#293115 - 29/01/2007 06:46
Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
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I am now the owner of lakefront property on Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico. I intend to retire there by the end of this year. If you have Google Earth installed on your computer, double-click the *.kmz file attached to this post and you can take a look at it. Because of a "feature" in Google Earth, you'll have to run the *.kmz file twice. The first time, it flies into a mountain and then jumps a couple miles back up into the air. Then if you do the *.kmz file a second time it will zoom in on the property. Rotate the compass rose on the upper right corner of the screen, and you will see the view from my property. When the satellite photo was taken the lake was at historic low levels; the water is much closer to the property now, and all the land between my property and the actual waterline (wherever it advances or recedes to) is federal land that cannot be sold or developed. Why Lake Chapala? A glance at the chart at the bottom of this page will give some idea. Why retirement? I am the oldest person on this bbs (Sorry, Boxer!) and will be 62 years old in a couple of months. In more than forty years of working, I have taken less than 10 weeks of vacation, and have missed no more than five days of work due to illness or other reasons. I'm ready to stop, now. I will be retiring with my newly wed (June, 2006) wife Jean. She is a former high school sweetheart from 45 years ago, and we got together largely because of this bbs. You know her as kayakjazz. I hope to have my new home built and be settled in by this time next year, and hope that some of the people I have met here (especially you, Rob Schofield!) will stop by for extended visits. tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#293116 - 29/01/2007 06:52
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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veteran
Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Excellent! Congratulations! Elaine and I occasionally have similar thoughts, but with all the global warming going on, we have been eyeing beechfront property in Norway... 
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#293117 - 29/01/2007 11:52
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
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Congratulations. With the weather there, looks like an excellent place to retire. Good luck on the big move when it comes time.
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#293118 - 29/01/2007 13:09
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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I still remember this quote from you a few years back: Quote:
It's not so much that I like my job. I revel in my job. I would much rather spend time here at work than face the uncertainties and discomforts of vacationing in some strange place where I'd have to make decisions in unknown circumstances and they wouldn't cook the food the way my Mommy used to make it.
The old saying about "...nobody on his death bed ever said 'I wish I'd spent more time at the office' " may not really apply to me.
And yes, I do have an appreciation of just how incredibly fortunate I am to be in such a position.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk
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#293119 - 29/01/2007 14:00
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Nice!
_________________________
-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.
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#293120 - 29/01/2007 15:26
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 15/01/2002
Posts: 1866
Loc: Austin
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Awesome! That looks like a pretty sweet setup.
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#293121 - 29/01/2007 16:49
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: wfaulk]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
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Quote:
I still remember this quote from you a few years back:
The key phrase there is "...a few years back."
Since that time, Clear Channel bought us, and understandably they had us use their own software so that they could get the same reporting information across all of their stations.
I won't go into detail*, except to say that it is very likely the worst software I have ever had to use. It was designed by top management and the emphasis is entirely on reporting capabilities. My workload with this software has more than doubled, and the quality of the work I can produce is at best 70% of what it was before.
It isn't fun any more.
*OK. One detail. A simple change in the software that would take perhaps half a day by one of their programmers to implement (I was told this by their truly excellent tech support people) would cut my workload (and the workload of perhaps 600 other people) by about 40% will not be implemented, because it would also require re-writing a report generator that produces a report that is completely useless in running a radio station and could only be of interest through idle curiosity to management -- but you just don't mess with corporate reports. Another detail (OK, don't get me started!): Periodic "upgrades" to the software inevitably make things worse -- they add more capabilites, don't fix the problems, two days after the last upgrade I compiled and sent a detailed list and description of the 50 most urgent items needing attention, got a polite response thanking me for my input... and that's it.
It really, truly isn't fun any more.
tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#293122 - 29/01/2007 16:57
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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Ah, I thought you always worked for the Great Satan.
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Bitt Faulk
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#293123 - 29/01/2007 17:15
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
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Quote:
Since that time, Clear Channel bought us
Ooo, 'nuff said. Sorry to hear that, although I'm happy to hear you're getting out of it! The place looks great!
