For those expatriates that live in Mexico: What do you love about Mexico? Why did you move there? Any regrets?

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Charlie

I am retired and living in Mexico. I do have a problem with that word, "expatriate." it just makes m uncomfortable...I am no less an American, and I love America no less...I just live in Mexico. Anyway. I moved here because I wanted a new adventure in my life, new experiences. It also costs less for me to live here on my modest pension. I am very happy here. I love the people, I love having new things to learn, and new experiences all the time. I have found many opportunities to make friends and to be able to help others. No place is perfect, life presents problems no matter where you are, but if you have a positive attitude and learn not to sweat the small stuff, you can really enjoy living in Mexico.

lllmeg

Expatriate doesn't have anything to do with whether you love your country or not.... it means that you live outside (ex) your country (patria). I have been here in Torreon for almost five years. The people are wonderful, it is an amazing experience to be able to live in another culture and really gain a working knowledge of another language. We moved here for my husband's job, but will probably return to corporate headquarters in the States in about a year or so. My regrets are for the current situation in Mexico -- fighting the drug cartels has increased violence and exposed governmental corruption for what it is. But, if Mexico is ever going to live up to what it can become as a country, this situation must be resolved.

Mikey

Mikey is retired at age 42 in Acapulco. There is no way I could have done this at my age with the severance package I got in the states. I could have kept working I guess. But why , To be in mexico and not have to work again and enjoy life - no brainier !
What do I love ? The weather , the way Mexicans treat family. The laid back attitude they have VS the go , go , go lifestyle in the states. The food. the beauty , the culture.
Why here - the above answer for one. Could not afford to retire this early in life with the high cost of the states.
Regrets - Wish I would ave bought my home in a town about 30 minutes north. Acapulco is somewhat like New York in the aspect of the noise pollution , trash , stray dogs and whatnot.The mountainous terrain here vs Pie de la Cuesta is also pretty hard. Really no regrets except seeing the trash , noise pollution , stray dogs and corrupt govt. But hey , I'm an observer and I can leave any time I want - they cannot.

â™¥ Jessy D â™¥

Are you the one I just answered the question to in my e-mail???

Anyway, I haven't even been in Mexico for a year yet so I'm still trying to figure out the pros and cons. I wish I was a retiree living here but my story is much different. My Mexican husband had a problem with his visa and has to wait out a ban to the U.S. so I moved here in order to keep us together.

I had saved up enough money to live comfortably for about a year (or that's what I thought) when I first came here. NUMBER ONE, this is the best advice anyone will ever give you: Don't try to compare life in Mexico to life in the U.S. or you are setting yourself up to be miserable. Number two, don't try to have the same quality of everything you had in the U.S. I did just that and was miserable and broke in a few months. Have an open mind when you come here and accept things for the way they are. I will soon be entering into the work world here in Mexico so I'm sure my feelings will change (either for the better, maybe for the worse) but I'm going back in a few weeks and I'm going to be much more open minded about things this time.

It's hard for me to see children in the streets begging for money when they should be in school getting an education, it's hard to see skinny animals roaming the streets where ever you go, it's even hard for me to eat sometimes thinking about how much bacteria is in the food I'm eating but I've come to realize that that's just the way it is here, and no matter how much I dislike it there is nothing in this world I can do to change it, and even if I could it's not my place to try to change things. Like Mikey said, I'm a guest here and if I don't like it I can leave.

The things I do like are fist of all, not feeling like I have to compete with everyone to have the biggest and best of every material object. I like the laid back lifestyle here and the people are some of the nicest people I have ever encountered. They are all so willing to help and welcoming that I was actually surprised at the difference between the U.S. and Mexico. People have smaller families in the U.S. so they can afford more, but life here is all about having more family and not so much about material possessions...this I'm still adjusting too but all in all it is a good thing.

watchoutJD

Got a condo in Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) and lived there for a while. Good fishing and golf, Cuban cigars, cheap liquor, and wild spring break parties even though I was out of college for a while by then. I could always drive up to the USA if I got bored. Sold the condo before the bust and from what I hear I could buy it back for less than I originally paid for it. It may sound funny, but moved back because you can't have fun all the time, and medical care is better here though definitely not as cheap!

paco

the food, the people, the places to live

John

I am sorry but I do not have the answer to your question.

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