Retiring in Mexico (live, dangerous, groceries, shop)
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Okay, so I still have 14½ years before I can retire, but I have always been a planner. I used to think about retiring to Mexico all the time, but now it seems so dangerous. I have family in Torreon and Juarez, and they are always telling me horror stories mostly about Cartel Violence, and it's very bad (seems to be worse in Torreon than Juarez now)...
But then I started researching Merida. That seems to be a very safe city. Now I'm thinking that may be a safe place to retire to... I always dreamed about moving to the DF, but that seems so dangerous too...
So: If anybody has retired from the US to Mexico, I would love to hear your stories or advice as far as selecting a city... I would love to hear personal experiences from Americans or Chicanos or anyone who has moved from the US to any state/city in the Republic of Mexico. If anyone has moved/retired either to Torreon or Juarez, bonus points for your stories LOL! So - QVO?!?
Okay, call it a waste of energy then, no problem. I still find it interesting, and would still like to hear about how Americans or Chicanos picked your respective cities of residence in Mexico and furthermore how you found the transition to be. Any comments welcomed.
Some of the popular, and more stable, places are: Merida (hurricane country), San Cristobal de las Casas, San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca. There are so many expats in San Miguel that property values have inflated tremendously. And rumor has it that the drug trade and related violence are almost everywhere, now. But you can do your research, and then re-evaluate a year or two before you're ready to retire. Conditions change. 14 years is a long way away.
Google Mexico Connect forum and Mexico Expat forum. Almost all on those forums report that unless involved in drug trade there's very little to worry about. No place is crime free and theft is a big problem without proper precautions. Generally violent crime is worse in many American cities than comparably sized Mexican cities outside of drug activity. And much of the cartel violence has subsided due to government efforts.
You're thinking about this ... thinking too seriously about this ... too early. Wait for another 10 years. Lots of things in yoiur life will change in the interim and your preferences, too.
Okay, call it a waste of energy then, no problem. I still find it interesting, and would still like to hear about how Americans or Chicanos picked your respective cities of residence in Mexico and furthermore how you found the transition to be. Any comments welcomed.
There is a couple from Phoenix (I think that's it) who live in Jocotepec at Lake Chapala for two years and they love it. I'm sure there are many more from Arizona who live in the area. Most of the people whom I know here are from Texas, California and Canada.
You are looking at a long time away to retire and there are many other places to consider. Right now the hot retirement spot is Ecuador. Mexico is getting more expensive and has recently ticked off many retirees with a change in its immigration rules. Ecuador and Guatemala are more friendly to retirees and want us.
I got married in Torreon 10 years ago. I last went there 5 years ago. There was little trouble then. Now its a war zone and indeed seems at the moment the worst place to visit. I went to MTY 5 years ago as well, my host there talked about how safe it felt compared to DF. Things change and will continue to. When you hear retirement horror stories its often because people went all in and converted all or most of what they had into a retirement home and when things changed they got screwed out of everything. Start by understanding you should do things in stages and stay flexible and you will be fine.
I really do not understand how anyone could give up living at his home country his last years of life.
Something must be wrong in USA when their old people can not have a comfortable life in their final days.
So wonderful cities and places to retire in your own country, I don't understand why retire in Mexico, Central or South America...
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