North America

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El Grito — and a Contest

Today is Mexico’s Independence Day. Read more about El Grito (the cry) that triggered the Mexican War of Independence. There should be lots of partying tonight, but I’m not going anywhere. It will be easier to joy celebrations when I live in town next year!

Dolores hidalgo

A statue of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in front of the church in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato. (Photo By Paigemorrison at English Wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons)

Unrelated, I was sent a link today to a great contest offering a chance to win a culinary trip for two to Mérida. I’m not affiliated with this context and it is only open to US residents, but I thought some of you might be interested!

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Mexico Is Tightening Supervision of Foreigners’ Visas and Local Income

Several people have sent me a link to the recent Yucalandia article about how Mexico is tightening supervision of foreigners’ visas and local income.

Nothing in this article is new or a surprise to me. It just says what I’ve been saying since I first came to Mexico — the old timers need to get with the times and the new timers need to learn the new rules and stop relying on and trusting old advice. Mexico is modernising at a rapid pace and keeps better records that can be accessed from anywhere in the country thanks to new computer databases. Foreigners need to stop treating Mexico like their playground and start treating it with respect.

In particular, this article deals with how many foreigners/expats are cheating the tax system by not declaring their income in Mexico. Read the article for more all the details.

I’m not sure why people keep feeling a need to send me this link. Maybe because I’ve talked a few times about starting an Airbnb business here? Well, let me reassure you all that after years of not being able to follow Canadian laws (while still doing the very best to fulfil my tax obligations), I am super happy to be in a country where I can live the life I want and I have every intention of complying with the laws to the best of my ability. That means no Airbnb business until I gain “lucrativo” status, which would allow me to start a business here and earn income. I am going to ask at residente temporal visa renewal time if that would be possible or, worst case, I’ll wait until I’m granted permanent residency, at which point I’ll automatically get the right to work and earn money in Mexico.

But wait, some of you say. Aren’t you working in Mexico? Technically yes.

I don’t like to talk about financial matters in great details because everyone’s situation is so different, but I will say that there is no question at all that I am complying with Mexican law at this time. In Mexico’s eyes, I am not working in Mexico. I am physically in Mexico, yes, but doing work for a Canadian company for non-Mexican clients. All my money comes from outside of Mexico and only comes to Mexico after first going through US and Canadian banks. For them, my job is just like retirement income. I fully declared what I do to get my money and all my documents were examined at the consulate in Montreal and accepted. When I came here, I put on my paperwork that I’m a freelance transcriptionist and both the immigration offices in Progreso and Mexico City accepted that as well.

It is an inevitability that I will eventually start a company here since doing so would reduce my tax burden in Canada. I just need to let my immigration status settle a little and do a bit more research about how to do what I want to do. I will consult with a lawyer and accountant when that time comes.

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Sometimes, You Just Have to Let Things Fall Into Place

I’m all Spanished out, but boy did I have a productive day!

The cleaner arrived around 9:30 and I headed into Mérida with no firm plans other than meeting a seller of a used Lego kit I’d been hoping to find and that they were selling at a bargain price. All work and no play and all that. 🙂

Coming into Mérida, I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t feel well and I finally realised that in the flurry of trying to get my work and chores done before heading out, I’d had coffee, but forgotten to have breakfast! I decided that after my first stop, I would go to Gran Plaza to have some salbutes at that kiosk I went to a while back. But first, Scotiabank for a withdrawal and to hopefully open up an account since I had a lease and a water bill.

Well… the lease wasn’t good enough as it’s only valid in Yucatán and not in Mexico as a whole. The water bill would have needed to be in my name. The rep suggested I’d be best to get internet service and a bill in my name that way, then come back. He said that different companies have different requirements and that I should just go for whomever would take me and then switch later to a different/better service if need be. However, he was surprised that the company I want insisted on my having a bank account and told me to go back and try with a different rep. So there was another reason to go to Gran Plaza as that was the nearest office for Izzi telecom.

I happened to get a parking spot right by the telecom office, so I did that first. I was told that if I wanted service in English, I would have to wait in a line four expats deep, but if I was comfortable in Spanish, then I could be served immediately. I’m starting to understand what it means to be privileged…

This rep didn’t even ask me about a bank account and just signed me up! I had a choice of 20, 30, 50, and 100Mbps service and I decided to go with 50 to start as I can upgrade, but not downgrade as this is a 12-month contract. I know from my time in Chambly that 30 isn’t going to be enough, but I don’t trust that I’ll actually get the 100Mbps at my modem and the cost was significantly more than for 50Mbps service. I had to pay 600 pesos right there to schedule my installation. Well, that was… izzi. Their name can’t be a coincidence, can it? 🙂

