Actually, it is much safer than the border towns. What's really interesting is, most Mexicans who live far away from the borders don't like their countrymen who live near the borders. I've been told by many, they make their country look bad. Those that I've worked with want to see a conservative type of government, they want to work towards establishing a freer Mexico, and they want a different government. They are struggling, but hopeful that one day, their country will change for the better, and they don't want to leave. One compared those living on the border to the perception of gangs in the US. That's the best analogy I've heard. What else is interesting is they told me, many of those trying to get in to the US are from the extreme southern part of Mexico. I spent months at a time for a couple years setting up a new plant operation about 2 hours north of Mexico City. But, Mexico City is a hellhole, not like border towns.
Thanks for the info. My son/his wife live right now in a border town in TX (military) and ... well, life is certainly interesting there. :-0
Anyone planning to live permanently south of the border would do well to work very closely with an honest, local (Mexican) lawyer. Not too many years ago there were articles about how gringos had invested in real estate and land they thought they owned and it turned out they they had leased. It was actually a pretty good living for the locals (owners, real estate agents and lawyers) who had their properties improved, repaired or built by gringos who paid not only for the work done but for the property itself. It took varying amounts of time but eventually these clever gringos were tossed.
If Mexico is such a conservative paradise - why are so many trying to rush our borders? And, why is their such a demand for private security personnel and installations among expats working in Mexico?
I think it has to do with "climate". They live at sufficient altitude in the South that they have what amounts to a year-round temperate climate. This induces them to move to Chicago (among other places) because the weather is familiar.
Centuries ago they'd been moving to Cahokia, Terre Haute, Angel Mounds (at Evansville), and many other areas that show signs of serious trade with or settlement by Meso-Americans.
It'd probably be worth a doctorate to conduct and analyze interviews with hill folks in Southern Mexico to determine the velocity of the persistence of stories about El Norte.