From CA to TX to MX

So here I go; this will be mostly about what to expect (as we experience them) of  moving to Playa del Carmen, Mexico...

Never really documented my times before, so forgive my lack of or too much detail.

We arrived on October 4, 2011 - picked up by friends from the local congregation, David & Kelly.  They immediately took us to see 6 or so places to stay and this was a great thing to have done!  We saw what you could get from 2,500 pesos to 11,000 pesos per month; $200 to $850 USD.

Our hotel, Casa Ejido, (more like a home with a pool and common kitchen area) was really nice.  Lisa got it for $30 / night and breakfast was an additional $3 ea (coffee, fruit, homemade bread & various jams).  Room has a king bed, large comfy couch, desk, sink, fridge, 2 burner cook-top and water dispenser.  All in all, nice place and very "Mexico" feeling.

We found a great place 100 yards from the Caribbean and is hitting us for 10,000 pesos per month.  The owner, Don, is Canadian and has been here for 16 years; nice to have good communication with the landlord, aye, hoser?

This is appx. $750 for a 2 br / 1 ba that is newly furnished (we got to pick out some of the furnishings) and also includes water, gas, electric & drinking water.  The only thing we needed was bedding & towels...

We (4 of us) ate at a taco hut (brought our own beer from the local grocery) and all ate for 78 pesos ($5.75, I think the beer cost more than the food)...had dinner with them and 2 other couples; one from Canada and another from London / Italy and had a really good evening (dinner w/drinks on the beach for 300 pesos later or $21).

10/5 - Went out to look at furniture; found some we liked and told Don...kind of got some foot time in around town and had lunch for a whopping 41 pesos ($3) and went to the meeting that evening; small congregation, but very welcoming.  Had 45 at the meeting & much opportunity to comment.  Had a great visit afterwards, meeting some there.  They come from everywhere...Argentina, UK, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Mexico & US.  Maybe more, we just haven't met them yet.

10/6 - Signed up for the condo; biked there in 10-15 minutes from where we're staying.  We had lunch for 22 pesos and then an early dinner for 90 (we splurged at $6.50).
Here's some things we'll be paying additional for (all monthly):
Internet - 2mb speed - $35 ish
Cable - would be $50, but I got Hulu working...using download speeds of less than 1mb...
Local cell - $10-20 / month
Use air conditioning - $75 ish
Transport - don't know, but budgeting $100 or thinking of bringing the car down.
Laundry service - $30 ish
Cleaning every 2 weeks (maybe) - $25 per visit