HI! I’M YOUR NEW NEIGHBOR!
Originally Published the Week of July 5, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
In addition to our sportfishing operation here in La Paz, we also have a restaurant right on the waterfront. It’s been here close to 15 years now.
For so many years, it’s been kind of an information clearing house on so many levels. Mostly, a lot of fishermen asking for information; telling stories over beer; tourists needing recommendations for things to do and places to see.
In the last year or so, however, things are changing.
It seems that almost a day doesn’t not go by where someone says something like..
“So, tell me about real estate here.”
“Do you recommend any realtors?”
“What’s it like to live here?”
Or, the more direct…
“I’m here to buy real estate.”
“I just bought a new place.”
“We’re having a place built.”
“Hi. We’re your new neighbors!”
That is usually accompanied by a hearty happy handshake and a proud-as-punch grin.
I almost feel like I should bake ‘em some house-warming cookies or they’re going to ask to borrow a cup of sugar.
Personally, my wife and I live in a little tiny studio apartment near the waterfront that looks out over La Paz Bay. At night, my wife is fond of saying that 30 years ago, you could see some twinkling lights of La Paz City in the distance in the evenings.
The rest of the bay was India Ink darkness.
Now, she points out that there are lights completely around the bay and up and down the surrounding hillsides. The city is growing.
One of our local Mexican friends just happens to be a realtor. Her office is next door to our restaurant.
I give her quite a few referrals. She tells me her office is hopping. She jokingly said to me a few days ago, “All the gringos are moving to Baja. All the Mexicans are moving to California.”
More than a bit of truth in her humorous observation.
Post covid, statistics showed that Mexico became the #1 international travel destination for world travelers.
It was “open” compared to many countries. There was little fear of things getting shut down (again.) Economically, it’s a great value.
For Americans and Canadians, add in the fact that it’s relatively close. Easy in. Easy out.
With internet access becoming stronger and more widespread, you could easily do work while sitting on the beach sipping a cold one. It sure beat working from home during quarantine days!
No one even needed to know. As long as the boss got his reports, none-the-wiser!
Folks anxious to stretch their legs post-pandemic found Mexico to be a cakewalk for vacations.
Magazines and newspapers touted the numerous attractions of Mexico and especially the Baja. Our own little city of La Paz, once a sleepy little gem, ended up as one of the “Top 100 places in the world to visit.” Our beaches consistently show up in every travel magazine or online blog or social media page.
So, the rush seems to be on. For better or worse.
Some folks are setting up a vacation spot. Others are chasing a retirement dream. Others are just fed up with things back in the U.S.
Or their own countries.
I’m running into folks from Australia…Italians…folks with Italian accents. Canadians. Folks from the U.K. The exodus is on.
I’ve had folks come up to me and tell me they are visiting for the first time to see some land or a house they bought “online.” Sight unseen.
Some folks have that kind of money to buy property the way I purchase a set of screwdrivers off Amazon.
Others tell me they purchased land or a house in such-and-such an area. They’re elated.
Internally, I roll my eyes.
No one told them that the property sits on a flood plane and it fills with mud when we get the heavy rains. Or perhaps their “beach property” is only a block from the sewage outflow for the city.
I don’t want to or simply can’t bust their balloons. I smile and shake their hands and wish them well and congratulations.
Two new real estate offices just opened up down the street.
Condos are being built on the hillside behind us.
The neighborhood is changing.
Rapidly.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
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Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
Website:
www.tailhunter-international.com
Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
.
Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/
Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g
“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”
That's My Story 
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