Downsizing -- House, Knees and Fur

 Let's Start With The House

Many of you have been to our gigantic, yet hideously quirky, house here in Ajijic Village.  While having its charms, it requires a gardener five days a week and is a maintenance nightmare.  But it is so roomy.... and great for parties.... and induces laughter and merriment amongst our friends.  Hard to give up.  So hard in fact, that we have been relentlessly, yet fruitlessly, seeking a new Nirvana to purchase for over a year.  But  there has always been an issue.  Two story.  No pool.  No casita.  Dark. The list was endless.  We had many criteria.  Among the most crucial were:
- Had to be in the Village
- Had to be one story
- Had to have a pool
- Had to have a casita

We'll as any home seeker knows, 50% ain't bad.  It's not that we meant to violate the rules.  So here's how it happened.  Whilst vacationing, without a care, we received an email that the evil landlord had actually managed to sell this wreck of a house and we were to be out by November 15th.  We were confident a long term rental would be a snap.  Our error.  Worst time of the year to try to rent.  All those snowbirds are soon to be on their way and have snapped up everything.  Damn.  Next approach.  Well, let's go see houses that are for sale (everything here has been for sale for AGES) and then say, "How about a long term rental and maybe we'll buy it (or not)".  Clever eh?  So, off we trot.  And the first  house we see is IT.  Well, of course it is not IT because it violates 50% of our rules but Michael and I look at each other and we both know it is IT.  Every time we've bought a house we just know when it is  IT except for the Wellesley house where Michael had a hard time getting over the giant green tennis racquet wallpaper in the hall bathroom and the master bathroom shower with things growing on the walls that science has yet to discover, much less name.  But he came around quickly.

So we bought it because it hadn't been on the market that long and a lot of people were looking at it and besides it was IT. So what is IT?  IT is not in the Village (Rule #1).  But it is very close to the Village and, if you have the constitution of an Alpine goat, walkable to the Plaza.  But, what it does have to compensate for being non-Village is an amazing view of the lake.  And wonderful breezes because you are up high.  IT is two story but this is really only half a violation of Rule #2 because the casita is on the lower (pool) level while all our own daily living area is on one floor.  IT is in compliance with Rules 3 and 4.

Well, we won't bore you further with many particulars but will include some pictures.  It's about 3,000 sq. feet but who knows, it's Mexico.  Could be more or less.  The best part is that, unlike most homes here, it is tastefully furnished and we could buy it all right down to the linens (very fine), pots and pans etc. etc.  This is important to people like the Searles who, at this moment, own one couch and that is it.

It is, of course, tasteless to discuss cost. However, having laid bare the cost of our medical bills, why should we hold back on housing costs.  This is to provide our pals who live on either Coast the wonderful opportunity to see the purchase price and then go beat their heads against walls.  It was on the market for $399K without furnishings.  We figured we could probably get it for about $365K  We wanted the entire contents of the house so went in at $385 and got it for $390K.  Now, I am going to stop providing this intimate info (dental cleanings $40) if a whole legion of you don't pack up and move down here very, very soon.

Deirdre & the two realtors at the entrance to the house.

Kitchen View I

Kitchen View II

Kitchen View III

Dining area looking toward living room & terrace.

Fully stocked liquor & wine cabinet.

The wooden pegs pull out, the leaves unfold & this table can become a serving buffet or an extra dining table.

The four way fireplace between the living room & the sitting room (to be converted into the office).  The leopard skin goes.  All leopard skin goes.

More of the living room.

The sitting room, currently.

The terrace with a table & chairs for al fresco dining (under cover).

View of the pool (a Deirdre necessity) and the back yard from the terrace.

The downstairs casita with a built-in wrap around sofa.

The other side of the wrap around sofa.

The breakfast bar in the casita.

The king size bed in the casita bedroom.  The pony rug probably goes.  You can vote on it.

The dresser in the casita bedroom.

