“The Look !”

Sometimes I meet North Americans vacationing in Mexico when Arcelia and I are ourselves vacationing for a few days away from the Lake Chapala area.

As is normal when speaking to folks from the USA when you’re in a different country, the subject comes up: Where do you live? Or, where are you from?

Once I tell them I live in Mexico full time I sometimes get that “The Look” that seems to imply that I must be some sort of “semi – traitor” for living in Mexico full time.

Then they ask where I live and want to know if I would consider moving back to the USA?

Of course I explain that I’m very happy living at Lake Chapala and why, but that yes, I would consider moving back. They look a little puzzled and then they say, “Well if you don’t like the USA why would you consider moving back?”

I explain that I love the USA and that I’m not a “traitor”, but just a “trader”.

I’ve “traded” the high cost of living, the too hot or too cold weather, and the sky rocket high taxes, and high cost health care in the USA for a very low cost of living, wonderful year around weather, low health care costs, and extremely low taxes here in Mexico.

I love Mexico and the USA, and have family and friends in both countries, but it’s extremely unlikely that I will return to the USA to live, but yes, I would consider it, if I could live as well on the same money at a place where the weather was just as nice.

The simple truth is that I can’t imagine this happening in my lifetime no matter who is in the “Casa Blanca”.