We've been tossing around different ideas for the future. Where do we really want to live? We love the island, but not everything associated with living here. Miguel has land in Oaxaca, where he was born and raised until coming to Isla at the tender age of 14.
I dream of more land, a bigger yard where Loco can run and jump and act like the idiot he is without worrying about road traffic. A walled-in space where our cats can be free to explore and climb and lay in the sun without venturing outside the boundaries into the cruel world beyond.
I would like grass under my feet, and more space between neighbors so I don't hear the echo when they move a chair in their living room. Even with 3 feet separating us, the noise moves through concrete.
Our road is a miniature garbage dump. We keep the road from the house to the west corner cleaned up, but the lots to the left of us are absolutely disgusting with trash that has been tossed by the people who live and work there, and dogs who survive by tearing through garbage bags looking for morsels to eat.
I would like to walk to the store without weaving around boats that are parked along the side of the road. I feel like we're living in the dry docks, not a neighborhood. Thankfully this week one of the two boat shops was forced to move out, but that meant they left a mother dog and her two pups behind. As tempting as it is to feed them, their owner has plenty of resources to take care of his dogs, and no excuse not to spay/neuter them. I'm tired of worrying about other people's neglected animals.
So one option that was considered was selling the house and moving elsewhere, off the island. A meeting with an honest real estate agent who told it like it is made me realize that is not an option. The real estate market is soft, too many homes for sale and not enough buyers. It will be at least two years before the market will possibly give me the return I think I should get if I were to sell. So the option to sell is off the table.
We live each day as it comes. Life is dynamic, and it's always important to know your options. I guess a hacienda home, with a tall wall, a center fountain, and a lawn, are out of the picture. For now...
4 comments:
Does size matter? We have 35 acres and it seems like I'm always mowing the grass. Not to mention the .2 miles of frontage fence line to trim with a weedeater. And although our nearest neighbors are cows, frequently pickup trucks race by with "Don't Mess With Texas" bumper stickers and debris flying out of the truck beds. How come people don't behave better? Maybe I need a vacation.
Ah, the dilemmas of where to live and how to sell in a "soft" market. As I get older, I lose patience with waiting. I'm inching closer to the big move, even if it means sale at a big loss. But it's not without consequences -- most good, some not so good.
Good luck to you. At least you know that you WILL have options!
Add us to the list of people who would love to move, don't know exactly where, but don't have the option right now because the bottom's dropped out of the real estate market. We weren't around Oaxaca, but I loved the Mexican countryside when we went up to San Sebastion. The mountains and tropical foliage were beautiful with clean crisp air, wide open spaces, and friendly people. Glad you posted more. I was a little concerned.
Don't listen to much to the realtor; there are buyers out there, but many, if not MOST sellers want WAAAAY more than the properties are truly worth! We looked during our last trip in 2009, and it was ridiculous what folks were asking for tiny little dumps!
Found some beachfront property in Florida in December; it was more than Mexico's prices, sure, but it was way less than the inflated price they were were asking 2 years ago, so we feel it's a good investment.
Linda
Isla Chica
Post a Comment