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retirement in Mexico

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marine1
  10/7/2007 21:17 EST

I have real alot recently about retirement in Mexico and plan to visit several cities ie. San Migel Allen. I would like to hear from others regarding the best cities in Mexico to retire in that have not been spoiled by Americanization. I would like to take into consideration economics, population and size of expat community. My fear is to choose a city and in a few years become so modern it has the same things I am trying to escape from. Is there such a place?

SuzannaMaria
  10/10/2007 13:13 EST

I hear you, but where can you really run away from Americanization? We seem to have Starbucks, McDonald's, and coca cola popping up everywhere in Mexico. As for growth - well that is just going to happen no matter how much we want things to stay the same.

My suggestion would be to travel around and then pick a spot you would like to live in now. Focus on what you do like and if one day you just find too many things you don't like - move again then. If it is growing to a point that you don't like it anymore I bet whatever real estate you bought - you can sell for a pretty penny and laugh at your good fortune as you look for your next hidaway!

Suzanne Marie Bandick, life coach and author of: Only in Mexico, You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico.
www.SuzanneMarieBandick.com

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marine1
  10/12/2007 10:15 EST

Thanks for the information and advise. Somehow I knew there was no quick answer to my question. I believe I will invest in the time and travel Mexico until I find a location that suits me for right now..........Marine1

homesweetmexico
  10/12/2007 16:15 EST

I liked SuzannaMaria's response. Just find some place you like. While WalMart itself is not the best thing variety in items you can purchase are. Having lived in Mexico on a pesos-limited budget for 6 years has taught me to appreciate some of the things I formerly didn't like about the U.S. There are some things you just can't get here and sometimes it's hard to do without, though sometimes doing without is good for you.

If you find a place you like and there is a WalMart there, just don't shop there. Go to the locally owned stores in your neighborhood or downtown. Focus on changing yourself, not Mexico. (Wanting to change outside circumstance is more of an American habit than Mexican, that's for sure.)

I've read a few books about living in Mexico and one thing that I've noticed is that people from the U.S. have trouble actually living differently once they move to Mexico. Somehow they don't get as far outside of their American mindset as they either want to or believe they do. For example I read one book, which I won't mention out of respect for the author, which is touted as such a great book where the author and his wife lived in Mexico letting go of their American lifestyles--ha! They bought a house and remodeled it according to their likes. They never got to know the guys who built their house and judged the way they did things. All their friends were expats, etc.

If you personally want to have a different experience in Mexico then let Mexico change you. Do things differently. First, don't buy property right off the bat. Rent. Wait and see if what you want changes after a year or two of renting. Don't bring your car. Take the bus for a year or two. If you want a car later, then get it once your habits have changed. BE WITH MEXICANS. Live in a neighborhood with slightly lower income than you otherwise might. See how they live. See how they handle difficulties. Have neighbors like mine, who has waited over a year to get dentures because he's putting all his money into building a house (he and his family have lived in a one-room place for 30 years.) When we offer him food like corn on the cob, he just says, "I can't. I don't have teeth, but I've seen the burrow I'm going to get mine from some day." Shop in the market. Get a job and try to live only on your Mexican income.

My Mexican husband caused me to do many of these things and guided me in doing them. I learned a lot! If you are interested, I share many of the experience I've had and give tips on how to handle things in an ebook available on my web site www.home-sweet-mexico.com. It's all my writing but the book couldn't exist without the patience and guidance of my husband and without the poverty and struggles we've had to go through while living in Mexico. I was making some serious lemonade and you are sure to find the book useful.

Traveling for a while in Mexico and seeing different places sounds like a good idea. Add Tepoztlan Morelos onto your list of places to visit. There is a large international expat influence in Tepoztlan but they all want it to stay Mexican. No WalMarts there.

Here's the best advice of all: ENJOY MEXICO and let it change you.

Julia author of Mexico: The Trick is Living Here

marine1
  10/21/2007 02:02 EST

Great advice and that is exactly what I want to do, let Mexico change me. By the way I read the book I think you are speaking of, both of them, and I realized they did do things in the American way. In fact, if its the same author, in the second book his job took him away more and he and his wife seemed to go seperate directions. They both just got caught up in the career thing again. In my case I am done with the search for money, retired been there and done that, and now I am looking for a big change in lifestyle. I think renting and traveling Mexico before I settle down is a good idea. I will check out your book at your website and please if you ahve anymore tips please let me know...........Marine1

marine1
  10/21/2007 20:38 EST

Hi Julia. I purchased your book last night and just finished reading it. It contains a wealth of knowledge and I am sure I will be referring to it often. I do have a question for you. Given a medium size town that I may settle in is $1500. per month a good number to use for overall expenses? I would like to live at a medium level, this number includes rent. I could afford more but as you mentioned I too believe you miss the overall experience. Please keep in mind it will be just me............Marine1

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homesweetmexico
  10/21/2007 23:49 EST

Dear Marine1,
I wish I did have more tips for you, but I think you sound quite enlightened.

Do you already speak Spanish? You'll need to attain a relatively high level if you want to enjoy the best that Mexico has to offer.

Julia
creator of www.home-sweet-mexico.com and author of Mexico: The Trick is Living Here

homesweetmexico
  10/23/2007 15:10 EST

Marine,

I really don't like to give people the go-ahead for particular amounts of money because each person and place are different when it comes to cost of living and the consequences of getting this information wrong could be disastrous for the person. Therefore, my answer is "probably" that is a good amount.

Remember that in addition to rent, food, etc. you also need to plan for yearly expenses, such as health care, insurance (if you have a car), visits to the U.S., getting your FM3/FM2, etc. All of these yearly expenses can add a lot to the price tag of life in Mexico.

I'm so glad that you found my book useful. I tried to make it candid and unique. I hope that it helps you out a lot.

Thanks so much for purchasing it!

Julia, author of Mexico: The Trick is Living Here and creator of www.home-sweet-mexico.com

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