Job Discussion Forums

[thelmadatter]

Any idea about getting stuff down here for a decent price? I dont own a vehicle and I live near Mexico City. I have stuff in Tucson Arizona - about 100 km north of the border. It would all fit very nicely in a small pickup truck with room left over. Im not too worried about customs - even if I got the red light, I think the amount they would charge me would be less than to get the FM3 exemption paperwork done.

Its not like I can just rent a U Haul. First problem is getting the stuff across the border. Second problem is to get it from the border to Toluca. I have a possibility but it is complicated. Someone wants me to buy a cheap pick up in AZ and drive it down to Toluca to sell it to her. Not sure of the logistics on that, but she is supposed to figure that out. Part of me also wonders if I should have and keep a car. If I do, Id buy it in the States.

Im just tired of having my life in a storage box and I am considering staying here for quite some time. What life I had in Tucson is pretty much gone now.

[moonraven]

Ten years ago I drove to Mexico City is a 1965 VW Beetle packed like aChinese puzzle. That was the stuff I allowed myself to bring, and at the border nobody said anything. I told them I was going to Morelos for 6 months to write a book. At the checkpoint about 35 miles south of Ciudad Juarez they peeked into the car, and closed the door when I told them if they took anything out they would have to repack the car. They told me to have a good stay in Mexico. I since have gotten rid of most of the stuff, and you might consider not bringing most of the stuff you have in Tucson....A pickup might pique more curiosity, in that it's easier to access. Most of the interest I received was from folks who wanted to buy the Beetle (which I finally sold 4 years ago.)

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[saraswati]

I agree with Ben about the car. It's much cheaper to bring one down than to buy here. As to keeping it, you can either sell it as you said or drive it to the border every six months when your permit expires. (I know people who have done this for years.) This would also give you an excuse to bring more of your things down from the States.

[moonraven]

Mold does not proliferate in all parts of Mexico--especially not in Mexico City; it does in very humid and coastal areas, however. I would suggest that unless you are planning on staying in the same house forever, that you leave your stuff in the States. I have made short moves with stuff--moves within an hour of my previous digs. But since I have become more nomadic, bouncing around from one state to another--not to mention a stay in South America--I only move with suitcases, buy what I need in the new place, and get rid of that stuff when I leave. It makes life a lot easier.

One professor who was teaching for me last year brought a huge amount of stuff with her from Northern Vermont to the Oaxacan coast (!?) and kept moving around Mexico with it (when she arrived to work for me she had a full car, and a truck arrived the next day with more stuff!) She went back to Vermont in March--with only what would fit in her car, and told me I should feel proud of her. Things of great value--monetary or sentimental--are best left with family or friends where they will be safer.

As for having a car--I drove the same Beetle for over 6 years with its first and only 6 months sticker on it, as well as its New Mexico: Land of Enchantment expired license plate. One transito officer asked me about the expired plate, and I suggested that he not get invoved in international matters....I also sold the car to a transito officer....If you stay in one area, the traffic cops get to know you and they don't used Beetle (they are now out of production, but until last year were being made in Puebla)--they are the easiest to get fixed here, and parts are cheap--but the old US-made Beetles are better quality. In most circumstances, you don't really need a car. In Mexico City a car is more of a liability than an asset.

[seaskyclay]

My partner and I just finished selling just about all of our earthly belongings last month. We are moving out of the U.S. (to somewhere in Latin America, possibly Mexico) in two weeks. I would have sold all of my furniture and appliances even if I hadn't been planning to move out of the states, as we moved 6-7 times over the course of three years, including one out of state move and one near move across the country, because of the lousy economy and job situation in the Silicon Valley area. It was just getting too ridiculous to try to move an entire household every few months. Additionally, we widdled our smaller belongings down to just a few boxes, only keeping those things which were truly valuable to us, sentimentally. In the end, I downsized my two bedroom house, including garage, worth of stuff down to less than a 7x6 storage space.

The cheapest solution, which also did not inconvenience anyone I know in the states, meant getting rid of replaceable furniture and appliances that I wouldn't be needing. Then, sort through and rid yourself of everything else that you're holding onto for no good reason. The question I kept asking myself is: Do I need this right now or within the next two years? If no, toss it, sell it, donate it. When you're done, put everything into a warehouse storage, which every major moving company has onsite - Bekins, United, Atlas, Wheaton, etc. They'll come get an entire household, if need be, and put it into crates that are around 7x7x6, and store it away in their warehouse for you until you need it again. And it is much, much cheaper than self-storage facilities.

Hope that helps. Good luck. It's not easy dealing with one's stuff.

Stephanie

[moonraven]

Good advice!

The word is whittled.

[MELEE]

Sorry that I'm so late in responding to this--it came at a time when I was really busy with a special project at work.

[MixtecaMike]

[thelmadatter]

Thanks Melee - nice to hear a sympathetic voice. Still havent worked out how to get all my stuff down but Ill make a trip soon to get at least some of it.