Hey Alex, this is very tempting! As @stortebeker said, maybe it's just a dream but I'm very interested. I've been in Mexico for the past year working on a community project but it's currently stalling a bit with uncertainty around land and overall vision.
Some time away spent learning and working with others who are tuned in to the ecoVillage's vision may be just what I need. Timing is tricky part since I need to remain in Mexico until early October in order to renew my residency.
Once the final dates are set I can let you know for sure.
Oh wow, you're also in Mexico? And involved in some kind of community project? That's fantastic! (No wonder I'm following you already, hehehe.) Where in Mexico are you located? And what is the project about? Looking forward meeting you in Portugal - provided we both make it, and otherwise I would love to meet you here in Mexico.
Oh, okay! I just figured out who you are! Sorry, it took me a moment, but yes I remember contacting each other in various ways when I was in the States last year. So don't worry about my previous two questions, though I'm still looking forward to meeting you, in Portugal or/and in Mexico.
Yeah, I went to check out the theater in Mazunte and the ranch I'm at is in the hills above the Huatulco area. We are currently working through some issues with the papers for the land we are in the process of buying. What that really means is that we've already invested quite a bit of money with only verbal agreements and now are seeking a written contract. Obviously not the way to do things so I hope that everything works out.
Oh no....! The "way to do things" not just there but in way too many areas, seems to be stacked one-sided and always changeable. So I really really hope you guys will be able to resolve it without too much trouble. From what I've seen, people tend to be afraid of getting screwed over, which causes them to screw over others. By now I'm sure you must have convinced them of the long-term benefits of selling the land to you, but still they may try to get something more in the last minute.
Like the property for that theater: Only once the written contract was signed (!) the vendor changed his mind, took off a major chunk of the land with the highest evelation, and offered my friends the rest for the same price, thinking that they would not back out by then. He was right. Then he sold the remaining area for about the same price to the dude who built the mansion next door. As if all that was not enough, the last time we saw him in town (five years after selling the land) he came up with some crazy explanation of why they still owed him - some undefined amount, because he had sold them the land so cheaply.
Crazy, I know. And if you bring up the one-sidedness of the issue, their only justification is "usos y costumbres" meaning their "way to do things". Oh yeah, and some examples of how Canadian mining companies exploit their workers in Chihuahua. Anyway, I truly hope that in your case the situation is not so bad, and that you can resolve it without much hassle. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Thanks for the input. It will all work out, one way or the other. I need to get very clear within myself on what I want to manifest and whether I still want to be on this land or not. It's clear to me that the original idea of a completely shared community isn't going to happen here. As Alex discovered, a better approach is to have individual plots.
When I went to that theater land I was wondering about that mansion. It seemed too close to your friend's building. Now I understand.
Indeed, that house is not exactly what we like having next door. Fortunately the owner is a great guy and a good neighbor. But yeah... I wonder what the place will look like in a few years.
sounds good.. i hope you can make this.. if not.. im sure there will be further opportunities the way things seem to be going..
Thanks Alex. I'd also like to visit @samstonehill if I make it over there. My biggest concern with the whole thing is getting stuck in Europe if (when) there's another round of Covid related madness.
I'd also like to say that, after my experience in Mexico attempting to start "a community", the approach that you outlined in journal 16 is the way to go. I'm expecting great things to happen with the ecoVillages project based on this approach!