International Living Considers Puerto Vallarta One of the Best Places to Retire

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  • Frank Norton

    I would say that you get what you pay for. Some of the lowest cost places to live , are not the most happy or safest places to live. I have lived in San Francisco California all my life and have traveled to many places in Mexico, the United States, and in Canada. Worldwide, the immigration numbers say the more people immigrate into the United States that any other country.

    I can understand Canadians moving to the warmer climate in Puerto Vallarta. The weather report for Quebec and Newfoundland was colder than measured on Gail Creator on Mars. Also around the Great Lakes, and northern U.S.

    However, Puerto Vallarta is too rainy, wet and hot during the summer months, and cold during the winter months. Just read the editorials on the Vallarta Tribune. I have liked vacationing in Puerto Vallarta during at the latter part of September and early part of October, for the past 36 years .

    Regard living there all year around … I think not. I am spoiled living in San Francisco, on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by water, and two large lakes situated between the city and the rest of the coast. Another problem in Puerto Vallarta is the Marina where the cruise ships come in with boat loads of people. Because of the high visibility of the ships in the port, makes its passengers more identifiable, easier marks for kidnapping, human trafficking, and other crimes.

    Mexico’s 17 ports have been identified as the country with the worlds fourth most dangerous cruise ports. The Americans have been warned against visiting Mexico, and when traveled … keep your wit about you.

    Here in San Francisco, on most days during the winter I sit on my front porch and maintain a great tan on my face, arms and legs. We can regulate the house temperature most of the year buy opening and closing our doors and windows. Yes, it is one of the most expensive cities to live in America, however , the price is worth it if you can afford it. My fruit trees are now dormant in the back yard receiving their winter chill, however, during the spring I enjoy watching the blossoms , in summer watching the fruit and berries mature before eating, and all the while reading about life in Puerto Vallarta on the Vallarta Tribune website.

  • DennisCHP

    Well Frank, I do not agree with you at all. I am a native SF East Bay transplant to PV. I never thought I would leave the East Bay which has a better climate than SF. We have lived full time in PV and I would never move back to the states. It is FAR SAFER here than most of the United States. I say this as a retired California Highway Patrolman who served all of Alameda & Contra Costa Counties. We have over 50,000 full time gringos here and receive 1 to 5 cruise ships during the high season and a large influx of Canadians who live her 1 to 6 months or more.

    Summers are hot and wet but we have air in the house and car and many restaurants do also. Or travel in Mexico to a little higher altitude and you have pine trees and SF summer weather in beautiful UNESCO cities like San Miguel or Guanajuanto or Taxco.

    How there is no comparisons regarding cost of living. Fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, many reasonable restaurants outside the tourist zones and the friendliest people I have had the pleasure of associating..

    And absolutely don’t believe everything you read or hear in the newspapers or state department. We would not have 5 ships coming here in high seasons. And cold in winter, NOT. This is January and I just drove home from the Marina at 8:30 pm and my car outside thermometer said 80 degrees F. Occasionally the night time temperature may reach 60 in December or January but not this year.

    Of by the way I have yet to see drive by shootings, mob violence, knock out games etc. We spent the first three years and never read or heard about a murder. Being an ex-cop I have an affinity to observe and have even been called upon by the U.S. counselor agent on warrants on wanted people from the states. While the cartels are in Mexico so are the gangs and the mob in the USA. Many of the rich Mexicans live here because it is safer because the authorities protect the tourist dollars and so do the cruise lines.