We are all

concerned

about safety. 

The following email I recently received emphasizes that very fact – our safety. It’s from Edna and she writes:

Hi Barbie: If I want to go and spend a month in Mexico to test the waters so to speak, do you have any information on that? I’m single female, traveling alone. Would it be safe? Thx,  Edna

Edna has a very good question. My response is: No matter where you go, you need to be careful. That includes anyplace in the U.S., too. You need to be careful in Mexico, in New York City, in San Francisco, and in Small Town, USA.

Early morning

I really think  that no matter where you go, you will enjoy it more if you can talk a friend into going with you. My opinion is – you should never go to a strange place alone.

And remember: Get all the information you can before you go. Know what to expect. I have received so many emails from single guys and gals and they have been just fine – but, know where you’re going – know what to do. Don’t be foolish. Do your research and plan ahead.

Talk about safety…

I just got an email from someone who “had a friend” who was in one of the larger cities in Mexico. They were at a bar and decided to walk to their hotel at 3 AM.  Excuse me, but that now no way thinking of safety - was stupid…anyplace!!!  So, the police pulled them over and fined (” robbed”) them of the cash they had on them – $55. Frankly at 3 AM they were lucky something worse didn’t happen to them.

Anyway, I’ll get off my pulpit and just say: BE CAREFUL. Enjoy yourself  and research, research, research before you go, and always be aware of the safety factor.

Maz to PV and back:

Safety article by Barbie.

Have you been

to the dentist

lately?

It is shocking how much a trip to the dentist costs in the U.S.A.. But good dental care doesn’t have to cost a fortune… 

When Dick and I go to the dentist, we almost always choose to go to a little town called Algodones – just south of Yuma, Arizona.  Nogales, just south of Tucson, Arizona, is also a good choice.  But your choices are varied – Nogales, Juarez, Tijuana, Nuevo Progreso, etc.

When we first made our monumental decision to try out a “Mexican Dentist”, we were really a bit hesitant …would they be able to understand us …how do we get an appointment …are they really dentists …how would the cleanliness be …are they up to date …can they do x-rays…so many questions and all so quickly answered on our first trip! We had been satisfied with most “American dentists” … especially when we had dental insurance, paid for by Dick’s employers!

Quite a difference to be asked to cough up $9000 for one implant now! Or $1200 for a root canal and cap – good grief – on retirement income, that’s really just prohibitive  … solution:  just have all the teeth pulled and eat rolled oats for the rest of your life… I don’t think so!  

First of all – the dentist offices do have telephones…

… and 99 times out of 100, all you have to do when they answer is to say “English, Please” , or ‘English, por favor” and the phone will be handed over to someone who can speak English. Tell them you need an appointment and they will set you up – some just say no appointment necessary – and they really mean it. I don’t know how they do it, but you don’t have to wait all that long if you’re a walk-in!  In my book, Retire in Luxury, I have the exact process of making a phone call to Mexico.

One of many monuments in Mazatlan

Now, presumably, you have made your appointment.

You may need to be away from home, depending on where you live, for a couple of days. Believe it or not, you can pay for your traveling expenses, pay the dentist and still save!

And if you’re frugal like the Parks are proud to be – well, you’ll just be amazed at the savings!

You’ll probably also be amazed by the fact that the people you will meet in the waiting rooms are almost always NOT Hispanic!  You’ll visit with snow-birds from Washington and Oregon, part-time Canadian residents, Nevada residents, and Arizonans and Californians just down for the day!

So, off to a border town – or if you’re lucky enough to actually live south of the border – just relax and ask your neighbors where they go.  Since most of you are still considering moving to Mexico for your retirement, be sure to order my latest edition of Retire in Luxury, to help with your retirement decision.

Don’t hesitate to take advantage of the dental situation in Mexico – you won’t feel the least bit strange down here and the price differences are just astonishing!  Just a few sample prices and these are only examples:

Cleaning: $15 to $25
Root Canal $50 to $300
Post: $50 to $150
Porcelain cap: $140 to $350
Cap re-cemented: $30 to $40
Reline: $30 to $40
Bonding: $25 to $50
Extraction: $25 to $100 

So – come on down – you’ll find that you will probably be able to get everything done in one day – they won’t make you come back a dozen times just to finish a process. I know you’ll be glad you go – and, be sure to do a bit of bargaining while you’re there for a colorful clay pot, or maybe a hat… or one of the myriad of handcrafted articles displayed on the streets.

Dentist article by Barbie.

MY BAREFOOT BOO-BOO!

I did something dumb.

I wore sandals when we took our last air trip…

Seemed like a pretty good idea – easy to get off for your “inspection”. Right?

But, standing in line and watching all the other passengers removing their shoes and realizing I was going to have to walk there — in my bare feet — where thousands and thousands of people have already walked.

Yes… in my bare feet.

So if you’re thinking about flying (anywhere)  I don’t recommend sandals. Or flip flops. I suggest wearing slip-ons with socks  instead. Or, stick a little pair of sox in your pocket you can slip on.

One thing is for certain… I will never wear just sandals again when traveling by air – no matter how comfortable!

(Yep, now you know – I am a neat freak – I carry my little anti-bacterial squeeze bottle in my purse.)