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Matt
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#293124 - 29/01/2007 18:12
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
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Quote:
I hope to have my new home built and be settled in by this time next year, and hope that some of the people I have met here (especially you, Rob Schofield!) will stop by for extended visits.
I haven't met you, but there's excellent paragliding around those parts! I might just have to come by for a visit in the next year or so. =]
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#293126 - 30/01/2007 00:03
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 06/10/1999
Posts: 2591
Loc: Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
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Quote:
I will be retiring with my newly wed (June, 2006) wife Jean. She is a former high school sweetheart from 45 years ago, and we got together largely because of this bbs. You know her as kayakjazz.
Holy shit, man! I know I have been pretty unattentive, BBS-wise, but are you trying to make poor Jim have a seizure?
This is too much! Too much, I tell you!
Please don't ever do this to me again!
_________________________
Jim
'Tis the exceptional fellow who lies awake at night thinking of his successes.
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#293127 - 30/01/2007 00:28
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tfabris]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
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What's the internet access like at that property site?
Both wireless and DSL are available.
tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#293128 - 30/01/2007 01:48
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 06/10/1999
Posts: 2591
Loc: Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
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OK, I have settled down. Doug, this is way too cool. You'll have to excuse me, though. I was in kayakjazz shock. Way too cool. Too much! If you leave out a couple trips to Nuevo Laredo, I think I have been to Mexico 5-6 times, just to Puerto Vallarta and towns around there. Mexico has some problems, but on a person-to-person level, I have really enjoyed my brief times there. People, whether locals or "local tourists" in Jalisco have been very nice. I have always come away feeling that I was treated fairly and well. I tell my sisters about my plans to disappear there in the not-so-distant future. They think I am joking Anyhow, congratulations! What you are doing sounds *great* to me. Whoop! Whoop! If I can manage a pale imitation in 8-10 years, I will be a lucky boy. But my high school sweetheart emailed and said she hates my guts (Hmmm, time to go see if I can register empeg-match.com!)
_________________________
Jim
'Tis the exceptional fellow who lies awake at night thinking of his successes.
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#293129 - 30/01/2007 03:20
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14496
Loc: Canada
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Wow. I just spent hours pouring over and reading everything from the linked site and others .. we've just gotta have an Empeg meet down there at your new digs!
Cheers!
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#293130 - 30/01/2007 08:55
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: mlord]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1919
Loc: London
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Congratulations guys, wow that's some hours you've put in, enjoy your retirement.
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#293131 - 30/01/2007 09:08
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 13/07/2000
Posts: 4180
Loc: Cambridge, England
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Great, now I've got that Paul Simon song running round my head: "Why... why don't we drive through the night, and wake up down in Mexico...?"
Hope it all goes well for you, it sounds like an idyll...
Peter
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#293132 - 30/01/2007 16:38
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 13/02/2002
Posts: 3212
Loc: Portland, OR
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I'll chime in with my own congratulations. Best of luck with the building, and the move!
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#293133 - 30/01/2007 17:34
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Quote:
Both wireless and DSL are available.
Ah, then you have my blessing.
I mean, what good is retirment if you can't use the free time to surf?
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#293134 - 30/01/2007 17:44
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
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Sounds great! I'm sure it'll be a bit of a change from Alaska.
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Cheers,
Andy M
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#293135 - 30/01/2007 22:22
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
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Quote:
I am now the owner of lakefront property on Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico. I intend to retire there by the end of this year...tanstaafl.
Do you mean "own" in the sense of the long term lease kind of thing. Cause I may be under the impression that USians were not allowed to buy such desirable real estate in the land south of the border. Unless, of course I'm mistaken about the other side of that equation.
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Glenn
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#293136 - 31/01/2007 19:18
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Very nice - impressed at the altitude. Google Earth says 1.53 km!
_________________________
Rory
MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi
MkII, 240Gb in Mark Lord dock
MkII, 80Gb SSD in dock
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#293137 - 31/01/2007 22:48
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: gbeer]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
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Quote:
Quote:
I am now the owner of lakefront property on Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico. I intend to retire there by the end of this year...tanstaafl.
