OK...We have an update. As you know, Dave and I have really stressed out about hiring a customs broker and lugging this cargo trailer such a long way. We had to weigh the cost effectiveness of hiring the broker, the time it would take for the broker to sort through all of our stuff to verify the menaje de casa's accuracy, the stess of getting to the border and them realizing that we forgot to add a couple of things to the menaje such as an area rug and a few small other items, the speed in which we would only be able to drive and the stress of finding a climate controlled storage for our household goods AND a storage for the cargo trailer and Tahoe once we arrived in Playa since we would have to come back to Dallas for a few weeks to finish up work. We had to question what that stress and anxiety would actually be worth. As per our menaje de casa, our household goods were only worth $4000 (give or take a little). With much hesitation, we decided to sell or give away everything that we had planned on taking. Now remember, we have already downsized from a 2500 sq ft house to what would barely accomodate a 1 bedroom condo. We decided to just go ahead and only take what we could carry in the Tahoe. We went to a friends house, unloaded the cargo trailer and placed everything in her driveway for an impromptu garage sale. It was sad. The items that we had wanted to take all meant something to us; we had bought many of the items specifically for Mexico such as a generator, a smaller sofa and a smaller bed frame. Fortunately we can return the bed frame and the sofa as they are still in their boxes/wrapped and get our money back. The generator...well it just would not fit in the Tahoe with everything else. The family photos are stored away at a friend's house as are both of our golf clubs and a couple of other misc items. We can retrieve these items on another trip back to Dallas one day. The things that were necessary (in our minds) for us to take were our better quality kitchen utensils that might be too expensive there, a 4 place setting of our favorite dishes (we spent alot of time picking these out so they are also a little senimental to us), a couple of matching mixing bowls, 2 pots and 1 pan, our towels, sheets, feather bed (all linens were put in space bags to save room), our computers, printer and a few Christmas ornaments that are very special to us. We still have just enough room to take a cooler for the road. It was not that difficult to give/sell the remaining items but it was a challenge to process that we are both 36 years old and we now own nothing except a Chevy Tahoe and a business in Playa that does not generate income yet. Although we are not materialistic people, it was still hard to swallow this as now we felt like we had worked our whole adult lives with nothing to show. Tricia (a friend that helped go through everything) and I drank mimosas all day just to make it easier . At the end of the day on Sunday, I looked at Dave and just smiled. I no longer felt like I'd be homeless but I felt like my life is just beginning. Liberation. I can now focus on what I WANT to do and I can do it anyway that I want to because we are starting over. All I can say was the feeling was exhilarating because we are without boundries and materialistic obstacles. With this all said...We have loaded the Tahoe and have it parked. We are bringing a dog and a cat (Katie and Felix). Dave and I are going to make the drive to Playa on Sept 5th, park the Tahoe in a storage area (thanks to all that gave me phone #'s) and fly back to Dallas. We will remain in Dallas for a few weeks then hop on a plane with Katie and Felix and fly down. This seemed to be the best solution for us. No stresses over having a dog and cat crammed in a car for 3+ days nor will we have to stess over smuggling them into non pet-friendly hotels.
Can you see these two crammed into a car for 3 or 4 days? Don't let their cuteness fool you!!!
I know that there are many that have brought all their belongings to Mexico and it can easily be done but the anxiety outweighed the need to have my stuff with me. I may be taking the easier road with this decision but in my experience so far and in my opinion, it seems much easier to just buy new stuff.
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