The Lego seller still hadn’t called by that point, so I finally went to get food. I was super hungry and knew this would my only real meal of the day so I went with three salbutes, two of turkey and one of relleno negro (which is also turkey). I have to pick out the egg before chomping down. I wonder if my love of relleno negro rather than the grease is the reason why Yucatecán food doesn’t seem to agree with me since I’m likely ingesting more egg than I realise? I’m going to have to see if there’s a pattern between how I feel after eating Yucatecán food without relleno negro and with. The problem could also be the habanero peppers. Who knows. Anyway, a little discomfort is worth all this yumminess. 🙂 I really love the relleno negro, but the turkey ones seem fresher/lighter since they have veggies, including those yummy pickled onions.

As I was finishing up, the seller finally got in touch with me and asked where I was. I told him Gran Plaza and that I could go to where he needed me to go. He said to stay put and that he’d be there shortly! Wow! I spent some time window shopping and also had an ice cream since my lips were on fire (habaneros are more deadly than the serranos and jalapeños more commonly used in Sinaloa!).

The guy eventually showed up, we made our deal, and then I headed to the house. My landlady had warned me that the painter would be doing the façade today so I knew it would not be a good day to haul a bunch of stuff in. I just brought in a bag and a box and then got to work on the sink. After a bit of scrubbing with steel wool and Barkeeper’s Friend, it was looking okay. Not great, but fine. I think a thin coating of wax for protection will make all the difference. I’m still going to get a quote to replace it at the same time as the taps, which, really, are way overdue to be changed.

It was almost two by this point, I had to be back in Chelem for 3:30, and I needed a few groceries, so I headed out to the Bodega Aurrera where I bought the cleaning supplies. There, my phone rang. It was my landlady and she was calling about my visit to Scotiabank this morning…

As it turned out, the guy at Scotiabank had recognised my landlord’s name. My landlord is actually my landlady’s son and he’s out of the country. So the Scotiabank guy called her. For what, I have no idea. Maybe to hopefully get more information so that he could open an account? Well, my landlady, of course, could not do anything in that matter. I apologised that she’d been bothered and told her not to worry about it.

Well, she said that she really didn’t want to get into my business, but it was clear I’m having a hard time with the bank account thing. So her husband called his account manager at an HSBC and the manager said that with him acting as a reference, he will be able to open an account for me using my residency documents. I just have to call to schedule an appointment! Needless to say, she got MANY thanks.

I then did my shopping, which was mostly buying an inordinate amount of cheese. I also wanted Abuelita hot chocolate, something I really enjoy as an evening treat a couple of times a month. They had a nice offer of a free mug with the hot chocolate. The price really was the same as if there was no mug, so even though I didn’t really need another mug, these were too pretty to pass up.

There are several models with Mexican cultural designs. I went with a bird and am seriously tempted to go back and get all the others. 🙂 The hot chocolate keeps for at least a year…

The cashier was the same gal who served me last time and she asked me how the house was going! I couldn’t believe that she’d remembered me! I’ve been to Willy’s here in Chelem I don’t know how many times and no one ever recognises me. We had a chat last time because she’d jokingly asked me what kind of mess I was going to clean up with everything that I bought and I was, of course, bursting to say that I was heading to my new house. So that was very sweet and rather a nice welcome to the neighbourhood.

I headed back to Chelem after, in pouring rain, and the housecleaner was just wrapping up. She was happy to take me up on an offer of a lift home. I will go pick her up tomorrow or Friday so she can come get her ATV.

Then, I had to do a last minute rush job that came in and just as that was almost done, the phone rang. Let me tell you again, I am Spanished out for the day. But it was the internet company confirming my order and letting me know they’re coming tomorrow to install! Um… I asked if I could go for the 20th instead (next Wednesday) since I have a couple of big work days coming up. The guy checked and said yup. So next Wednesday between 9 and noon. Wow. So much faster, easier, and, of course, cheaper than in Canada.

Well, it’s been a Day and I still have an hour of work to do and a hungry dog who knows I came home with eggs to feed… It sure feels good to be moving forward. October 31st is coming up really fast!

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A Tropical To-Do List

A had a few chores to do today that the me of not that long ago who thought she’d continue having to keep spending three quarters of her life shovelling her truck out of snowbanks could never have imagined….

    • check the cactus to see if the dragonfruit were ripe for picking (couple more days!)
    • check the citrus plant to see if its fruit is ripe enough to pick and finding out what it is (one more day?)
    • making a note to ask the neighbour down the street, if I can ever catch him, if he’d mind if I cut the palm fronds from his tree that are hanging over the street and scratching my truck
    • fishing a suicidal scorpion out of the pool

  • not think twice about going for a swim in almost mid-September
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Plans Written in Sand

I had some pretty grand plans for today that included making another attempt at opening a bank account and trying to order internet service, as well as taking a load to the house and cleaning the master suite. Good thing I’m flexible.

