IL Postcard

I cannot believe how vacuous and shallow the comments of these Americans can be!!! Anyone would think that world peace wouldn't stand a chance if they didn't get to play golf and go to the gym! What on earth is wrong with you? I am a 43 year old who retired young and I live a fulfilled and extremely happy life doing exactly what the subject of the story does....in case you didn't realise, it is called "stoping to smell the roses". For those too ignorant to know better, this is a typical lifestyle of Europeans and has been for centuries. By all means go to gym and play golf if you are incapable of a quiet contemplation of life but, for heavens sake, dont stand in pretentious judgement of those who do.

I would find this lazy, boring, unstimulating lifestyle to be full of stress.
Your friend sounds like a lonely guy, with no social skills.
He should be taking Spanish lessons and meeting people.
I think this magazine has gone in the wrong direction since Kathleen left.
Way too much emphasis on Merida and Mexico by Dan and Suzan.
When I bought the telephone conference a while back, and Suzan came online saying she lived in Mare Duh, I realized she didn't even speak Spanish.

Edward

I live in Sauzal, Baja California. I have to comment on the majority of comments on this page. Boring or having a lack of things to do is not Mexico. We have golf coarses and gyms but I'm too busy to have time to spend in those endevors. I came to Mexico in my early 50's and bought a nice home over looking the Pacific for $35,000.00. I live in the protected zone and have a bank trust on my home. The bank trust is renewable every 50 years. I went through a notario to make the purchase. No problems. I pay $350.00 a year on the trust and now that I'm over 60 my property taxes were cut in half and run $50.00 a year. I set up a corporation and business here. Keeps me off the golf coarse. At first I enjoyed spending my spare time feeding and clothing two poor families. I would take 1/2 a dozen kids to the swim club for the day. I dated the first few years and now I have been married for the last 8 years. Even have a little guy running around the house. My choice. I have no problems with the schools. I have more friends, Mexicanos, than I had in the states before I came south. I know all my Mexican neighbors and we help each other out. We share fiestas and food. I would like to add I have had no problems with crime or the police. I need to finish this letter saying the people who wrote there was nothing to do here have very little imagination. The sky is the limit here. What ever your looking for is here.
Rich Holcomb

I left the USA in 2005 for a tropical Island not far from Mexico. I have many days I do exactly what that gentleman does and I have no stress or boredom over it. I also balance it with taking care of business over the internet (a few minutes every other day or two), working in my workshop on projects I cound never find time to do in the states, clean the beaches since the locals are not always the neatest people, but I do it for the exercise and pleasure of doing it, with a smile and good attitude. It is amazing how many locals thank me and have become friends as they respect a foreigner taking an interst in cleaning up their country (my adopted home). I aid children in need of shoes or medicine, I read a lot of books and because I am here, I have the time to read for as long as I want when I want. I am NOT involved in buying cars, and things to keep up with the marketing excesses of the US. It is just not necessary here as there is emphasis on the family and friendships rather than how fancy your clothing is or what kind of house or car you drive.

It has taken me a good two years to readjust to this lifestyle and I tended to overcomplicate my life and buy things I didn't need etc the first two years, almost as a palliative to come down from my fast paced USA mind.

I see my countrymen visit here and you can spot them a mile off, they are often either afraid to touch things (too dirty), very noisy and demanding of rapid service (does not exist outside the USA...just learn to be patient!), stay to themselves and make little attempt at speaking the local language, often bring their cultural biases here and try to change the locals (this causes many problems), and on. I stay away from them because when I do sit near one who may be at a local juice bar, they talk about what do you do? What work do you do (why must I work?), and they often fidget and their knees are bouncing around, probaly also grinding their teeth at night.

You know in China a common greeting is "Have you eaten today?". Here is is "Saludos" (to your health and it is spoken by anyone entering any sort of crowd to all there. Hands are shaken by strangers with strangers wherever you are, and a kiss on the cheek to ladies. Time is different here when the emphasis is on what you are and not what you do...............

So, to sum it up, they guy who goes to the restaurants and walks his dog, is a probably oversimplified version of his real day, as he probably has hobbies, friends, church involvement or other group activity and I see that or seem to know that when I read the article. But when I see all the otehr posts, I am reminded that I might have written like that three years ago while I was still thinking I was a calm American but I really was very stressed out.

How can I say this, you need to just go and I suggest rent a villa for at least 4 to 6 months and see if you adjust to the lifestyle, in whatever country or town you are interested in. A two week vacation will not tell you anything, neither will only one month Longer if you can afford to and let yourself find out about this other way of living. Then and only then can you make a decision to sell out or buy in this other country, or go back home and keep on doing what you ahve done for the past 30 or more years but with a renewed pleasure and without being distracted by articles about people living in other parts of the world.

I have absolutely NO desire to return back up north. Gives me the Heeby Sheebys just thinking about it! I am a very complex person, and I feel I could live a hundred lifetimes and not get done everything I have thought I might want to do. But here, I have the time and lack of pressure to actually accomplish things. Why, because I don't have to do anything!

