17 August 2008
Retire In Mexico Live Better For Less Money
by Dru Pearson
Have you ever thought about retiring in Mexico? How about retiring in one of its many lovely retirement havens? Dru Pearson, the author of this report, tells us that there are five major areas where American and Canadian retirees tend to congregate. While there may be a few expatriates scattered in a dozen villages throughout Mexico, most Americans and Canadians settle in one of five locations: San Miguel de Allende, Mazatlan, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, or Lake Chapala. Dru Pearson visited all these areas before settling in Lake Chapala. Dru gives sound and thoughtful advice on retirement in Mexico. Everything from how to pick your location to Mexican paperwork is covered. If you've ever considered retirement in Mexico please read this report first. It has the information that would otherwise take you months of frustration to acquire.
But why Mexico, you might ask? The reason so many Americans and Canadians choose Mexico is because they can drive to Mexico in a car. A bigger reason is that Mexico is a bargain compared to the USA and Canada. But there are also a large number of Europeans in Mexico. Mexico is rich with history, steeped in culture, having perhaps a more pronounced culture than any other nation in latin America with the exception of Brazil and Argentina. Mexico has great food, great architecture and many areas with an excellent climate. Mexico is also modern, with better highways than many parts of latin America and an infrastructure that allows foreigners to connect via telephone and internet to the rest of the world. This level of infrastructure isn't available in Nicaragua, nor in Guatemala, and this is a very important determining factor for the retiree who doesn't want to be inconvenienced by inconveniences.
Mexico is also a healthier place to live because of the food. Fresh fruit and vegetables are always in season and taste so much better in Mexico that you eat more of them. In fact, unlike North American produce that is picked green and allowed to ripen in transit, Mexican produce is picked at its peak and sold in the market the very next day. And little or no preservatives are used in processed food which means you´re ingesting fewer chemicals.
You will find that life is so much more enjoyable because you finally have time to pursue your hobbies and develop your talents. People who move to Mexico finally have time to prepare the recipes they´ve been saving from gourmet magazines, put the box of photographs into albums, or garden to their hearts´ content in this land where flowers grow all year long. Others develop new interests and discover latent talents when they take a ceramics or watercolor class. There are also innumerable opportunities for volunteer work. Where the author lives in Ajijic, the expatriates maintain a school teaching English and computer skills, manage the only library in town for Mexicans, run a housing facility for the elderly, and assist children who were born with handicaps.
For people who love to socialize, there´s probably no better place in the world to make friends. People who don´t work have more time to party! But, even more than that, expatriates, because of their adventurous natures, seem more gregarious than their American/Canadian counterparts. Then, too, expatriates find themselves thrown into a world where they must cooperate and share information in order to survive.
There´s less stress here, too. If you can adjust to the manana attitude and remember that manana doesn´t necessarily mean tomorrow, it just means not today, you will realize that everything will eventually get done that needs doing and with far less frustration. Rather than worrying, go to the plaza, sit on a bench, and watch village life pass before your eyes. You will see a family out for a stroll, a little boy riding on his father´s shoulders while Mom buys her daughter a balloon, you´ll notice the teenage girls going one direction in the plaza while the boys pass the other way, all of them casting furtive glances at the ones they like, and you´ll see old friends who will sit down with you for a chat because they´re in the plaza doing the same thing you´re doing - enjoying life!
Part 1- Decisions
- Decision to Retire Early
- Choosing Mexico
Part 2 - Will You Be Happy in Mexico?
- Climate
- Affordable Luxuries
- Healthier Environment
- Never a Dull Moment
- Holidays Celebrated Mexico-Style
- Assisted Living Facilities Excellent and Inexpensive
- Fascinating Places to Visit
- Misconceptions About Mexicans
Part 3 - Aspects that Might Take Adjustment Time
- Mexico Seldom Quiet
- Dogs, Dogs, Everywhere
- Cobblestone Streets and Parking
- Scorpions
- Armed Guards
Part 4 - Location Possibilities
- Mazatlan - Pacific Coast Beach Town
- Puerto Vallarta - Pacific Coast Beach Town
- Baja - The Desert with an Ocean
- Guadalajara - Second Largest City in Mexico
- San Miguel de Allende - Colonial Charmer
- Oaxaca - Southern Mexico
- Ajijic-Lake Chapala - Largest Lake in Mexico
Part 5 - Choosing Your Location
- Getting Around by Taxi and Bus
- Women Traveling Solo
- Finding Accommodations
- Items to Tuck in Your Suitcase
- How to Handle Money
- Where to Get Information
Part 6 - Learning More About Mexico
- Annotated List of 26 Websites
Part 7 - Mexican Paperwork
- Tourist Visa
- FM-3
- FM-3 Application Process
- FM-3 Renewal Process
- Car Insurance
- License Plate Confusion
- Banking
- Necessary Papers for Crossing the Border
Part 8 - Packing
- What to Pack
- Packing Dos and Don´ts
- Preparing the Menaje de Casa
- What to Expect at the Border
Part 9 - Crossing the Border
- Advance Preparations
- Map Assistance
- Border Crossing Points - Hours of Operation
- Three Steps to Get Across
Part 10 - Driving in Mexico
- Driving Suggestions
- Kilometers vs. Miles
- Don´t Drive at Night
- Buying Gas
- Mordidas/Bribes
- Accident Protocol
Part 11 - Choosing a Rental
- Real Estate Agents
- Word of Mouth
- Village or Country Life
- Lease - Important Questions to Ask
- Before You Move In
- My Renting History
- Other Options
- Pros and Cons of Buying Real Estate
Part 12 - Settling In
- Domestic Help
- How to Find a Housekeeper or Gardener
- Instructing Your Maid
- Sample Housekeeper´s Workload
- Necessary Cleaning Supplies
- A Few Precautions
- My Cost of Living Figures
- Internet Sites for Cost of Living Examples
- Internet Sites for Rentals in Mexico
Part 13 - Ways to Save Money
- Handling the Mail
- Fresh Produce Bargains
- Finding Fresh Bread and Rolls
- Where to Go for Meat and Poultry
- Cleaning Supplies
- Building Supplies
- Saving on Utility Costs
- Don´t Drink the Water
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Care
- House Insurance
- Security Concerns
- Internet Service
- Cable, Satellite and Star Choice Television
- Automobile Costs
- Personal Care Luxuries
Part 14 - Quality of Life
- Personal Narratives
- " Perpetual Spring " Climate
- Freshest Food
- Time for Hobbies
- Less Stress
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