This isn’t a joke, it’s our payroll, three very different guys who are helping us to navigate buying and building a home in Mexico.

Mauricio is Falstaffian, thorough and connected. He made sure we understood each step, from Roman law to homeowners insurance. He translated and read aloud to us our articles of incorporation and gave us the best advice we never heeded (”Have lunch in the free zone and turn right around.” Never, ever go to Belize City!)

Javier Cervantes Centurion is trim and handsome, with a great gray haircut and shiny slide on shoes. His office on Calle 33A is stylish with paintings, wooden floor accents and solid modern furniture. We’ve met him only once but he has also been very straightforward. He uses the word logical quite a bit, which I like. He and Mauricio are friends and colleagues.

Marcelo is our neighbor and I think we have alluded to him here from time to time. He and his wife Mari have been invaluable to us these past weeks. Marcelo has the kindest face and beautiful children. He works around the neighborhood and seems to know everyone. He has helped us find workers for the Chelem house, a mechanic who makes house calls, and answers to many questions we didn’t even know we should be asking. Malcolm and Marcelo communicate amazingly well; perhaps because Spanish is a second language for them both.

Good help has not been hard to find. At every level of service I believe we are working with very fine individuals who are making this process as clear and free of danger as possible.