Maybe it’s time for a “comprehensive 60 day review” as I approach that point in residence in sunny Mexico, or maybe it's just "so, do you like it so far?"

Is it what I expected? – yes and no, more and less, don’t you just love a definitive answer? But it is all that and more, so let’s swat at a few high points.

On my initial immersion in my new homeland it was a bit more rustic than I remembered, but that soon became unnoticeable as I drive and you adjust to the reality of the place. I remember thinking the same about Chicago when I moved there. As I’ve often said, Lakeway was essentially a country club without the fees, so any place is likely to be somewhat less. The cobbleboulder streets and the dirt street to my house are a nuisance – ok, that being said, this is where I chose to live, so get over it. Some nights the boom boom of the music from the nearby park is a bit much, but it is what it is, the occasional moooo of a cow grazing in the open area to the west or as they’re being herded back past my house to the pens in the evening is a nice contrast, I like it.

The language is something I need to work on, I generally get what I need accomplished, but language skills are really necessary and finding places can be a challenge. I’m comfortable driving pretty much anywhere as the traffic signs are generally easy to decipher. Traffic in Ajijic is usually a bit slow, but that’s because there is one road and lots of cars, a condition common to modern life most anywhere, so patience is a virtue. Besides, where do I have to go in a hurry?

I’ve saved the area of singular greatest disappointment for last, the people. I’m sure that human nature is probably universal for the most part, we are what we are and that’s often not very nice or pretty – and it’s the gringo’s I’m talking about here, NOT the Mexican people.

I suppose these gringo’s were probably the same NOB, but they were blended into the millions and so not as noticeable with their provincial attitudes and Patron mentalities, here they stick out like the sore thumb they are. Among the baggage they brought with them is a modified plantation mentality based on a stereotype which I find appalling. They apparently came here believing the native people are not only uneducated, but stupid, lazy, dishonest and unmotivated, so you shouldn’t expect too much of them or anything around you. I hear and see this far too often and it’s embarrassing at times to be a gringo.

I’ve recently been chastised by several and told I need to “learn” what NOT to expect or I’ll have an unpleasant time here. I’ve thought about this attitude for some time and it troubles me greatly. I’m being told I need to “learn” racism in essence; I need to learn to be demeaning to the native populous, to learn to not expect much from them – this really sticks in my craw, and would no matter where I am North or South of the border.

As a salesman and manager most of my life I always expected the most from myself and those working for me. I never expected more from someone than I would give myself, but in motivating myself and others I generally achieved more. Personally I achieved more in life than I ever expected – was it perfection? – of course not, but it was much greater than if I had expected nothing of myself and slumped to meet those lowly goals. I try very hard to live to a high standard of morals & ethics, of competence and craftsmanship and I have no problem asking that of others. I belong to the set of people who believe it’s better to encourage each person to their highest level rather than saying “well, they can’t really do much better, don’t bother to help them or expect more of them, they are who they are - so just walk on by”.

I find the native people pleasant, hard working and helpful, quite lovely people actually. They live in a somewhat self sustaining cast system of very rich and very poor. This is changing, but slowly because the old ways and habits are deeply engrained and will be more a generational change; more evolution than revolution. I’m reminded that 150 years ago slavery and racism was peachy keen with most white folks, but that changed, yet now here I’m seeing a segment of the expats imposing or at least sustaining that very attitude. I suppose it’s a manifestation of the old human holier-than-thou or my bath water doesn’t stink self aggrandizement. You have to wonder what person they see when they look in the mirror?

Why you ask is this burr under my saddle? – well, it’s a long time coming actually, I had seen it on the forum I’ve been reading and participating in for the past 18 months - until recently. I didn’t want to judge it unfairly without experiencing it first hand, and now sadly, I have. Recently the spark that caused this analysis was the collapse of the online forum loosing all the invaluable accumulated wisdom and personal contact data from the past 18 months. The loss was totally preventable, was most likely foreseeable and so one can only brand it for what it is – total incompetence. And, right on queue, the prevailing attitude is “don’t expect much, after all this IS Mexico and it’s free” – which of course invites more of the same and perpetuates the carefully crafted prejudice of Mexico being - - - well, just being Mexico, so don’t expect much. (it even hurts when I write these words because I can hear others saying them out loud)

This isn’t an indictment of the expat community in total, there are many lovely folks here quietly helping the people and treating them with the dignity they deserve much, I suspect, as they did in their former lives wherever – but then there are the others, let’s just leave it at that.

Sorry folks, now that it’s off my chest I’ll get back to the adventures of Max & Steve. Oh, to answer the original question - yes, I like it here just fine.