Are You Following Me?

In December it seemed as if my family was not happy about my decision to move forward with my house search in Merida. What a difference a few months can make.

My cunada has joked over the years that she and my brother seem to follow me wherever I go. Not really true, but there have been times when they have. Two years after I bought my house on the Hudson, they purchased a home two miles down the road...with the most spectacular view of the river I've ever seen. It's comforting to know that they're so close. Especially now that most of our family is gone.

They joined me on my trip in May.  It was not the most restful or comfortable one for sure.  We were working on the house with no fans or AC and the temps hovered around 98º. My brother spent a day in the hospital and his wife had to make a trip to the pharmacy.  I worried that they might be having a miserable time.

Well, a funny thing happened. While I was busy measuring square footage they fell in love with Merida.  Who knew?

They approached me a few weeks ago with the idea of building a second floor on the back of the house. They're nearing retirement and it would give them a place to stay while visiting without us getting into each other's hair. I purposely looked for a two bedroom house to accommodate guests but this idea seems like a good one.

Fish and company start to stink after three days...or so they say.  I live alone and enjoy my quiet time. I'm a very early riser and don't like the sound of a television mumbling in the background.  I have two dogs.  My brother and his wife, on the other hand, have been married for over 37 years and are very social people. They like to sleep late and the television is usually on (even though it's not being watched).  They like dogs...but not those with a combined weight of 160 pounds.

Their idea was starting to make sense.

It would be nice to have them stay for extended periods without having to "dance" around each other and the additional space would bring in more rental income when the house isn't being used. In exchange for "air rights" they offered to finance my renovations which would help speed things along.  As I mentioned before, my plans to make some repairs and changes to my Merida home are delayed due to repairs needed NOB.

Oh, and then there's the pool.  They would want a pool.  Who am I to complain?  They twisted my arm.

The writer of my favorite Merida blog wrote about the strange shapes of properties in Centro. He included what appeared to be a bar graph on LSD... when in fact it was an illustration of the inconsistencies that make up Merida real estate taken from Google maps. As with most homes in Centro, mine is not rectangular...it's more like a trapezoid.  I like the quirkiness of my house.  Walls slant and taper.  The footprint zigs and zags back and forth. The three of us have been talking about how we could configure the upstairs to make it functional and fit with the odd space provided. We're having fun with drawings and dreams but try as we may, it's been very difficult to see how this project is going to be achieved. Fortunately, the architect has more ability and experience than we do.  He's from Merida,  has worked on many homes in the neighborhood and we like his work so we have faith.

After a few weeks of mulling this over, I've decided it's a good idea.  Financial benefits aside, it's very comforting to know that my family loves me enough to want to keep following me.

Our mother would be thrilled to know that her children will be under the same roof again...and playing nice.

Renovation Costs in Merida - My Tiny Project - Part 2

I had planned to provide the costs involved with my tiny project but there's been a slight change of plans.

Looks like things are expanding.

More to come!

Renovation Costs in Merida ~ My Tiny Project ~ Part I

I've found over the past year that very few bloggers give specific costs of renovations to their Merida homes. I can understand their discretion.

I've decided that I'm going to post all the costs involved with mi nido. Maybe by doing so, someone will either find an answer to their question or learn from my mistakes.

I'll try to list all the repairs needed in my home in my next post, but for the time being I want to share the first project I tackled.

Because most houses in Centro are attached to neighboring homes, you don't have the benefit of an alley. Any work done in the interior courtyard has to be schlepped through the house. Best to start out back first.  This especially holds true if you're planning a pool or other major work. 

I come from a family known for several things...some good, some bad.  Some members are horticulturists.  If it's green they can handle it.  One cousin grows orchids, another is an amazing arborist and a third deals in carnivorous plants. They've got it covered.

My aunt and uncle are the oracles of all things rooted in the earth.  They would never forgive me if I let beautiful established trees and plants suffer from neglect, so the garden became my first priority. I'm still in the States and had to rely on the kindness of strangers and two good friends to make it all happen.  Friends who were heading to Merida to check on their own project made time to supply a key to the landscaper and take some photos of the house for me.

I first saw the house in February of this year, put in an offer and closed in March.  The house had only been vacant for two months and the garden looked good compared to many I'd seen. Great shade, a few aloe and a nice patio with pavers. 

I returned in May and was glad to see that even though the bougainvillea had spread out more than up, things seemed to be under control.  The coco palm needed a bit of attention but not a big project. I headed to Home Depot and bought some basic yard tools.



May 2013

The tall, beautiful tree that shades most of the yard is a Ceiba as best as I can tell. If it is, I'll be thrilled.  Hanging from the lowest branch was a swing that must have served some children well.  Unfortunately the vinyl rope from the swing was strangling the branch and it needed to come off.

I contacted a landscaper and forwarded photos to him.  Would he be able to attend to the bougainvillea and branch?   He was more than happy to and noticed from the photos that there was some debris under the tree that needed clearing out.  He would handle that also.  We agreed that he would start to train the bougie to climb on the wall, cut down the swing, clear out trash and assess the general health of the plants.  He also dispatched the termite throughway that had extended from the tree over the wall.

Price $1,700 Mex.


Well, a lot can happened between May and August which is evident from the before and after photos the landscaper sent.   He may be kicking himself in the pants for the quote he gave...but I hope not.

Morning of August 12, 2013
Before the Miracle

I couldn't be happier with the results and look forward to working with him in the future.  That is, if he'll have me!

Afternoon of August 12, 2013
After the Miracle

Lessons Learned From Other Bloggers and My Merida Courtyard

There are several excellent blogs written by expats living in Merida that I've relied on for much needed information and advice.

