If you have considered moving to or retiring in Mexico this article will provide some guidelines to help you make a decision that is right for you.

For many people Mexico conjures up scenes of sunny weather, beaches, waterfront housing and inexpensive living. While the first three images are certainly available, it is no longer the case that life in Mexico is inexpensive.
And the Country offers a lot more than sun and beach.

There are many Mexicos and where you would be happy living depends on factors such as the following:
What do you like to do?
This question takes into consideration which sports you like, if you are a person who wants to volunteer your services, if you want to keep working, etc. Once you decide what it is you want to do, then you can begin to look at where you want to do it.

How is your Spanish?
This is an important question for it can determine how comfortable you will be in different locals. As an adult a move to a new country where you have no language skills can leave you feeling like a child whose independence has been taken away. For some folks this is an insurmountable difficulty. So, you may have to choose a community in Mexico known for its large number of English speaking ex-pats such as the area around Morelia, or San Miguel de Allende or, increasingly, Oaxaca. If you have a facility for speaking the language then almost any community is open for your consideration.

How is your health?
As more and more retired North Americans move south of the border health becomes as issue. This ties in with one’s language ability also. For those on a fixed income, the increase in transportation costs may make it prohibitively expensive to go back and forth between the States and Mexico to obtain health services and most policies issued in the States only cover emergencies when out of the Country. In the larger cities and those with a high density of foreigners, Mexico offers a high level of health care. However, in other parts of Mexico this may not be the case.

What are (or will be) your ties to the States?
Again, it may be impractical to think that you will travel back and forth to see children, grandchildren, and close friends. Before you make your move you will find that family and friends all promise to visit frequently but once you are settled in you may find that this is not the case. How will you react to not having these expected visits?

How much have you traveled in Mexico?
If you have only visited the country as a tourist you will find that living here requires a whole new set of survival skills, perhaps the most important one being patience. It may be wise to rent for several months and try out the experience in international living before cutting yourself totally loose.

What is your stage in life?
This may have a huge impact on where you choose to live. Are you seeking night-life? Fun and games? A busy social scene? A tranquil pace? Arts and music? Work/volunteer experiences? I have lived in four different regions of Mexico and as I observe now, each has offered what I needed for that particular life-stage. Where I am now probably is not a town that would have worked for me 20 years ago!

I find that it is helpful to make a list of answers to the preceding questions and study it carefully. Having before you a list of what is important to you will help thwart any impulsive move into a community that may not be the most suited for you. Mexico is seductive and pulls many of us into its breast before we have had a chance to really consider if this is the right decision for each of us. Plan before you jump!