L.A. girl thinking about making the move to GTO :)

[Jamie]

Thank you kindly for the replies!

I should say that the idea of living in Guanajuato appealed to me long before I ever met my boyfriend there. It's like my second home! And while L.A. has been good to me in so many ways, my #1 fantasy in life is to not have to own a car! (Last night's trek across town on the 10 and then up the 405 had me throwing any and ALL reservations about this move right out the window :P).

Barbara, it's helpful for me to hear that you've been able to live comfortably and travel throughout Latin America on your teaching salary. One of the perks of Mexican life for me would be PUENTES! Wow... I can't even imagine getting that much time off. Last year, my boyfriend was baffled that I had to go back to work the day after the 4th of July. "Pero no es puente??". "Nah baby... things are a little different here." ;)

Someone told me that if you cannot make up your mind, flip a coin. Whichever side you are wishing for before heads or tails is revealed is what your heart truly desires.

Well, I know what my heart wants! Now I just need to work out the practical details of it all.

Lots of good suggestions here. I will look into the immigration laws. Haven't even touched on that yet. I am already on an IBRP with my student loans. But there's just something about carrying all that debt with me to Mexico that doesn't settle right with me. Maybe it's because I'm under the illusion that I will actually pay these suckers off one day (and I am NOT on track to do that with my labor movement career!).

Mykul, the few younger expats I know in GTO are small business owners. I don't consider myself to be very entrepreneurial but I see how this makes sense. Although, I've heard a few horror stories about unreasonable landlords and issues with theft. Sounds like a headache to me.

I think I'm already beyond romanticizing the place. I'm pretty cognizant of the conveniences I'll be leaving behind and the challenges I'll face culturally (like a future mother in law who swears I'm going to get sick if I go outside with my hair wet or walk on a tiled floor barefoot--I'll learn to deal :s).

I really appreciate all your sharing and hope for more. Again, thank you!