Casita Bathroom.

View from the yard to the terrace.

Sitting room view of the fireplace.

Master Bedroom.

Master Bathroom View I.

Master Bathroom View II.

View from Master Bedroom to sitting room.

Powder Room sink.

Guest Bedroom.

Guest Bathroom.

 So, that's it on the house.  For some reason we don't have a view of the lake in the photos.  Will remedy soon.  We close on September 25th and will be moved in by November 15.  We'll start moving stuff as soon as Michael can gimp around on his newly reconstituted legs.  Which leads us to.....

The Knee Bone's Connected to the Thigh Bone... or Used to Be

Why life is unfair.  Michael has always been almost the perfect weight.  Michael has always consistently exercised ( running, walking, biking) for over 40 years.  Deirdre has always been "pudgy" and has loathed exercise in any form and has only performed it as a bonding exercise with her much beloved husband.  Why life is unfair.  Michael's knees suck and Deirdre's are fine.  Go figure.  Genetics? Or lack of use?  Think about it.

So, when Michael was suffering very strange high blood pressure  and we went to see Dr. Santiago Hernandez he exhorted both of us to walk more.  And that was a good suggestion.  Except after a simple two mile walk, Michael was a cripple.  To his credit, Dr. Santiago is like "Jeez, that was a really bad idea.  Sorry."  You're basic NOB Doctor would NEVER say that. And, it wasn't his fault.  Michael did not fully disclose his persistent problems with the knees because..... well, he is a man.

Anyway, we have diddled with this blog so long that Michael has had his knee surgery.  But it is WAY too long to get into in this blog.  Suffice to say he is fine -- really fine.  Once we wheel the gimp in to put up pictures for this blog we will begin the next blog entitled predictably:  Mikey Goes to the Hospital -- Round Two.  There will be a Round Three but stifle your enthusiasm.



It's Hard Being a Geriatric

No, not us this time -- Siam.  Having cruised past her 19th birthday we noted that while she still hops on the sofa and bed, her arthritis is keeping her from grooming herself... and she is loath to let us help her.  The predictable result was massive fur balls and knots rendering her less than attractive.  So, we went to Dr. Memo, the vet, for a consultation.  "How do we get the knots out?", we asked.  "Well, we normally sedate them and go at it," he said.  "She's 19," we said.  "Oh, that would be a very permanent sleep."  A new approach was called for.

In deference to her age, Dr. Memo sent his groomer Miguel to our house.  Even vets do house calls here.  Now, for any of you with cats, I ask you to picture the carnage if your cat were lifted onto a table, confronted by a stranger with loud buzzing clippers and subjected to a 45 minute shave down.  Not pretty eh?  What a cat!  It took Miguel only a minute to realize he didn't have to wrap her in a towel to subdue her.  She stood, pathetically crying occasionally I admit, while Michael held her and Miguel sawed away at the knots.  No scratching, no biting, nothing.  Great cat.  For your amusement, a before and after picture are provided.  Cost (here we go again)  300 pesos or about $25.00.  We gave him a big tip.  He was happy, we were happy, Siam was.... happy eventually.

Siam before her haircut in her unmatted days.

The new shaved Siam.

Odd Note:

The intersection between the one big road (carretera) and second biggest road (libremiento) always has someone doing something for money at the traffic light.  Sometimes there are people all dressed in white who we thought were Cruz Roja (Red Cross) for months but they aren't.  We still don't know who they are.  Then there was the Mime (I hate Mimes) who mimed washing your windshield and demanded money. Now there is the world's worst juggler.  I mean not even close.  He has only three objects and during one stop light he missed a catch and  hit a person walking by, he hit himself in the head with the bowling pin and then almost put out the windshield of a bus.  A stellar performance.  He must live a very circumscribed existence given his demonstrated talents.

Well, we're off for now.  But we promise the next installment soon.  Regards to all of you and please let us know what you are up to.  Take care.