Re thinking plans to retire on a boat in Mexico.

[Jeff Asbury]

Re thinking plans to retire on a boat in Mexico. Thanks to Sven for sharing this on Google +. Yikes! :0

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20140110_ap_935e5096cf9b449895b9d8c1f6622cb7.html

 

[Loren Beach]

Several reports in the last few days on the Lat. 38 site, too.
http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2014-01-08&dayid=1005#.UtAyZCh2BxA

Given that under their French-derived system of justice (Guilty until Proven Innocent) and the potential US response which --in theory-- is to send in the Marines to free up US Documented vessels seized unlawfully, this is turning into a debacle of major proportions for the Mexican gov.

Gotta admit, that seeing a Tripoli Pirates response by our armed forces would be interesting TV! Film at Eleven!

And then, on a purely attracting-tourist-$$-level, the whole situation is even weirder.
While we have long talked about cruising down that way some day in our retirement, when you add this sort of government threat to the perceived constant crime threat, there is just no good reason to even go there at all.

Having said that, I would guess that this will all soon, somehow, "go away" and the Mexican government will dismiss it as a "misunderstanding." Given the secrecy and severity and violation of international law that was so casually invoked... I would still not be inclined to trust them one bit.

Cold and rainy as it is now up here, and as warm and inviting as their location is... Mexico just does not look very inviting.

Loren

 

[Jeff Asbury]

Thanks for that link

Thanks for that link Loren. This is very disturbing.

"The bottom line is that a lot of boat owners, boat businesses, boat workers, and a wonderful destination country are suffering for the blundering of one new sub-agency of the Mexican IRS. We implore all of you to take a few minutes to copy and send a petition — see next item — to as many officials and media outlets as possible. Then get on your Facebook page and encourage all your friends to do so also. For while on the surface it may appear to only affect boat owners in Mexico and nautical tourism in Mexico, it actually has major negative ramifications for the whole West Coast sailing industry."

Links to petition are at the bottom of the Latitude 38 article.
http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2014-01-08&dayid=1005#.UtA4kihmaYl

 

[ref_123]

Er... to keep it in perspective: boats are not physically arrested. You can still live on your boat; you cannot take it out. So, while in a grand scheme of things it sure is bad/disturbing, most people living in marinas are not terribly inconvenienced - at least, by Mexican standards.

Also, to make sure - this action is done by a branch of Mexican IRS. Our IRS operates on the same principle - one needs to prove his/her innocence. It is not criminal justice. So, blaming Mexicans and/or French for applying the same rule that governs USA tax policies is somewhat... hmm... not politically correct, si?

Do not get me wrong - I am as unhappy as the next guy about this, but reconsidering retirement in Mexico - if you are set on it, calculated risks vs rewards, etc. - is a bit of overreaction. Laws - or lack thereof - is just a part of the risk you are taking when trying to stretch your dollars south of the border.

Best regards,
Stan

 

[Jeff Asbury]

Er... to keep it in perspective: boats are not physically arrested. You can still live on your boat; you cannot take it out. So, while in a grand scheme of things it sure is bad/disturbing, most people living in marinas are not terribly inconvenienced - at least, by Mexican standards.

Also, to make sure - this action is done by a branch of Mexican IRS. Our IRS operates on the same principle - one needs to prove his/her innocence. It is not criminal justice. So, blaming Mexicans and/or French for applying the same rule that governs USA tax policies is somewhat... hmm... not politically correct, si?

Do not get me wrong - I am as unhappy as the next guy about this, but reconsidering retirement in Mexico - if you are set on it, calculated risks vs rewards, etc. - is a bit of overreaction. Laws - or lack thereof - is just a part of the risk you are taking when trying to stretch your dollars south of the border.

Best regards,
Stan

I have never heard about anything like this happening in the US. Just saying.

"In late November about 100 auditors of the AGACE division of SAT (the Mexican IRS), backed by a large contingent of marines armed with machine guns, descended on seven marinas in Mexico, from Ensenada to Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta to Cancun. Their goal was to make sure that all the boats in the marinas complied with Mexico's very reasonable regulations for visits by foreign vessels, and they ended up thinking they had caught over three hundred foreign boat owners who owed big tax bills."

 

[ref_123]

Ah... well... Guys with machine guns are a fact of life in Mexico. You see them on the roads everywhere. So, it does not look as drastic to Mexicans as it does to gringos. As I said, calculate your risks. Cheap living down south comes with the price.

Also... Not that I mind... Too much... But as a former military officer (of Soviet Army) I feel VERY uneasy when US Coast Guard speedboat comes along and the guy on the bow casually swings a machine gun towards me and my family. And waves... Yeah, I know they are good guys... Just my trained reflexes... You know?

Just saying