Over the past year I've learned to read between the lines as I search for answers about how to proceed with my journey south. You have to diligently keep up with posts...eventually, a gem of information appears that will come in handy later.

What's the best way to deal with creatures that find their way into the house?   How do you deal with constant weeping of moisture on the walls? (My favorite solution was don't bother and just hide it behind a great piece of furniture).  How do you set up garbage pick up?    I usually take a screen shot of info that will come in handy down the pike.

There is one blogger who's lived in Merida for many years. She's a do it yourselfer who takes on projects that most people would hire someone else to do. The results are wonderful and I respect the fact that she not only takes on some rather daunting projects, but is also willing to pass along the results in her posts. Occasionally she will say that a project didn't quite work out the way she planned but you'd never know it by the photos.

Now, I don't know this woman's financial situation but I can say this. She's not afraid to give things a try. She seems to get great pleasure from her results and the process to, and I respect that in a person.

Another long time expat seals his own roof. I would love to say one day that I did the same and maybe I will.

Then there's the man who hasn't moved to Merida yet, but clearly has his finger on the pulse of the city. He brings it all to life for me.

When I was young we lived in New York City and spent weekends at my grandparents home on the north shore of Long Island.  My grandfather built the house by himself...taking years to complete it. He was a linotype setter and had no formal construction experience. It was after the Depression and things were completed as funds were available.  Seventy years later I'm doing the same thing. My father died when I was six and I looked up to my grandfather. He taught my how to use tools, paint, bang nails and to have faith in myself. Those lessons have served me well during the last fifty years.

I don't live in Merida yet and am maintaining a two family house here in New York, so juggling two homes that need tweaks and repairs can be daunting sometimes. I've learned in life to take a breath, and accept that there are things I can't control. No use stressing about the future.   There will be plenty of time to stress later.  I'm enjoying the journey for now and will do what I can as time goes by.

That being said, there's one thing I can't and shouldn't put off and that's my Merida courtyard. I'm fortunate in that there is a wonderful tree in the courtyard about 15 meters high that provides much needed shade. It seems as if some of the lower branches have started to wither between February and May. There are several termite trails creeping up the trunk, an old swing tied to it that seems to be choking the lowest limb, and the previous owners had deposited some debris around the base of the trunk.

Here's my thoughts on trees. They take years to grow, they offer beauty and shade, and we often take them for granted.

I have many moderately priced projects to tackle in Merida. Electrical, some minor plumbing,  painting and small carpentry work. There are two large cedar closets that need to be stripped and refinished. I was given two quotes of $8200 MEX for the work...I know I can handle that one my own.

I found a company that will come in and clean out and remove the debris, cut down the swing, deal with the trunk, train the runaway bougainvillea to climb the wall and rescue the hidden gems in the garden. They're charging $1500 MEX, and will come in monthly after that for a fee of $650 MEX. I consider that a small price to pay to maintain the one thing I cherish most about "mi nido".

When I finally make Merida my home, I'll tackle as many projects as I can and hopefully will be happy with the results. In the meantime I'll take inspiration from fellow bloggers and soak up all the pearls of wisdom they're offering for free.

Lemonade and the Art of Living Simply

Due to circumstances beyond my control,  I've had to put a hold on any changes I planned on making to "mi nido en Merida" for the time being.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing.

It's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of having a new place to decorate and renovate. I've seen it many times with new buyers and I always recommend living in  place for a while before making any changes.  I should listen to my own advice.

I have told myself that I want to simplify my life once I move to Merida.  After all, isn't that one of the reasons expats move to Mexico? To shed all the bad habits we've acquired over the years? We think we need a new kitchen or a pool or the latest electronic. We don't need those things.  We want them.

There was a family living in the house up until a month before I purchased it. It seemed to work well for them. The plumbing works. The electrical works, even though there are leaf cutters who have made a trail through the lines,  and the roof doesn't leak.

The paint is peeling, yes, but if I were to paint now, won't the house need to be repainted before I move next year?  The house will be closed up for a while and humidity will have it's way no matter how much I'd like it not to.

The courtyard can be tended to.  That's not an outrageous expense. Trees need to be looked after and goodness know I'll need shade.

I really don't need much and the more I think about, the idea of a hammock,  a small fridge and some fans sounds like a good way to start my new journey.

The prospect of being involved in the changes and repairs to the house is rather comforting.  Sometimes we value things more when we're part of the process.

I think I'll make lemonade out of the bushel of lemons I have on hand.

Cool as a Cucumber

I love feeding friends and they're always welcome in my kitchen...as long as it's not hot. My mother was the same way. Fix yourself a cocktail, find a comfortable place to relax and enjoy yourself.

This is another simple recipe that will keep you and your guests cool.

If you want to heat things up, talk about religion or politics.

Cucumber Dill Dip

8 ounces of softened cream cheese
1 cup of mayonnaise
2 medium cucumbers peeled and seeded, chopped
2 tablespoons of sliced green onions
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
2 tablespoons of snipped dill or 1/2 teaspoon of dried dill weed
1/2 teaspoon of hot sauce

Serve with any veggies you like. I love it with carrots, jicama and raw scallions.

A Cool Treat for the Dog Days of Summer

I spent 25 years in the hospitality industry and if there's one thing I learned is that sometimes less is more. Good company and simple food are really the best combination.  My mother was a master at making people feel welcome and at home.

This is the perfect recipe for those days when you're entertaining and the thought of turning on a burner is the last thing you want to do.

Ginger and Lime Dip
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1/2 cup of sour cream
2 teaspoons of grated lime zest
1 tablespoon on lime juice
1 tablespoon of honey
1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger

Stir all ingredients together and serve with fresh fruit.

Stay cool!