Living at Lake Chapala in Mexico

September is a fun time in Guadalajara and Lake Chapala as Mexico celebrates the 1810 call to independence from Spain's control. The country's charros (horsemen), plenty of music (mariachi of course) and tequila, the country's national drink, are all important ingredients in this important event.

So here we are at the delicate dilemma of "to flush or not to flush".

As you travel from baño to restroom to bathroom in Mexico, you'll notice, in English and in Spanish, ubiquitous signs asking you not to flush any paper.

This prevalent rule seems to dismay newcomers more than any other situation. While we had the following information in an article about a year ago, it's so disconcerting to so many folks that we decided that this is as good a place as any to dispel some of the misinformation associated with this quandary and to let you know how we handle the situation.

Why can't we flush paper? It's just because much of the plumbing in Mexico cannot accommodate it.

Some folks have been told that paper can be flushed in homes that are on municipal sewer systems and that only the bathrooms that have septic tanks can't handle paper. It's just not that cut and dried or nearly that simple. This problem has a lot more to do with the sewer pipes under the bathroom and leading out of the house than the eventual destination of the paper.

In some cases, the sewer pipes that run through the building and out to the municipal sewer system or septic tank are too small. Sometimes tree roots have grown into the sewer pipes, creating tight places for the paper to hang up. Sometimes, as in one local bed and breakfast, there are huge eight-inch diameter sewer lines installed. They were large enough to accommodate paper from all the rooms at once. Unfortunately the owner bought the cheapest toilets available, and the internal cavities of the tubing built into the bowl are too small to allow paper to pass.

If there's a single personality trait that marks folks who don't adapt well to living at Lakeside, it's probably the latent (or sometimes overt) need to change and control. It's an interesting phenomenon. People move here because they are enchanted with the old world charm of the area. By the time they're moved in, they are trying to implement committees, studies, groups, and programs to change almost everything?and promising that it will all be approved, inspected according to OSHA standards.

One early warning sign is a constant refrain outlining the problems of the area in sentences beginning with "Why don't they?" "Why don't they clean up the trash?" "Why don't they mow the roadsides?" "Why don't they do something about the dogs?" "Why don't they do something about the noise?" Why don't they learn English?"

I sometimes think these folks would be thrilled if the north shore villages of Lake Chapala were completely torn down and rebuilt to look like those "nearly genuine, old-style" resort areas North of the Border. Using Disneyland and Dollyworld as guidelines, the Lakeside villages could become bougainvillea-draped old-mission-style towns. Adobe-like building facades would hide a series of malls, senior centers, and discount chain stores.

Imagine?the villages of Lake Chapala would look like romantic old Mexico on the outside, but behind the façade could be bland, gringolandia, complete with granite countertops, sound-insulated Navajo white walls, garbage disposals, central heat and air conditioning and trash compactors.

If the litany of foreigner discontent was distilled into a list of the Top Ten Newcomer Complaints, the top choice complaint for changing Lakeside to suit visitors and newcomers would certainly be:

"Why don't they pave these cobblestone streets?"

The popularity of cobblestone streets didn't even have anything to do with last year's newspaper article that had Lakeside forums buzzing with jubilant posts announcing "A positive look at cobblestones." My inbox was filled with emailed copies of the Associated Press article which related the results of an Oregon Research Institute study suggesting that walking on cobblestones lowers blood pressure.

The study, inspired by the health enjoyed by elderly persons who walked every day on China's ancient stone paths, monitored subjects (all over 60) as they walked 30 minutes a day on rounded river rocks. In just four months, they showed measurable improvements in balance and mobility, and significantly lower blood pressure. While the study was interesting, I was far more fascinated that folks on the forums thought this new-to-them health benefit was the only positive aspect of Lakeside's cobblestone streets.

Here's my top ten list of the positive aspects of cobblestone streets:
10. There is an unending supply of cobblestones--this area was formed by ancient volcanos and the earth is full of perfect cobblestones.

9. Cobblestone paving is inexpensive, no specialized equipment is required for installation--a man and a small hammer and a couple of stakes with a string will do.

8. When a street needs repair, the stones are removed, stacked on the sidewalk, then the same stones are replaced in the street.

7. Cobblestones slow rushing water during heavy rains. Water soaks in between the rocks.

6. No petroleum products are used in the process of putting down the stones. The earth is not tainted by the disposal of dumping used asphalt.

5. Cobblestones slow traffic, reducing the number and severity of accidents.

4. Stone covered streets don't break up or develop potholes from heavy rain like
asphalt.

3. Cobblestones are not slick when wet.

2. Cobblestone streets keep property taxes low.

And the tie for the number one best reason to leave cobblestone streets in place at Lakeside:

1. They work.

1. It's not about us.

Live is good at Lake Chapala where we walk every day on cobblestones.

Here's a topic seldom addressed on the internet, or in any of the book on moving to Mexico ? garbage pickup.

Actually now that I think about it, no one really wants to talk about garbage; they just want it to disappear, quickly, easily and inexpensively.

Let's deal with the rubbish before you have moved to that new house at Lake Chapala and have a couple of big bags of refuse and don't know what to do with it.

For some of the new residents of Lakeside, garbage pickup is far easier and more convenient than they ever experienced back North of the border. When you live in one of the towns on Lake Chapala's north shore: Chapala, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Ajijic, San Juan Cosalá or Jocotepec, your garbage will be picked up five or six days a week by municipalidad crews and garbage trucks.

Be sure to ask your neighbors, landlord or former owner of your property where and when you need to leave your bags of trash. While the truck passes in front of my home every morning, the residents of the cross streets must bring their bags to the nearest corners. By the way, there is a local ordinance prohibiting placing your garbage at the curb more than four hours prior to pickup.

This service is one of the benefits village dwellers pay for in their property taxes.

Near the December holidays the refuse workers on your street will leave an envelope at your house to make it easy for you to give them a nice tip. Like many other workers, the garbage men work hard for very low wages.

Homeowner's Association Neighborhoods
If you've moved into La Floresta, Villa Nova, Chula Vista, Chapala Haciendas or some of the other areas with a neighborhood association, garbage pickup is usually scheduled two or three times a week. Be sure to check your area's rules so you know where to leave the trash and when.

Gate Guarded Communities and Builder's Developments
Each of the gate guarded communities forms their own rules for garbage disposal. Check with your management group, gate guards or neighbors for the procedure in your neighborhood. Some areas with gates (Mirasol is one example) have dumpsters on site for your trash, some have other pickup systems.

Responsible for your Own Refuse
In some less developed areas of Lakeside, your garbage may be your own responsibility. If you live in Canacinta, Rancho Del Oro and a few other areas that are outside the jurisdiction of the government trucks, but don't have a homeowners association, you'll be expected to either haul off your own garbage or form an alliance with a few neighbors to hire a truck to take away the bags of refuse once or twice a week.

Life is Good at Lake Chapala!