Before I took off this morning, I had another look at the local classifieds in the hope of finding a fridge that I could have delivered to the house today. That’s the big purchase that will help set the budget for everything else so I really wanted it out of the way. I’ve looked at enough online to know that simple side-by-side fridges (my dream model) are a rare pearl because those with ice makers and/or water dispensers are standard. So I was looking at $4,000+ for a side-by-side. But a decent regular fridge with the freezer on top could be had from anywhere from $800 to $3,000 depending on size, brand, and condition. I would be happy to get a big one with plastic shelves (rather than wire shelves) that runs cold and is clean. I really don’t care much about the appearance, especially since rust is such a part of life here, so cosmetic issues weren’t major.

Well, I spotted a nice looking one for $1,500 that while small had everything else I wanted… and the guy actually texted me right back to say I could come this morning to look at it. So instead of heading to a bank, I ended up somewhere near the airport in a fairly poor neighbourhood where my truck fit right in, but I got a lot of stares when I exited it. That might be because I’d been driving in circles looking for the house. Who knows… 🙂

At any rate, it turns out the guy sells all manner of used appliances. The fridge was fine, but small, and I was happy when he said he had a bigger similar one. That one looked better, not that that was a huge part of my decision, and I really liked the size. Like the little one, it was plugged in so I could see just how cold it was. I asked how much and he said $2,000, which I knew from my research was a fair price. I asked him if he could recommend someone to move it for me and he said, “If you don’t live too far away and you pay the full $2,000, I can deliver it this afternoon.” SOLD! 🙂 We shook on it and I told him I’d text him with directions when I got to the house (having determined that it’s not “too far”).

I headed home (HOME!), which was super easy as I could just take the periférico and exit at Calle 21. I decided to detour to Chedraui to pick up cleaning supplies, but passed a Bodega Aurrera on the way that I knew would have what I wanted. I bought all manner of cleaning supplies and headed for the house.

There, I texted the fridge guy and he said he’d be there in “about” an hour. I changed into my grubbies and set to work.

By the time I’d unloaded my purchases, the suitcases and bins I’d brought from Chelem, and lugged the ladder up to my bedroom, I was already beat since I hadn’t slept well at all last night. At any rate, I got started in my shower with a spray that promised it could handle the mould in my grout. It sure did! I couldn’t believe how well it worked without any scrubbing. I hope I have as much luck dealing with limescale downstairs.

I didn’t do anything else to the bathroom and instead moved to the closet as that’s where I wanted to put the things I’d brought. I put together a bucket of soapy water. In doing so, I discovered that the tap in the kitchen is very loose. That does it; I’m paying for a replacement myself. I think the sink can be salvaged, though.

As expected, the shelf and the top of the cabinets were very dusty, but, to my surprise, the ceiling fan wasn’t, and neither was the one in the bedroom.

I spent about a full hour on the master suite before calling it a day. I changed back into my nicer clothes and went around the corner to a little tienda to get a snack and a cold drink. Minutes after I came back, I heard a honk out front. It was about 90 minutes since fridge guy had texted so I figured that had to be him. It was!

The easiest way to get the fridge to the kitchen was of course through the service door and down the service corridor. The guys rolled it in place and told me to wait a few hours to plug it in. Of course, I’m not plugging it in just yet because why pay power for it? So I just left the doors propped open with some rags to make sure the doors don’t accidentally close.

So here it is!

The only issue with it is that the handle can’t be switched to the other side. But with the layout of the kitchen being what it is, I don’t think that’ll be a huge issue. The fridge is an LG brand and the fact that it was still super cold when it arrived tells me it’s not a cheap model. LG fridges start at about $5,000 here for the smaller size, so I think I did pretty well. I’m very happy with it and don’t feel that I settled the way I would have for the $1,500 one. This is a fridge I’ll be able to live with with for a long time.

It was then time to head to Costco and then back to Chelem to give Puppy his supper. His lordship was on his absolute best behaviour when I got in, greeting me politely, then staying out of the way while I brought in two loads of things. After that, I gave him a treat for being such a good boy and told him to go get his toys while I changed. Sure enough, when I came back out, he was waiting by my door with his rope for tug-of-war and his ball for fetch! By the time I’d worn him out, I was dead on my feet, so I had a swim and then settled in for a chat with my mother.

The house is going to need a lot of work to feel like “home,” but I feel like I took a step in the right direction today. I’ll head back next Wednesday with another load and will hopefully make it to a bank as well!