the kahona's to pull the trigger on a relocation to Playa Del Carmen. I too have recently been reevaluating on what "Quality of Life" really means. Freezing my butt off 6 months of the year is becoming less appealing every year and I certanily don't see anything "Quality" about it The question I had for you Ex Pats is why did you choose Playa over say, USVI or even Puerto Rico, where immigration and employment opputunities would seem to be alot less of a hassle. Don't get me wrong, this is in no way a knock on Playa, we will be there over Christmas Week and I can't wait. We spent last Christmas on Cozumel and I would move there tomorrow if the kids were a couple of years older and I could find some sort of employment or business oppurtunity. There must be more to it than just the tropical weather, torquoise water, and white sand beaches, as you could get this at the above mentioned. Looking forward to hearing your responses.

06-14-2007	#10 (permalink)
snorkeler47 toe in water Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 58	Question for Rissak You seem to have travelled Mexico extensively and have mentioned some very interesting spots to set up a new life in the sun. We are reading a considerablle amount on moving to Mexico and Playa is definitely high on our list. Done Puerto Vallarta , Manzanillo and Barra de navidad by accident in a rented VW trying to find the Crazy Angels resort. But seriously---if you could and wanted to do it to-morrow which one would you consider the best bet on your list. As I say we are in the serious planning stages and value your opinion PS--prairie skies and Saskatchewan, a Canadian 7th wonder--wahoo

06-14-2007	#13 (permalink)
mikeybikes toe in water Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 58	My kind of thread We too have been searching for the right place to re-locate to. We visited Lake Chapala and the nearby Aijijic where most expats live. I didn't get the sense of community there. The lake is nice but not an ocean and fairly pricey. We just got back from Sayulita in late May. Lot's of Americans buying homes and great atmosphere but. the Pacific just doesn’t compare. We went to La Paz in Baja, not touristy (good) and the Sea of Cortez is beautiful and city interesting but too desert looking. Playa is just right, the ocean is fabulous, it's very international, 5th Ave is incredible, there are tons of flights out of the Cancun Airport, and there is something that just feels right. We may never live there permanantly but we are 3-4 years away from being able to spend 3-6 months a year there. For now 10 days in Winter will have to suffice.

06-14-2007	#2 (permalink)
Susie Q Roo Critter Magnet Join Date: May 2003 Location: Q Roo Posts: 16,084	In comparison with the places you mentioned, Playa wins because of its culture (food included), its people, the fact that it isn't an island so there's no feeling of being "trapped," and that it's way less expensive to live here than it is in those other places (if you live to more local standards). I'm sure it would be nice to live without immigration hassles, but they are short-lived, relatively, in comparison with the benefits of living here.

06-14-2007	#3 (permalink)
JudyBluEyes añejo Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,870	I don't live there... yet, but my husband and I will be there very very soon!! For me it's mostly the feeling I get when I'm there. The first time I got off the bus and walked down 5th I felt like I had come home, and every time since I have had the same feeling. It's more than the beach (although it is beautiful) and the weather (although I do like it hot !! ). I love the ambience of the place... the laid-back attitude, the casual atmosphere, the eclectic community, the friendly and open people, a simpler lifestyle...

06-14-2007	#4 (permalink)
Rissask Canada Dry Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 49,566	Mexico is a very common place for ex pats, both American and Canadian...Europeans too. There is likely a lot of them more simply because it is a much larger country than PR or the USVI. Besides Playa, on the west coast there are many ex pat communities, Lake Chapala..... La Manzanilla and Barra di Navidad near Manzanillo.....the communities of Troncones and Barra di Potosi near Ixtapa/Zihuantanejo...Conejos near La Crucecita in the Huatulco area has lots of ex pats....Rincon de Guayabitos and Bucerias and Sayulita near Puerto Vallarta....yeah, we have been looking too. The food, the people, the laid back lifestyle, the low property taxes compared to home, the weather...the weather....the weather.

06-14-2007	#5 (permalink)
Sunny20 Billow Maiden Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: back in Iceland.. missing my playa... Posts: 2,514	I'm sorry... ex-pat..? i understand the concept of it but dont understand why this word?? anyway, playa has that feeling of relief.. don't know what it is.. it just puts a smile on your face walking around playa..

06-14-2007	#8 (permalink)
adam_madison lost on fifth Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 14	De nada!

06-14-2007	#9 (permalink)
PlayadelSoul Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: We'll know when we get there, We'll find mercy Posts: 8,963	Honestly, Playa kind of chose me. I am here because my boss sent me. I think I got a pretty good deal, although I was happy in Merida, as well.

06-14-2007	#11 (permalink)
Island Dan ruined Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Cozumel, Mexico Posts: 90	I love playa for the food....We need better places to eat here in Cozumel. I cant believe the lack of local cheap food here on the island to choose from.

06-14-2007	#14 (permalink)
Mindbender Licence to kill Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shifting Sands Posts: 5,644	I came here to replace commuting and grey skies. Now I get to drive regularly to Cancun searching for better suppliers in tropical rain.

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