Episode #17: Building a Life in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico: A Conversation with Nicole and Dave Cougher

In this episode, Tricia and I were treated to a morning with Dave and Nicole' Cougher at their beautiful house and gardens in El Dorado Ranch, north of San Felipe. These two came down to San Felipe in the early 2000s, immediately fell in love with the area, and began planning and constructing their retirement home. They are a tight knit family with strong ties to their children. They successfully home schooled their youngest son in San Felipe. In addition to becoming big aficionados of off-road racing, they have participated in the SCORE Baja 250-- and won their division. They are extremely public service oriented and have done much to develop ties between the foreign and Mexican national populations of our community. Dave is soon to become the first foreigner to be granted Mexican citizenship in the newly established Municipality of San Felipe. They are extremely gracious hosts--Where else would you get a breakfast treat and mezcal at 10:30 in the morning? We hope you will have as much fun hearing their stories as Tricia and I did. Cal Whedbee If you enjoyed this podcast, the best way to show your appreciation is to leave us a comment or a LIKE either on FaceBook or on your favorite podcast channel. We are always looking for suggestions of people from the San Felipe area to interview and ideas for the "fork in the road." Please send any suggestions or comments you may have to: [email protected]. Building a Life in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico: A Conversation with Nicole and Dave Cougher Summary In this episode of "Turn Left at the Cactus" podcast, hosts Cal and Tricia Sykes interview Nicole and Dave Cougher, a couple who made San Felipe their home in 2006. The couple discusses their experiences of building a life in San Felipe, including homeschooling their son and becoming engaged in the local community. They share their love for the Mexican culture, unity of family, warm weather atmosphere, and offer advice for potential visitors. Adjusting mindset and expectations when living in the area is emphasized. Key Points 1. Nicole and Dave stumbled upon San Felipe with friends and immediately fell in love with the area. 2. The couple always enjoyed visiting San Fe Depe during their children's breaks from school before deciding to move permanently. 3. They appreciate the strong sense of community in the area and admire the unity among different ethnic groups. 4. The couple expresses their desire to become Mexican citizens, showcasing their respect for the country and its customs. 5. They advise potential visitors to rent and immerse themselves in the local lifestyle before making any permanent decisions. 6. The transcript highlights the hard work and coordination that went into organizing vaccination efforts in San Felipe. 7. The sense of home and contentment within their own living environment is emphasized by both speakers. Best Quotes 23:06 - 23:12 • "And a shout out to San Felipe because the vaccinations, it was so organized. It was just a beautifully run operation really was." 24:43 - 24:47 • "Sometimes I do just fine. Sometimes, sometimes I need to go get my feet wet in the US." 27:14 - 27:18 • "I think my favorite part about San Felipe is our home. I love being at home." 27:49 - 27:55 • "We have no problems going out and having fun. But sometimes it's like, wow, it's nine 30. I, I gotta, I want to go home." *Comments or opinions expressed on this podcast by our guests are not necessarily those of our producer or hosts.