by Elena Hiatt Houlihan
Why stare at cold gray skies and dirty snow when you could enjoy warm sea breezes? That was the question I asked myself back in 2008. So I decided to search for an ocean view. I conjured up a vision of an international community in a town with an Old World feel, a tropical setting with hills, trees, and water. I was sure I could find a place to rent somewhere south of the border.
And I did. After a few years exploring Latin America, I settled in Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Nowhere lures me the way Vallarta does. I originally arrived in mid-January, thinking I would move on after two weeks. Yet I stayed until June, and I’ve now spent four winters here, energized by the wealth of cultural activities and the talented people I meet at the writers’ group, art exhibits, tango dancing, and the Saturday market.
Costs here are low, too. Within a week of first arriving, I had found a studio apartment by strolling the cobblestone streets and watching for Se Renta signs. (Since then I’ve rented in five neighborhoods for periods from two weeks to six months, paying from $380 to $500 a month, utilities included.)
One woman I know rents a one-bedroom apartment in nearby Pitillal for $200, plus $100 for utilities. Another couple rents a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house with a small indoor pool, in the Las Aralias area, for $965 a month.
I live on far less than I did back in the States. Preferring to cook at home, I usually eat out no more than once a week. A large bag of fruits and vegetables from the market averages around $8; fresh tuna steaks run about $6 a pound; a pint of honey, $2; a liter of fresh orange juice, $1.50. Lunch at a taco stand or in a restaurant is $4 to $8, and you can get dinner and a drink for $15 to $18. Buses are frequent and cost 52 cents, while taxis average $3.75 around town.
Though I rarely need medical care, I’m glad I have access to good doctors here. I consulted a small local clinic for bronchitis and the fee was less than $5. A visit to a specialist is about $45.
When I chose Mexico, my father had passed away. But my mother was in assisted living, and I wanted to be no more than a day’s travel from Indianapolis. Travel back to the U.S. is straightforward. Puerto Vallarta has an international airport, and several international airlines, including U.S. Airways, United, and Air Canada, fly here.
I am now happily ensconced in an apartment in Vallarta’s Conchas Chinas neighborhood, with a view of the sea and stunning sunsets.
by Elena Hiatt Houlihan
Why stare at cold gray skies and dirty snow when you could enjoy warm sea breezes? That was the question I . . .