Do you mean "own" in the sense of the long term lease kind of thing. Cause I may be under the impression that USians were not allowed to buy such desirable real estate in the land south of the border. Unless, of course I'm mistaken about the other side of that equation.
No, the land is mine.
The Mexican government does not allow foreign ownership in the Restricted Zones (scroll about halfway down the page) but other than land within 50 kilometers of the coastline or 100 kilometers of the National border, foreign ownership of property is permitted.
tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#293138 - 01/02/2007 13:28
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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addict
Registered: 09/06/1999
Posts: 559
Loc: Newfoundland, Canada
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One word... Sweet!
Have fun!
Rene
_________________________
12 gig empeg Mark II, SN: 080000101 30 gig RioCar SN: 30103114 My blog
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#293139 - 01/02/2007 14:28
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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old hand
Registered: 17/01/2003
Posts: 998
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Looks very nice.
I would be a little nervious about moving to Mexico.
Hope it works out well for you.
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#293140 - 03/02/2007 02:16
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: Redrum]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
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Fred on Everything A US expat who lives south of the boarder. Some of his columns are about living in Mexico.
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Glenn
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#293141 - 03/02/2007 16:23
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: gbeer]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14496
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
Fred on Everything
A US expat who lives south of the boarder. Some of his columns are about living in Mexico.
Wow, great reading there! Love his book title, too!
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#293142 - 03/02/2007 19:32
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
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Congratulations on many fronts! It's great to hear that you're doing what YOU want because it's what you enjoy.
Now we know the man with the greatest car audio in Mexico.
_________________________
- FireFox31 110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set
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#293143 - 03/02/2007 20:19
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: FireFox31]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 06/10/1999
Posts: 2591
Loc: Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
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Quote:
Congratulations on many fronts! It's great to hear that you're doing what YOU want because it's what you enjoy.
Now we know the man with the greatest car audio in Mexico.
I was gonna ask: is the SHO Wagon making the trip?
_________________________
Jim
'Tis the exceptional fellow who lies awake at night thinking of his successes.
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#293144 - 04/02/2007 00:09
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: jimhogan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
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Quote:
Now we know the man with the greatest car audio in Mexico.
I was gonna ask: is the SHO Wagon making the trip?
Yes.
I will sell the Porsche, and my beloved 1969 Land Cruiser snowplow truck, and my "spare" Taurus wagon. If I had my way, I would cross into Mexico with the ShoWagon and my Visa card plus the clothes on my back and nothing else. But SWMBO has other ideas about that.
I don't remember -- did you hear the stereo with the five Blaupunkt amps, or was I still running the single 8-channel amp?
tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#293145 - 04/02/2007 00:19
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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wOW, congradulations! I just found this thread and the title had me hooked. Good for you! Marrying your high-school sweetheart and retiring within a year so that the rest of your days will be your honeymoon, who could ask for more... Awesome. Post pics! (on my way to read the rest of the posts, reading your initial one, I had to comment!)
_________________________
Brad B.
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#293146 - 04/02/2007 01:40
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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old hand
Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
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A very nice way to live the dream. Good luck with the move and congrats on a super exit strategy.
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#293147 - 04/02/2007 05:13
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 06/10/1999
Posts: 2591
Loc: Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
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Quote:
Quote:
Now we know the man with the greatest car audio in Mexico.
I was gonna ask: is the SHO Wagon making the trip?
Yes.
I will sell the Porsche, and my beloved 1969 Land Cruiser snowplow truck, and my "spare" Taurus wagon. If I had my way, I would cross into Mexico with the ShoWagon and my Visa card plus the clothes on my back and nothing else. But SWMBO has other ideas about that.
While I have heard that the used snowplow market in Mexico is underrated, the ShoWagon certainly seemed like the pick of the litter, landedgentrymobile-wise. You might even find a Ford dealer.
Interesting to see the distribution of makes in Mexico and elsewhere. I remember a bazillion Nissans in PVR but having to strain to see the occasional Toyota. So maybe you can find a Patrol with a snowplow! I see that Subaru has started selling in Mexico, so maybe there is hope for driving the WRX wagon down some day. It would be the perfect car...if I can figure out how to make it into a convertible but keep the roofrack!
