Mexico:
Going Native
By Douglas Bower and Cindi Bower
If
you want to expatriate to Mexico to find an affordable cost of living
then there is one thing you must do--Go Native!
Now,
this is not as scary as you might think. I am not talking about
living in the jungles of Puerto Vallarta and hoping the locals will
show you how to beat your clothes clean on the rocks “down to the
river”, (I’ve seen some Mexicans still doing this). Read
More
Our
Adventure in Paradise by Carol Burch
"Oh
that's far too beautiful to be real," I muttered to myself,
while examining the photographs in Christopher Howard's latest book.
"These photos can't be real, I'm sure," I commented cynically.
It was October, a comfortable autumn day. But the days were getting
shorter and the nights colder. Cold, windy, bleak, winter days were
just around the corner. Summer and fall are enjoyable seasons in
northeast Ohio. And then there's winter...my thoughts drifted to
the ice storm of 1991. Downed trees and powerlines closed many roads.
Driving was trecherous. Stores were closed, schools too, and cable
TV was out. "How would you like to see Costa Rica?" my
husband Jim's question interrupted my thoughts. "Christopher
Howard is leading a tour in January," Jim remarked. "Do
you think you could get time off? "What are Costa Rica winters
like?" I asked. "January is their summer, and in the Central
Valley it's 72 degrees year round," he replied. "If you
like it we could live there comfortably on my pension. You wouldn't
have to work, it would be optional." "Even with the two
children," I asked. "Yes," was his reply. Read
More
Head
For Mexico - Excepts From This Wonderfully Informative Book
Chapter
4: The Day to Day Nitty Gritty
Even as we appreciate the magic, we must still keep at least one
foot in the real world. You’re probably wondering how many
of the services you’re used to will be available here. Most
of ‘em; although they may be in a somewhat different form.
Beware of succumbing to gringo amnesia. That’s where you remember
things up North a bit differently than they actually occurred. Read
More
Retiring
and Living in Panama
There
is definitely more to Panama than a canal!
Panama
is fast becoming one of the world's top retirement destinations
and also a world class tourist location - particularly for adventure
and ecotourism. Long overshadowed by its neighbors such as Mexico
and Costa Rica where mass tourism is now the norm, Panama has been
relatively unknown except to travelers with special interests such
as world record deep sea fishing, birding, river rafting and rain
forest experiences. Read
More
Island
Oasis Resorts Launch new Retirement Village in Phuket, Thailand
The
July 2005 edition of Fortune Magazine has Voted Phuket one of the
World's Top Five Retirement Destinations.
(PRWEB) October 30, 2005 -- The new development, to be known as,
Kamala Lakeside Village, is the first development on the Thai Island
of Phuket to be announced as a "Retirement Village," and
will be exclusive to those of 50 years, and over. The recognised
age qualification for retirement to Thailand. Read
More
Retire
in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
This
colonial gem, home to about 5,000 American and Canadian expatriates,
was declared a national monument in 1926 and is a charming city
of cobblestone streets and colonial-era mansions all perched on
a hillside above the Laja River 60 km north of Queretaro. Because
of its national monument status, new buildings that would change
the character and appearance of San Miguel are strictly regulated.
This ensures that San Miguel's charm will endure for years to come
and makes this city of about 70,000 a wonderful retirement spot
or a "must-see" stop on anyone's colonial city itinerary.
Read More
Retire
In Costa Rica, But Where?
Now
that you have practically decided to move to Costa Rica, the big
questions is: “where”?
Since
Costa Rica has so many different micro climates, it is necessary
to know what each area is about, what the climate is, what shopping
and schools are available etc. A lot depends upon where you are
coming from; when you come from a cold climate, you like warm weather
and when you come from the hot, you like the cool weather. Below,
I will describe a little of each area. Read
More
Mexican
Living: What Makes You Happy?
By Douglas Bower
Many
ask me this question: "Did moving to Mexico make you happier?"
