If you have been to Playa and Cancun you might enjoy these articles I wrote about the Maya and the archeology of Coba.
The Ballgame (Pok-ta-pok) and the Maya
Seeing Coba, a tour guide to a Maya City of the Yucatan.
We both loved archeology, so moving to where it was seemed appealing to us. I had lots of experience in Central and South America, was fluent in Spanish, and was used to a "migratory" lifestyle. Being an "expat" was the easy part for me. Being retired was a tough transition for about two years.
I know there is a lot of interest in it as a retirement choice right now. My advice is rent before you buy anything. 80% go home in two years.
Just like you say. People miss family, social, and community connections. They imagine that everyone will "come and visit". It almost never happens. Most wind up spending money to go back home to see people. That gets old.
Even when you do manage to integrate well and make local friends. There is still the specter of healthcare.
We used the Mexican healthcare system for years. My wife got better treatment for her depression in Mexico than she ever got in the US. At a fraction of the cost.
But, eventually everyone hits a tipping point where you have to decide if this is the country you want to die in. Because you, just aren't going to get better. That's when almost everyone goes home in the end.
It's how we wound up in DC.
Anyway, I liked your piece. Good luck with retirement. Don't stress, it's not a competition.
