Can I buy furniture in Los Cabos - La Paz, Mexico?
Cathie Smith LoCicero - Cathie Smith Insurance
There are really nice furniture stores in La Paz and Los Cabos.
When I first moved to Cabo San Lucas, there were no furniture stores. Everything had to be ordered from Guadalajara, packed up, shipped onto trucks, and brought over on the ferry. It was a long, involved process.
Now, there are really nice furniture stores in Los Cabos and La Paz. You can get everything from rustic to sophisticated. There are artisans...
There are really nice furniture stores in La Paz and Los Cabos.
When I first moved to Cabo San Lucas, there were no furniture stores. Everything had to be ordered from Guadalajara, packed up, shipped onto trucks, and brought over on the ferry. It was a long, involved process.
Now, there are really nice furniture stores in Los Cabos and La Paz. You can get everything from rustic to sophisticated. There are artisans in these areas who are just amazing. If you want to have special things made for you, all you have to do is ask your neighbors or real estate agents because they are the people who are knowledgeable if there are certain pieces that you would like designed especially for your home. Hand-made furniture in Los Cabos – La Paz is very affordable.
I have not had anything hand made for me. One woman told me that she had a piece made in Mexico that she had priced in the United States and the cost in Mexico was 10 percent of what she would have paid to buy that same piece in the United States.
If you're going to buy furniture in Mexico with US brands, you would pay more because of the importation tax and shipping. You shouldn't expect to get a US brand for the same price. For example, I live in Arizona at the present time. If there is something manufactured here in the state of Arizona and I want this piece while I’m in Arizona, I'm going to buy it and it's made right here. If I want that piece in Cabo San Lucas that's an American product, just like in all other countries, you're going to pay for importation tax and shipping to get it to you.
If you take that into consideration, it's only fair to be taxed on that because that's just the way the world is. If you insist on having something made in the United States, keep in mind that it must be imported into Mexico and there's a tax on that. Of course, it must get to where you are and there is shipping on that. Unless you want certain things and your heart is set on something in particular that you can only get imported, there is really no reason to do so and I would say, "Why would you want to do that?"
The same goes for appliances. General Electric is in Mexico and there is a GE store right there in Cabo San Lucas. When I remodeled my condominium, I got all GE appliances in my kitchen, but they were manufactured in Mexico so I didn't have to go through the expense of import tax and shipping.
(Ad for House Electrodomesticos which sells GE appliances in Guadalajara, Mexico, pictured.)
Are there English-speaking doctors in Boquete, Panama?
Penny Barrett - Fundacion Bid 4 Bouquete
Most of the doctors in Boquete speak some English. The tongue of choice in Boquete is “Spanglish” (combination of Spanish and English). Most expats do not have trouble because their doctors understand and speak enough English.
The problem that most expats encounter is when they go to the receptionist or the person who books the doctor’s appointment. Most of the time, they do not speak English so you have to learn how to book an appointment in Spanish and...
Most of the doctors in Boquete speak some English. The tongue of choice in Boquete is “Spanglish” (combination of Spanish and English). Most expats do not have trouble because their doctors understand and speak enough English.
The problem that most expats encounter is when they go to the receptionist or the person who books the doctor’s appointment. Most of the time, they do not speak English so you have to learn how to book an appointment in Spanish and understand the time that she will give you to come and see the doctor. But once you are already with the doctor, the communication is usually very good even if you do not speak Spanish.
Most of the doctors in Boquete went to medical schools in the US so they have learned enough English.
Is there religious freedom and religious tolerance in Nicaragua?
Daniel Snider - Snider's Realty Nicaragua
There is religious freedom in Nicaragua, which is protected under the constitution of Nicaragua, so you are free to practice any religion that you wish as long as it is not harmful to other people. Nicaraguans are tolerant of other religions. Most people in Nicaragua, however, are Catholic.
In Nicaragua, there are a lot of Evangelical Protestants, who comprise about 21% of the population. 59% of the population is Roman Catholic so that makes up for most of the people here....
There is religious freedom in Nicaragua, which is protected under the constitution of Nicaragua, so you are free to practice any religion that you wish as long as it is not harmful to other people. Nicaraguans are tolerant of other religions. Most people in Nicaragua, however, are Catholic.
In Nicaragua, there are a lot of Evangelical Protestants, who comprise about 21% of the population. 59% of the population is Roman Catholic so that makes up for most of the people here. Then it breaks up to about 2% Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1% for other religions, and 15% of the population have no religion.
(Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Nicaragua, pictured.)
The first thing to do is register your business name and if you are in a village or town check to see if you will need a trade licenses and owe city taxes. Also register with income tax and social security if you will have employees. You will also need a work permit and as soon as you can apply for residency.
