New bloggers on the block

I've been following three new sites that are new to the Mérida blogging scene. It is always fun to read what others say about our shared theme, i. e., beginning a new chapter in our lives in the Yucatán. A different perspective is quite refreshing. These bloggers are all different in their approach to the subject of 'coming to Mérida.' Take a look.

Imagine Mérida: an incisive look at what this writer is finding as he searches (frustratingly) for the right home. He has done excellent research and almost daily, sometimes twice daily, presents information that you probably won't see on similar blogs. Case in point, the post on casinos in Mérida. Who would have thought?

Yucatango: Yucatango has come to Mérida and brings her web-based business and much needed social awareness. In her own words, she has come with "a cheap camera, a bike, and an appetite." You will see a variety of topics and some great photos, with an emphasis on green living and navigating the streets of Mérida on her bike(s). And food. And dancing.

Casa del Gato Azul:  Carlos Q and Pat Q are '4-5 years away from retiring', and hail from St. Louis. They are just beginning renovation on their home in the Centro. Carlos will have his own music room. They will be neighbors of ours, which is a good thing, because they love to cook good food and share with their neighbors. It's in writing. Right on their blog. Carlos is Puerto Rican and Alan (of John & Alan) is Italian. There's going to be some fine cooking going on in our neighborhood!

images from Hassle-Free ClipArt

Arlene

Tropical wave #4 dumped up to 88mm (almost 3.5 inches) of rain over parts of Yucatán on Monday. As usual, streets in the Centro flooded and some homes as well. As wave #4 made its way into the Gulf of Mexico it became Tropical Storm Arlene, and as it slowly gains strength could now become Hurricane Arlene as it heads toward the east coast of Mexico. According to the National Hurricane Center:

Tropical storm force winds are expected to reach the east coast of Mexico Wednesday evening, which could make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.Arlene is also expected to produce 4- to 8-inches of rain in some areas. Meteorologists say isolated rainfall amounts of 15 inches over mountainous terrain could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.When Arlene makes landfall, the storm surge could raise water levels up to 2 feet above normal tide markers.

Arlene makes her way across the Yucatán peninsula

The northeastern Gulf coast of Mexico and the US Gulf coast share the misfortune of sustaining devastating damage from hurricanes. For 2011 NOOA predicts 12-18 named storms throughout the entire Atlantic basin, of which 6-10 will become hurricanes with sustained winds of 74 mph and 3-6 will be major hurricanes (category 3,4,or 5) with winds of 111 mph or greater. This does not take into account activity in the Pacific basin. 


Check out this link to a collection of YouTube videos and photos of Hurricane Isadore which struck the Yucatán on September 22, 2002. 


Let us all pray that these storms stay out at sea and spare both Mexico and the United States horrendous devastation. 

Images from NOOA, National Hurricane Center

Who will do it if they don't?

Yesterday I saw a link to Sanctuary Evolucion, a shelter and so much more for abandoned and neglected or unwanted dogs and cats.  I have seen articles in Yucatan Today and Yucatan Living and the "Dog of the Week" videos produced by In the Yucatan, but this link is to a new program initiated by Evolucion founder Silvia Cortés and her staff of volunteers. There is an amazing and heart-warming video about teaching kids that abandoning an animal to the streets is an act of violence. It is a violent act to leave a dog locked in an abandoned home to starve to death. As a Boy Scout badge shows, it is about learning 'Respeto - Compasión - Responsabilidad'.  The program was initiated in an effort to stem the incidence of domestic and other acts of violence in the Yucatan by teaching children to respect and appreciate all living things.  I have not seen estimates for the number of abused animals in Mexico, but the Humane Society of the United States (HUSU) estimates that animal shelters care for 6-8 million dogs and cats every year, of whom approximately 3-4 million are euthanized. This is a sad and alarming statistic.  When we finally make it to Mérida full time, I know where I will be volunteering.

It's even hot in the shade

All images from Sanctuary Evolution Website

The cost of NOT living in Mexico

Less Time.
Less Freedom.
More Taxes.
Less Money.


At least according to a young man named David Krug, who has a huge website retire.com.mx, to which you can subscribe and download the first chapter of his book, then purchase your own copy. Any of us who have scoured the internet for information on this topic are well aware of the preponderance of sites devoted to expatriation. Another blogger I discovered, Steve Schwab (any relation to 'Chuck' ?), reports that in the next 15 years  upwards of 6,000,000 baby boomers will have settled in Mexico. Thankfully, they will be scattered throughout the entire country and not just in Yucatán. Schwab states "Do the math on 6,000,000 people buying a $300,000 house or condo and you will understand why the U.S. Government is trying to tax this massive shift of money to Mexico through H.R. 3056. The U.S. Government calls this 'The Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007'. Those who will have to pay are calling this the EXIT TAX". Well, this certainly caught my attention. How could I have missed something this big and costly?  I immediately googled H.R 3056 and found that the bill was introduced and sponsored in 2007 by Rep. Charles Rangel (D) NY (who was censured by the House this year for ethics violations). The bill passed the House but never made it out of committee to the Senate, so it has effectively been killed. Good. That would have eliminated Krug's 'More Taxes' from the list of the cost of  NOT living in Mexico. And it might have stopped our Mexico retirement plans dead in the tracks.

One of the most photographed buildings
(j&a 01/11)

You rarely see this building in photos of Mérida, but I actually like it.
(j&a 01/11)