Despite Mexico’s problems, it does not suffer, objectively, from Tragic Dirt. It’s not Mali, it’s one of the nicer pieces of landscape on earth due to much of it being at enough altitude to mitigate its tropical latitude. But Mexicans don’t seem all that intent on maximizing the potential of their homeland through civic-minded improvements.
I have a vague theory that Mexicans fear that gringos would overwhelm their country if it weren’t so craptastic. Mexican mediocrity is a price Mexicans are willing to pay to keep tens of millions of Americans from retiring to Mexico. In 1967, I visited with my parents the Lake Chapala colony of American retirees (where Fred Reed lives). So the idea of retiring to Mexico has been around for a long time.
I’m 60 and want to retire on between $800 and $1,200 a month, ideally near the ocean in Mexico where should I go? MarketWatch 3/27/2021
Dear MarketWatch,
I live in Loveland, Colo., just turned 60 and would love to be retired within the next year. I’m looking for a more affordable place to retire and am thinking about Mexico somewhere I can live for between $800 and $1,200 a month.
Ideally, I would like a pretty big expat community, but a place that still retains the feel of Mexican culture (Cabo feels like SoCal to me, so nothing like that); somewhere with a decent number of cultural things to do, like music and plays; and good food. I’d also like to be in a moderate climate and somewhat near the ocean. And I would like the ratio of single men to women to be 10:1 I’m kidding!