You don't have to do anything if your business is located in the US or on the Internet.
If you want...
The first thing to do is register your business name and if you are in a village or town check to see if you will need a trade licenses and owe city taxes. Also register with income tax and social security if you will have employees. You will also need a work permit and as soon as you can apply for residency.
You don't have to do anything if your business is located in the US or on the Internet.
If you want help with your business idea there is a government company called BELTRAIDE (Belize Trade and Investment Development Services) that will advise you on your business idea.
You will also want to open a checking account and you will need your business registration to do that
If you are coming to Belize under the QRP (Qualified Retirement Program) you will not be allowed to have a business or donate your time because you are not allowed to work.
What's the dress code in Algarve? What clothes do they wear in Algarve?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
The dress code in the Algarve is “smart casual” or “casual.” There’s no one with a tie here unless that person works in a bank. If you come along with a tie then we’ll know that you’re from another city or another part of the country.
Our clothes style here in the Algarve is generally very relaxed—chinos, beige slacks, and so forth. We also fit in with the season and a very bright...
The dress code in the Algarve is “smart casual” or “casual.” There’s no one with a tie here unless that person works in a bank. If you come along with a tie then we’ll know that you’re from another city or another part of the country.
Our clothes style here in the Algarve is generally very relaxed—chinos, beige slacks, and so forth. We also fit in with the season and a very bright environment, even though the Portuguese tradition is one of wearing fairly dark clothes, particularly in the winter, including a lot of burgundy and black clothing. Generally in Algarve you’ll find a lot lighter colors—the blues, the beiges, the pinks, etc. It’s a very laidback, relaxed environment.
You won’t find the truly sloppy like you would see in Central America with shorts, flip-flops and T-shirts. You wouldn’t have the sort of the rag tag of people mulling about unshaven and with long hair. Having said that, we have a lot of wealthy people who just choose to walk in flip-flops. They will, however, look very proper as they walk in their flip-flops and nice shorts and maybe nice jersey or cardigan hung over their shoulders if it’s a cold evening.
(Traditional Portuguese clothing for women-- not what they wear every day, pictured.)
There are many good reasons for retiring overseas, and I'll address them elsewhere in another answer. The worst reasons? I have a list of some things to consider:-
1). Don't head overseas just because you are running away from something!
It is no good going overseas to retire just because you don't want to be where you are now. You have to do your research, and have to really want to live in the place you decide to retire to.
...
There are many good reasons for retiring overseas, and I'll address them elsewhere in another answer. The worst reasons? I have a list of some things to consider:-
1). Don't head overseas just because you are running away from something!
It is no good going overseas to retire just because you don't want to be where you are now. You have to do your research, and have to really want to live in the place you decide to retire to.
2). Don't think it is going to be easy!
For reference, see the picture above. Wherever you go things are going to be different, and there will be challenges to face and hurdles to overcome. Maybe you won't have to rescue a boat from the seabed, but you will face challenges.
A new language to learn. New customs. Distance from friends and family.
3). Social circle.
You are more than likely going to move to a place where you know few, if any, people. You will have to develop a new social circle and support network in your new location. It's fun to do, but you will have to be prepared to make the effort to do so too.
4). Do your research!!
This is so important, and is what this website is all about. Make sure you are fully informed and fully prepared before you make the leap. The biggest mistake is not knowing what to expect, and therefore being completely unprepared.
Once you've done your research, and are confident you are ready for the challenges and adventure ahead, jump in with both feet. After all, life really is meant to be an adventure, isn't it?
We have just recently retired and plan to spend winters in our condo in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit. We bought the condo 3 years ago and have spent school holidays (I am a retired school teacher) setting up our condo and exploring our village and neighbourhood a little. We barely scratched the surface but look forward to learning more about the area in our 6-month trip this year!
What we have discovered, we love. The locals are so generous and accepting of us "gringos'...
We remember as youngsters being told that if you pick up a baby bird that has fallen from its nest and put it back, the parent birds will abandon it. We believed that to be true until this past week when the myth was debunked by a couple of Azulejos (Tángara Azuleja, English: Blue-gray Tanager).
Last Saturday, April 25th, my wife was watching the neighbors trim a large overgrown bush on our property line. While picking up branches that had fallen on our...
This was a special day for my friends from Alabama. They had wanted to go visit the Janson Coffee Farm for the last two years. This was a great day for slow drive to Volcan. It was a cool, rainy, gray day but the smiles and laughter made it feel warm and happy. All along the way there was an air of excitement from the two of them. I heard stories about the times they rode horses with the Janson family, picnics and weekend outings; all the memories were so pleasant. Along the way we...