Today we met a couple on the beach, let’s call them Bob and Jane. They’re from Arkansas. Originally New York.
Or maybe they’re from Denver. Or perhaps Saskatoon. It really doesn’t matter…
This particular couple has been coming to Puerto Escondido for the last nine years, but now, now they’re making the move here for good.
Like my time spent in Chapala last November, and on previous trips to Puerto Escondido, each day brings encounters with people like Bob and Jane who have made the Big Mexican Move.
Back home, their friends shake their heads and talk of all the reasons they should never leave the U.S. or Canada.
They speak of Mexican crime, lack of proper health care, issues of sanitation, nutrition and housing.
The about-to-be-expats smile and nod…and then…they move.
They make their new homes in this country where the peoples’ smiles reach right to their eyes, where hearts are generous, where the medical system is caring, and they don’t need shoes and woolly socks when they step on to the warm patios of their new casitas.
In Mexico, they will spend 10% of what they had to spend on health care in the U.S. Their pension cheques will buy tons of fresh produce and endless tortillas and when they have a hankering for peanut butter or baguettes, they’ll just head up to SuperChe or some other supermarket and grab it for less than half of what it costs at home.
They will learn Spanish from new Mexican friends. They will buy a brand new VW for less than $10,000.00. They will eat their weight in avocados and post endless pictures of their new colourful life. They will talk about enjoying their lives more, about working less, about feeling less interested in the materialistic life back in the States.
And other people, maybe a couple named Colleen and Kevin, will nod as Bob and Jane speak of these things.
And then, after Bob and Jane leave, Kevin and Colleen will head back to their colourful little casita, Kevin will fix up some margaritas and they’ll sip their drinks and wonder…
Interested in trying on the life in Puerto? Here’s a link to Puerto Escondido rental agencies.
Lovely. Maybe someday you will join us. You obviously are not afraid to ‘touch’ the people.
Bob & Jane
Hola ‘Bob & Jane’ 🙂 You never know what might happen next. But I do know this…you two are inspiring. Thanks for the lovely and thought-provoking conversations.
Isn’t it the best thing ever to meet people who took that leap into a whole new way of living? Kudos to Bob and Jane! Enjoy your Mexican getaway!
That’s it Gwen. It’s all so inspiring to find people who are willing to question the ‘norm’ and to follow what is true for them.
Yes. The possibilities of a warm sweet retirement. Thank you for adding clarity to my dream 🙂
Karen, that warm retirement is extremely possible here. Hope you follow that dream.