Quote:
I don't remember -- did you hear the stereo with the five Blaupunkt amps, or was I still running the single 8-channel amp?
tanstaafl.
February 2004. No I don't think I heard the Blaupunkts. But if you are getting ready to tell me your stereo sounds *better* now... well that dog won't hunt
_________________________
Jim
'Tis the exceptional fellow who lies awake at night thinking of his successes.
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#293148 - 05/02/2007 01:30
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: jimhogan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
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Quote:
February 2004. No I don't think I heard the Blaupunkts. But if you are getting ready to tell me your stereo sounds *better* now... well that dog won't hunt
Oh, ye of little faith!
I will stop by and visit you in Seattle on my way to Mexico, and I promise, you ain't heard nothin' yet! At the risk of sounding like a braggart [risk? Hell, I am bragging!] my stereo is finished. I cannot think of anything I could change to make it sound better.
You'll see.
tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#293149 - 05/02/2007 03:58
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
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Make sure and stop in SF and say hi on your way down... I'd LOVE to hear the SHOWagon!
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#293151 - 05/02/2007 17:51
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: loren]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
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Ditto from me!
I was crossing the road a month or so ago and noticed that in the line of cars at the stop light there was a SHO sedan. Think that's the first one I've seen here...
Hugo
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#293152 - 19/11/2007 01:28
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14496
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
I hope to have my new home built and be settled in by this time next year, and hope that some of the people I have met here (especially you, Rob Schofield!) will stop by for extended visits.
So how's (preparation for) the move going?
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#293153 - 19/11/2007 22:10
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
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Quote:
So how's (preparation for) the move going?
In a word: Badly. [
As I've been predicting for the past 18 months, the housing market has crashed, unfortunately several months before I had anticipated.
With 20-20 hindsight, I should have skipped the renovations that delayed putting my house on the market, and sold it as-is for about $100K less than what I'd like to get for it now. However, the real estate people tell me that there is nothing moving in the $300K+ market in this town right now.
To make it worse, there are a lot of brand new crackerboxes for sale for $50K less than my asking price. This is OK if you don't mind living in half the floor space on a lot half the size, with no view and no privacy. The realtors tell me that people will overlook all that -- because it is a new house (with all the little problems that a new house entails!) and that makes it special. I'm reminded of the time I overheard a car salesman at the local Ford dealership selling a brand new Ford Escort (an absolute bottom-feeder economy car, piece of sh*t under the best of circumstances) to a young soldier on a 60-month contract. He'd be upside-down on the car payments until the day he paid it off, but it was a new car so that made it OK.
Well, at 3500 FT^2 my house is not a crackerbox (see attached pic.) and if I have to wait out the bad times to sell it... so be it.
tanstaafl.
ps: Can't someone please extend the time an unsubmitted post can sit before it disappears? Or is that not an adjustable parameter with this software?
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#293154 - 19/11/2007 22:20
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Yeah, the post timeout is fixed in the next version of this BBS software, but Tom had to put the upgrade on hold for a bit.
Nice digs.
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#293155 - 20/11/2007 03:04
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
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Quote:
ps: Can't someone please extend the time an unsubmitted post can sit before it disappears? Or is that not an adjustable parameter with this software?
If I could adjust something, I would have long ago. Or just backed off this version, but sadly the older releases have a huge security flaw that resulted in every web page on the server having ads attached.
I do cringe every time I see people having problems with this, and really do apologize for not getting the 7.x software quicker. I'm going to get to it by years end, though odds are the site will look a little off for a bit. I think at this point dealing with stylesheet issues is much better then posts being eaten. I do appreciate the effort so many people put in here to provide excellent posts to continue to keep this community going, it's about time I give something back to ensure it continues.
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#293156 - 20/11/2007 13:32
Re: Mexico, Retirement, Google Earth
[Re: drakino]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14496
Loc: Canada
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The timeout must exist somewhere in the source code for the existing installed version of BBS software. Surely we could locate and change it there, without the huge mess of a forced upgrade for this one feature ?
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