Having selected San Miguel de Allende (SMA) as our retirement haven without actually visiting the city (or mainland Mexico), we rented a house via the internet - then visited, only to find that what wasn't said was as important as what was said.
Luckily, while in SMA we had dined with folks who were to become friends and had voiced our apprehension about the house versus our needs. By the time we returned to Los Angeles on Sunday (dinner was Saturday night), we had an email suggesting a house that was near their home in Colonia San Rafael.
Also luckily, we found that we liked SMA.
After bowing out of the first house (mega guilt), we arranged to visit SMA again to inspect the second house (we learn slowly, but we learn) and put a deposit on the house with the landlord. I'm not sure we could afford a house that is 'perfect,' but it comes much closer to fulfilling our needs, has many good points, and is a great improvement on the first house. We liked the idea of being both closer to Centro and being in an 'authentic Mexican neighborhood.' It was also pretty cool.
Returning to Los Angeles, it was time to figure out just when we would be moving and how to decorate our new home (oh, so important!).