My answer to that question is a resounding "no!" Does
that shock you? Does that concern you? Does that cause you to pause?
Do more questions come to mind?
Moving
to Mexico did not make me happy. Read
More
The
Mexican's Mexico: Michoacán
by
Jane Onstott
Michoacán,
a large state with a rugged, little-visited Pacific coast, lies
west of Mexico City, sandwiched between Guerrero, Guanajuato, Jalisco,
Colima, and the state of Mexico. In addition to light industry (they
export paper products, avocados, and guacamole), tourism contributes
greatly to Michoacán's economy. However, of its two to three
million annual visitors, 90 percent are Mexican.
Why
is it that for every nine Mexicans who visit, only one foreigner
hears the call? Because Mexicans are more sophisticated? Because
most are defeños, anxious to trade Mexico City’s congestion
and smog for something familiar and comforting, close by, and safe?
Because they love guacamole? Read
More
Retire
To Costa Rica - An Expert Tells You How
Faced
with the spiraling cost of living, oppressive taxes and a slew of
government regulations in the U.S., people of all ages includingbaby
boomers and entrepreneurs, are searching for an affordable place
to reside outside of the United States without sacrificing their
current lifestyles. Costa Rica may be the place they are seeking.
Read More
Retirement
At Lake Chapala, Mexico
Are
you tired of cold winters, humid summers and high taxes? Are you
considering retirement in Mexico? If so, you might want to consider
Lake Chapala (also called Lakeside). You really can stretch your
retirement income in this quiet haven and find a comfortable lifestyle
on about half of what it costs to live in the United States. You
have probably heard about the area and wonder if it's a place you
could live. Many gringos do. In fact, the largest contingent of
expatriates in the world lives in Lake Chapala, and the majority
of these folks are originally from the U.S. and Canada. Life here
is mellow, but there is plenty to do, and the coast (Puerto Vallarta)
is only 4 hours away by car. Read
More
Retire
Mexico Mazatlan Retirement
I traveled
extensively in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica
for about a year before I settled in Mazatlan. I first came here
because my son was in grad school in Tempe, Arizona. Mazatlan was
convenient for him to make short visits on his school breaks. I
guess I stayed here because of the Centro Historico. The old port
of Mazatlan is absolutely enchanting. It is almost like living in
a small port village. It is very easy to forget that we are surrounded
by a fairly large city. It has a kinda Mediterranean feeling.
Read More
Retire
Costa Rica?
Someone
recently asked me why anyone of sane mind would want to move to
a third world country such as Costa Rica and actually plan to live
there. I would like to share, and to document, the reasons for this
to my fellow American citizens who may someday decide to pick up
their roots and do the same.
Read More
Retire
In Panama
Panama’s
program for retirees is said to be the best in the world. There
is no age limit to qualify for the Tourist Pensionado Visa Program.
You need only to be able to prove a monthly pension or retirement
income of US$500 from a government or corporation, plus US$100 for
each dependent. Legally, you could be as young as 18 to retire in
Panama. Read More
Thailand
Yes,
you CAN retire on $50USD a day!
Although
it may be crass to say, MONEY is everything in this world-by having
money, you have the FREEDOM to do most anything you want. You're
fortunate to live in the West where you have the opportunity to
earn and save sufficient capital to last a lifetime. Even if you
don't have a lot, most Western countries' governments will guarantee
a monthly income (pension) of around $1,000 (USD) beginning in your
early 60s. Read
More
Mexico
This
has become a very popular country for people to retire to. From
great weather to cost of living, Mexico has a lot to offer the retiree.
Click
Here for more info.
Malaysia
Asia's
best-kept secret for expatriates, Malaysia has a vibrant mix of
foreign and indigenous tribal cultures, creating a veritable melting
pot of peoples, traditions and religions. Click
Here for more info.
See
where Baby Boomers are looking to travel:
Active
Baby Boomers
http://www.activebabyboomers.com/babyboomertravel.htm
