Miguel Ruiz Rivera: New Generation Plumber
Tara A. Spears
Forget rock stars or scientists, the real superheroes are Mexican plumbers. In modern societies plumbing is one of the most important and necessary services that people rely on. I selected Miguel Ruiz Rivera, 19, as an example of the generation of men that are redefining the essence of modern Mexico while upholding its traditions. Miguel has a reverence for land, innovation and technology.
It isn’t often that you meet such a mature and motivated teen. Sure, he hangs with his buddies having a beer and watching girls on a Saturday night but otherwise this new generation of tradesman is focused on hard work. Miguel is already a top-notch plumber and electrician. Having graduated from CONALEP vocational school he has a strong background in his trade plus having apprenticed, completing on-the-job training with his talented father, Roberto Ruiz Sanchez. Ruiz Plumbing & Electrical (322 122 7185) has a solid reputation in Jaltemba Bay.
What most people aren’t aware of is that plumbing as a skill set and vocation is fairly new to this country. There has transpired a dramatic revolution in Mexican plumbing in a relatively short time. According to the government census, during the 1970s only 41.4% of households, mostly concentrated in big cities, had the luxury of indoor plumbing, i.e. piped in running water and sanitary drainage.
Think about that friends: it means that 6 out of 10 houses used outhouses or the yard for wastes. The career of being a plumber did not exist until the late 1990s because residential pipped water and toilets were so rare. But, by the 2000 census: the state of Nayarit (where Jaltemba Bay resides) increased indoor toilets to 56.4% of dwellings, According to the 2020 census, 75.6% of Nayarit dwellings have indoor toilets. There is now a very solid career to be had in the field of plumbing so Miguel’s career path has a viable economic future.
What is unique about Miguel’s dream of land ownership at such a young age is that it motivated him to choose a skilled trade over going to university. He is using the majority of his earnings to build his own home with his own hands. “There is something permanent, something extremely satisfying, in owning a home” Miguel said. “Owning my own house isn’t just about securing a place, it’s about anchoring my dreams.” It is also a deeply held tradition that Mexicans have fought wars in order to preserve land ownership.
Many foreigners are surprised to learn that 80% of Mexicans own their own homes. This compares to a rate of only 65% in the United States as of 2020. Without readily available financing the majority of casas are built with cash, not a loan. You would expect that this would reduce homeownership; but, as proven by Miguel who is building his house poco a poco (Little by little) it is possible. The vast majority of Mexican homes are either inherited, bought with cash, or else are self-built on cheap vacant land, although informal lending systems among friends and family members no doubt lie behind many of these cash purchases. In the absence of debt-financed home consumption, most new homes will be very modest to match the limited purchasing power of the builder. Over time the house can be enlarged, fancied up.
Miguel expressed his satisfaction with working as a plumber to be the challenge of each new situation; solving the customer’s problem and the independence. He said the biggest challenge for him is knowing what to do- but like other Millennials, he whips out that smart phone to google it! “If I really get stuck, I can always rely on my dad to direct me if needed,” he added a little sheepishly. Having seen father and son work together, it’s clear they share a close bond besides working the same trade.
As to how Miguel views modern Mexico, he is proud of how the nation has progressed. “We are a nation of workers that have proved we have the patience and strength to fight for our land, our families. We are good at looking for new ways to do things but never forget our roots.” Such strength and maturity in one so young is a tribute to his family.
The new generation of Mexican men might listen to Spanish rap, watch Youtube tutorials but they have reverence for their culture in their DNA.
