Topic: Shopping

I am more of a volunteer-my-time, rather that a give-you-my-money, kind of a person when it comes to charities, so when they put up the Angel Tree at Canuck's, I wasn't really interested. I didn't even feel bad, because the names and wishes were flying off the tree, taken by other people more generous than me.

I get a kick out of buying eggs. It's a small and trivial thing, I know, but it's one of the things that makes me feel like I have discovered some of the marvelous secrets about living here. Not only is it indicative of how so many of the small things here are different, but it also makes me feel closer to my food and my little community.

I have talked with several recent expatriates who are surprised at the daily cost of living in Mazatlan. It is not expensive by any standard to live here, but it is also not cheap. It's easy to be fooled into thinking Mexico is cheap, especially with the proliferation of travel books out there like "Mexico for $18 a Day". It is possible to live here for $18 a day, but you are probably not going to like it.

I have a cousin who lived in Mexico for a scant $500US a month. He lived in a hut on a remote beach with a few meager possessions: a hammock, a blanket, a pot, a pan, a few plates, cups, and forks, a change of clothes, and that's about it. He didn't even have walls. He fished for his meals. Honestly, most of his budget was beer money. While that may be a great, carefree adventure for a 20-year-old, it's not the way most of us want to live.

Two years ago, I got my very first brand new washing machine and dryer. Before then, we had always bought a used replacement whenever the current one became irreparable. So not only were they my first new models, they were my very first matched set. I studiously researched brands and models for quality, value, durability, service, and feature sets. It took a couple of months for me to finally make a decision, a luxury I didn't usually have since I had previously bought replacements when my current one was hopelessly broken and need dictated a speedy purchase.

I was in the middle of making a pot of vegetable soup when my stove quit. No problem. The primary tank is empty, and the gas supply needs to be switched over to the secondary tank. I called out to my beloved and sent him tromping down the stairs to accomplish the task. I waited at the stove for a fresh supply of fuel so I can finish cooking lunch. And waited. And waited. Finally, Chuck comes back upstairs and tells me both tanks are empty.

Living in mainstream society in the US, it is not hard to decide how much of anything to buy at once. Everything comes prepackaged or in set amounts. If you like something typically you buy more of it at once because you get a bulk discount. Even produce is priced in groups. 5 limes for $1.00; 2 pounds for $1.89.

Cubans are everywhere! I had never seen one before in my life, and now they are all over. In the bars, in the shops, being sold by vendors on the beach. Cigars, that is.

So far, we have been unable to get water. Okay, we've gone to the store and gotten gallon jugs of water, but we can't seem to catch the water truck. There are many goods and services here that are acquired by catching the right truck (or cart) driving down the street. The propane truck cruises down our street several times a day playing the “gas, gas, gas” song over the loudspeaker. If you need your propane tank filled, you just go outside and wave when you hear him. Likewise, the guys pushing the carts yell what they are selling and you go outside to buy. Theoretically, the same is true for water.