Seriously, your chances of being murdered in Mexico, according to US State Department statistics, are less than your chances of being hit by lighting by about half.

Yes, gangsters shoot at each other and the army shoots back. It’s unlikely you’ll be in the neighborhood – any more than you’ll be in the neighborhood of a gang shootout at home. The chance of getting murdered for any reason in Mexico is less than the chance of getting struck by lighting in the USA (90 deaths versus 50). It’s one-sixth the likelihood of your being gunned down in the USA. You could get gunned down in the USA at: a museum in Washington DC, a church, a mall, a fast food restaurant / convenience store, by a serial killer in South Carolina, California or anywhere, a drive-by shooting and so on.

The FBI 2007 statistics state that there were 1.4 million violent crimes in the USA. 466.9 per 100,000 people with 16,929 murders or 5.6 per 100,000 people. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2007/offenses/violent_crime/index.html That sounds pretty scary to me.

The US State Department reported that for 2008, there were 221 deaths from all causes of American citizens in Mexico. http://travel.state.gov/pdf/current_20081231.pdf. 

But driving in Mexico takes certain skills. Fortunately, you can learn from my years of experience (and only one accident). Read the overview of driving and follow the menu down the yellow brick road.

Mexican maps have traditionally been often long on pretty and short on accuracy. Some are way better than others, though none are perfect. In my humble opinion, the European-made maps of Mexico are useless. See my recommendations for all-purpose maps of Mexico, as well as my own driving maps with touristic details. I give you recommended routes and shortcuts for cars and RV's and tell you what routes Class A motorhomes and towed units should avoid. I also provide mileages and realistic driving times. I'll suggest stops for scenic, little-known attractions you might otherwise miss. My road logs will give you a wealth of detail on driving routes in Mexico. For those who don't appreciate my inimitable writing style, a condensed version is available in database format -- just the facts (oh heck, with a little literary licence).

I'm amazed at people who fly 22 hours (if there are no delays) to Asia for medical procedures when excellent doctors are available as close as Cd. Juarez, across from El Paso, TX. If you are underinsured, or like me, wouldn't know a health insurance policy if it bit you, Mexican doctors and dentists can save you a fortune, and more importantly, your life. But don't pick one by the size of her ... web site. I did once and tell you the story. I've been using Mexican doctors and dentists for years and so have thousands of other Americans. I've chosen doctors and dentists that I know (or who were recommended by a friend who's used them) to recommend. If you need a doctor or surgery see Cd. Juarez doctors.

If all you need is a dentist in Mexico, I recommend some I know in Reynosa and Progreso (though gringos spell it Progresso), both on the South Texas border. I can also recommend an oral surgeon in Cd. Juarez, across from El Paso Texas.

moving for the wrong reason. Yes, Mexico is less expensive than living in the United States, but not as inexpensive as some web sites and books tell you. I can think of one web site in particular whose owners should be shot. What's more important is that you want to live in Mexico because you like the people and the country. If all you see are dollar signs (or peso signs), you will be unhappy and should stay home. You can live in Arkansas, south Texas and other places in the States for less than you can in gringo enclaves. Ugly Americans (or unattractive Canadians) should stay home.

Now, if you're still reading, you're my kind of person. Mexico offers soul, culture and an easy-going lifestyle. If you are on a fixed income, your money will go farther and yes, you can live less expensively, but more importantly, you can live a fuller live. See the good and bad points about living in Mexico, then follow the links for details about living in Mexico.

Fuel prices in Mexico. Updated once a month because only diesel goes up about 5 centavos a month. The cost of gasoline and diesel in Mexico is generally less than gasoline and diesel prices in most of the United States. (Sometimes, it is not). The fuel prices here are for the prices in the interior of Mexico.

With its diverse topography of mountain ranges, sprawling deserts, seaside cliffs, lush meadows and verdant forests, driving through Mexico is a pleasure in and of itself. Once you've taken advantage of the advice offered here and discovered that Mexico has so much more to offer than the iconic beach getaway, consider making it a permanent part of your life. If you don't want to relocate or purchase a second home, the option to buy timeshare allows you to enjoy all the benefits of owning vacation property without any of the hassles. With Mexico timeshare you only pay for the weeks when you will actually use the property. Plus, the nature of timeshare ownership dictates that expenses are split among a variety of owners, significantly lowering the overall cost to you. Explore the timeshare resale market today, start thinking of Mexico as your home away from home, and remember to enjoy the drive through Mexico as much as the vacation itself.