Very nice! Those Foxfire books look like what I'm looking for. The Backwoods Home magazine looks pretty good too. I don't know if I can find the magazine at the book stores here. After calling around the Foxfire books seem readily available. Maybe giving a gift of a survival kit or what not would fit the bill (both he and I are kit junkies.) I think though, these books are going fit the bill this year. As to your questions/comments..

South Texas, Brownsville, is home for me. The water situation in Mexico really isn't that bad (in my experience). Out in the country it's just as safe as taking a sip from a spring on Springer mountain. It's just in urban areas where you can run into trouble, especially from the street vendors. In all the years I've travelled there only once have I gotten sick from drinking water.

What the terrain is like? He mentioned it is partly wooded near some hills on the corner of his uncle's ranch. Whom he said, would also be keeping an eye on the place. Lucky dog! Lucky dog!