I take language classes and actually prefer learning from other people. Study music, program computers and tv satelites, and so much more, but also go to the beach in the middle of anything, or take a drive which turns into a four day road trip, why? Because it does not matter that I am anywhere in particular unless I have an appointment and even then, people here are so willing to adjust when you tell them to make your appointment three days later. Manana! (means not now....).

So, take it easy on the guy who eats dinner out and walks his dog. Being American means being very judgemental (what...are you thinking of judging me for saying that.... proves my point, huh!).

He is a good guy, he is happy, he is free to do whatever he wants, and yet with all due respect to you who think you would get bored, you may be right, you may get bored, but then the article did not say go to Mexico and the only thing you can do is go to restaurants! Of course you will make a life the way you want it. The difference here is that no one will stop you from doing what you want to do..... You will be freer............ Go fo it folks............. you have plenty to lose.... and you will be glad you lost it..... I sure am...... and I will be the first to welcome you here with a Saludos and big smile.....

for us (third world natives) is very funny reading the comments specially those relate to crime, violence and so on... seems as usa has no this kind of thing and you live in the heaven!!!

any way I agree those exotic countries aren't for gringos, specially the ones whom had never lived outside of the "protect and safe country".... I can imagine the guy from no-where in the midle of usa returning to his new-yorker life stile and for his frenetic 2miles city...hehehehe

third world countries as their life stile (everyhting is third including the life cost, crime, health) are for those gringos whom spent their professional lifes in places like...third world economies trying to find oil, generating wars and so on...

LETS COME TO THE PARADISE, or stay there (even without home, savings, shares and with Obama, Mccain)... or do you prefer 4 more years with the drug addictive, votes robbery and war fraudulent call george w bush.

give me a break

I can understand why Ian from Toronto is concerned about the violence in Mexico!!! All we hear about in Canadian Newspapers is "that Mexico is not safe and to not travel there" This is simple NOT TRUE, I have travelled to Mexico at least 30 times and never had a problem. I have always been treated wonderfully. If you examine the various deaths you will see that they were either drunk and fell off balconies, picked fights with the locals etc. When you see how many millions of tourists Mexico gets compared to the few incidents. I feel that it is probably safer than Toronto. I recently bought an 1900 sq. ft. apartment with a 700 sq. ft. balcony overlooking a private marina in the Mayan Riviera/Cancun area , it has a 35,000 sq. ft. wellness centre, 2 Greg Norman golf courses, 150,000 sq. ft. of high end retail space etc. I look forward to closing this December and using it for 3-4 months a year during our cold winters. I can drive to Merida (a beautiful colonial city just a few hours away) and to several other historic towns. I know I never would be bored, always things to do, golf, sailing,fishing,bridge, great restaurants etc....
By the way, with all the turmoil in the markets this past week, my investments are now diversified. the demand for real estate is high with buyers not only coming from the US and Canada, but as far as Ireland, England and the rest of Europe. I intend to rent out my apartment through a management company and use this to pay off my investment quickly. (Rental demand is very high all year)

There are so many interesting and beautiful places to visit in Mexico from historic colonial cities to resort areas. You will never be bored...wonderful food, music, historic sites and towns, art etc.
All the best

Retirement should be a time for reflection and preparing for the next phase of life without the
grind of a 9 to 5 routine. Strolling along to buy fruit and do people watching would only appeal to
folks with an IQ the same size as their shoes for the long-run. What is missing here is real
meaning to this man's life. Maybe his brain got fried from the high heat and humidity that people
must deal with most of the year there. If so, I guess daily living with little or no real meaning could be appealing. How about doing charity work? How about attending improvement classes at a local
university (if there is one)? This article reinforces why Merida wouldn't be on my retirement location list of choices. I don't plan to vegatate in retirement -- I would rather keep learning and
growing. This guy here has opted for an 80's lifestyle in his 50's--so sad. Good luck to those of you who want this life style in a locale where the weather the same as found in hell. Regards, Charlie

Life in Mexico is, I'm sure, wonderful and if I had the financial moxi this man had I'd be there too, writing, building a boat, doing ceramic architectural art, researching healing herbs, doing something to improve lives! This guy is wasting his years "people watching" and is resented by the locals for flaunting his comfort while they work and struggle. If you go to Mexico, ENGAGE with the people, do something useful and be a blessing to the neighborhood!

It sounds very boring to me, I am looking to retire abroad at 60 which is not to far in the future. But I will be looking for somewhere that I can expand on my hobby and fill my days. My passion is Photography and Wildlife is my preferred subject, I want to find somewhere that is not prone to natural disasters, revolutions, warm all year round and will give me all the wildlife I could wish for. But I have yet to find the right place.

He sounds lonely to me...I think he needs to find a senorita or two...I would go mad on his boring schedule.

I wish your friend well.

I, too, retired at the age of 55, with no financial worries and, as you say, "stress free." My destination was South Africa instead of Mexico, but your friend's day sounds almost identical to my own.

