Hello,:thumbsup:
My name is Benjamin, I´m 45, W/M. I´m new to the board, so don´t you guys beat me up too bad, OKAY??? I know a lot about doing time, too much actually. I was inside for over 19 years (NO Breaks) & almost all inside maximum security. It was like a never ending nightmare! Some people go in & out of prison multiple times, I only went in! Well, I did finally get out! (Smile) Thank God.
I now live in Mexico because of many things, but mostly because I really FEEL FREE here. I´ve been out for about 5 years now when I 1st got out (in the USA) I coundn´t hardly find a job & when I did it was at the Sewer Plant, SLC, Utah! $10 dollars an hour & all the cities shit that I could shovel! What a great testimonial to how the USA felt about me now! Huge Bummer.
5 years later I now have 2 small companies here in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Mexico. Sometimes I get frustraled with life, business, personal issues & the things people do out here but then I remember what I used to have when I was Inside & ALL my problems just kind of fade away!:D Here in Mexico I had a new start where no-one knew about MY PAST. Also theres no P.O.s, Company drug tests, Background checks, Guns, Gangs, ExFelon Laws & No Bush.
I love it here Smile.:p
There ARE plenty of nice things here too & I take full advantage of them, I dance every night & I swim everyday! Both of my businesses I started with less than $7 Thousand dollars (Each) & are set up to take up very little of the thing thats most valuable to me now, My Time. The best thing about my businesses is that I help people everyday. I have a cool little house that I pay $150 dollars a month for, its surrounded by jungle, its really great. Also, Ive made a few friends.
I´m learning new things about this thing called life everyday, some days more than others! I went in when I was 21 & got out when I was 40 so in some ways I´m still a kid & so much changed durring the time period I was inside (1981-2000), the tech changes & the internet are great but the most startling change was in the peoples attitudes out here & the price of things! Wow!
Look, I don´t know why I found this site (100% by accident, Or fate.........) but if I can help on here, give advice or support in anyway I will.
I really hope I can make a few friends here.
Peace,
Benjamin

Well benjamin let me welcome you to pto. youy will meet many people here and they are all graet.my name is renee and my fiance is currently in montgomery county cf on violatons on his probation, not reporting moving w/o permission,what is messed up was 1 day before court he was rearessted in jail on burglary and forgery charges which later on in the month he beat. so now he is just sitting and waaiting to be sentenced on his tech charges and 2 misdermenors.we doont no how long he is going to get. but hopefully not long. well again id like to welcome you pto. hugggssss renee

Hello & Welcome To PTO. What a story...Thank you so much for sharing it. You must be really proud of yourself. I wish you the best!

WOW, I am so glad you found yourself here today and shared a bit about yourself! You are a success story and you have many blessings in your life. God bless you! Here you will find peace.

Benjamin, welcome to PTO, I am sure your help will be invaluable. It is a shame in order for you to have a decent life as an ex-con you had to leave the country. I love America but sometimes I wonder what the h$ll is going on.

Hi Benjamin, welcome to PTO (the greatest support system ever!). I'm sorry that in order for you to find happiness you had to leave the country but I'm glad to hear that you're happy. If you ever want to talk please feel free to pm me. God Bless You!

Welcome to PTO, thank you for sharing your story with us, I wish you all the best.

Welcome Benjamin and congratulations on your new found freedom. Ken and I have talked about moving out of the country too when he gets out because of the way Americans treat ex-felons, the difficulty in obtaining work, etc. I'm not sure how we will make that happen because he'll be on parole for quite some time after his release. No matter what we decide we will have to do it the right way (whatever that is) because neither of us wants to do this prison thing again.

I am sure that sharing your knowledge and experience here will be beneficial to a lot of people. Again, welcome to PTO.

Welcome to PTO and it's great to hear your success story and how happy you are.... gives the rest of us hope. So thanks for your story :)

I often wondered why more ex-offenders don't move to Mexico. Did you speak Spanish fluently before you moved?

Congratulations on your companies and hope you continue to do well and your frustrations become fewer and fewer.

congratulations on your release and your success! its nice to know some do rehabilitate for the good when they come out. you should be very proud of your achievements, I know i am very proud of you. its such a shame that ex felons have to leave the country to find the real freedom. Wishing you the best of luck in all that you do and keep up your good work.

welcome to pto you give hope to all of us

Welcome, Benjamin. I would love to have a friend like you. Best wishes to you.

Welcome to PTO. Congrats on your successes!

welcome to pto. it is so good to hear about a successfull person, im impressed. thanks for sharing

Awesome Benjamin!! I am out one year and still trying to find a new path in life!

Keep up the positive attitude and the excellent work. I am interested in knowing how you were able to get to Mexico and what type of businesses have you started there. Thanks

Great news Benjamin...!!!! Hope yo have continued sucess..My husband has been out for 8 months now, and is diong great, working full time, loving his freedom. Again, Congrats...!! Let us know how things go and best of luck to you.

welcome to PTO, great to hear you have found success and happiness. I lived in Mexico in Obregon was on an FM3 visa (thats proof that you make over 1000 a month) had to show proof, if anyone has any questions on Mexico, I would be happy to let you know any information I may be knowledgeable on.
What kind of visa do you have benjamin? I have an article on Mexico if you are interested iin it just im me and i will send it to you
Anyhow I loved hearing about your story, and hope you continue to flourish in your new found happiness. dianna

Welcome to PTO!!!
I'm glad you have found happiness.

Thanks for sharing, and welcome to PTO

Benjamin, It's so inspiring to hear how your life has changed. I'm sure you will find many friends and admirers here. I am on the other side of the fence, the fiance of an inmate. He has been in prison for six months and has two years and two months to go. It's very stressful...well I guess I don't have to tell you that. Ron's biggest concern is finding work with a felony on his background. Can I ask what type of business you were able to start. You must have come home with nothing, correct? After being away so long? It may give us some ideas....Thats wonderful though. Best of Luck to you and your family.

Benjamin great story! Please post more about Mexico!

Thank you for sharing and helping us all with the hope that we carry in our hearts for our loved ones.

Welcome to PTO....I love hearing stories as yours because there is life outside prison for those who did time. Very inspiring and I appreciate you being here. Happy you found us.

You're smart and lucky to be in mexico! I have spent a lot of time there. Congratulations on your life, and I'm glad you made it out of the dungeon.