"I saw a commercial today about Mexico being a great place to vacation. WTH????? I find that hard to believe seeing as how they've managed to trash California!"
Oh, Boy. Confession time, Tighty. I vacation in MX at least twice each year. Our friends have a time-share in Puerto Vallarta, and I really love it. My American dollars go a loooong way, the food is good, beer is cheap and people leave me the h#ll alone; my idea of the perfect vacation.
Sure, some of Mexico is a dump; I used to live 2 miles from the border in Imperial Beach, CA, (Tijuana) but I wouldn't give you a fresh flounder for Mexico City or Acapulco or Cancun or Cabo, but the lesser known costal areas are just gorgeous. Great beaches, scuba for DH, para-sailing and snorkeling for the kids, etc. Personally, I'd live there half the year if I could afford it. And any American with even a modest income could afford to live there...I've met many Americans that do.
It's either Alaska, Mexico or Hawaii for my Golden Years. I've still got 20 years to mull it over. Maybe by that time Mexico will be all the way up here in Wisconsin anyway, and the choice will be an easy one? :(
LOL - well maybe you have to have lived out of California for awhile to enjoy the finer offerings of Mexico.