After 8 months of this routine, I found myself craving some stress in my life, worthy goals, purpose, struggles, causes more noble than my own easy lifestyle.

In about a week I will return to my former job in Saudi Arabia at about half the pay, but content in my decision to stay "on the playing field of life" rather than trotting off to the sidelines. For me, retirement must include more than ease of lifestyle. It needs focus and purpose. Your friend may find himself in the same frame of mind a year from now. If not, I will be overjoyed to join him for happy hour during my annual vacation.

-UnRetired at 56

Mexico has its share of beautiful sun, beaches and water. Prices are fair for real estate and food, thus living can be affordable. Yet living is the subject of my reply here. Mexico has earned itself a very strong reputation in the past few years as a dangerous place to visit due to violence, murders and robberies. Canadians have been killed there a few times and so have Americans. The general consensus I find when I speak to people here in Toronto about travel to warmer climes is that Mexico is now off their list strictly because safety overrides attractive prices and good weather.

I find the description of the man's day boring and only interesting to an alcoholic or someone spiritually vacant. Where is his pride in being an American and what exactly is he doing to help others? Is paying household help low wages something to be proud of? Does he participate in any way in helping those Mexicans who struggle for little money? He reminds me of Spanish Moss , looking alluring while sucking the life's blood out of the host tree, Mexico.
He seems to be alone there and I think I can figure out why.
Sorry, you need to elevate your standards of what makes a meaningful life.

I love readig these stories, but for me, and many others I'm sure, the opportunity to sell our American homes at a tidy profit has all but vanished for a few years. Perhaps, in future, you could incude information about where we can market our homes abroad to wealthy internationals still brave enough to take a stake in the USA

Thanks,

David Forthuber

Sounds like a retiree's dream come true. Here are the "particulars" that would help an overly cautious retiree-to-be deciding on Mexican nirvana over a slice of the American real-estate pie:

1. What is the current late-2008 (at time of writing this message) price of luxury homes in Mexico?

2. For American citizens buying real-estate in Mexico, do they really OWN the property (have titled to it and pass title to whomever is in their will or trust) or is it a form of "lease" to the government for a period (i.e. 99 years, whatever)?

3. What is the crime rate in luxury home enclaves in Mexico? Does a homeowner need to install state of the art security systems, learn self-defense, and keep weapons or crime deterrents on the property?

4. Do real-estate ownership rights vary from United States real-estate ownership, and what substantial aspects of ownership rights would be helpful to know?

5. What are the costs of property taxes for homeowners in Mexico (and other applicable Mexican government fees if any), home insurance, automobile insurance, personal liability insurance (umbrella coverage), electricity and water?

6. What are the availability and practicality of installing full solar power, wells and water filtration technologies on one's property (and do any Mexican laws prevent these technologies, i.e. to prevent competition with local public utilities)?

7. I don't like surprises (at least not in the negative form) so is there anything else those considering home ownership in Mexico need to know?

I recognize the short answer to these questions may be something like: "If you need to know all that, Mexico may not be the ideal retirement destination for you." But then again, there is no free lunch in this world. People routinely prepare for trips to Italy, for instance, by planning with unmentionable items such as hidden travel wallets and (esp. if going to southern Italy) insect repellents and antibiotics. I don't think anyone is deluded into believing Mexico is so idyllic of a destination that no questions need to be asked... just put the dog into the back seat of a loaded car and take a nice drive across the border. Most people know there is more to it, and these questions immediately came to my mind. Thanks!

I would be willing to bet that your happy fellow is really going out of his mind trying to dream up enough meaningful ways to kill his time. If he lives for another 25 years walking the dog and lying in his hammock just isn't going to get it; unless, he is mentally retarded. Who in the hell wants to be stuck in some G-d forsaken backwater if they are a blowing-going-with-it -American? International Living is a trap to avoid unless you are dead!

Merida is uninhabitable for nearly six months most of the summer as it's so hot and humid.
We live like royalty in mild San Miguel de Allende, Gto., Mexico

It all sounds great, except for one thing, doing the same thing over and over, to me would get boring. Why do I not hear about those who retire in Mexico playing golf or perhaps bowling, going to the exercise gym in the morning? Is is because there is no golf course or bowling alley or gym?
My wife and I are in our mid 60's and we go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week, I play golf 4-5 times a week and we eat out or fix a meal together at home. If this lifestyle is available in Mexico, I'm ready and if Obama is elected, so is my wife!!
Would love to hear you response.
Thanks, Fred Ward

I'm afraid Mexico may not remain the expat mecca it has been. The Mexican government is starting their own "War on Drugs", or specifically on the dealers that own large parts of the government and challenge the authority of the government. Their justification will be, as in the US, to "protect" the citizenry, but they will simply use the crime situation to grab more power and become more draconian than they already are.

It's possible that you could co-exist with tyranny--for a while. But, I wonder how long that will be tolerable to people who are essentially trading one tyranny for another.

A good story but unrealistic in today's economy. The person described in the article got out at the right time. Today he would either be selling for less than the house was worth or sitting on it until it did sell, again at less than what it is worth.