I've been reading alot about Mexico...at least about what is involved with moving there, retiring there, etc. One of my brothers and his wife have already made the move and they will be great resources for me, but I'm reading about it, as well, getting other perspectives. The people who have written what I've read are almost fanatic about it...it's the best thing has ever happened to them, etc. I like the idea that, with sufficient planning and research, it may be possible to live there comfortably with a very modest amount of money. A woman who has lived in Guadalajara for several years finds it very affordable on her Social Security income. She likes it better than the more heavily 'Americanized' areas around Lake Chapala. Others seem to prefer 'Lakeside' to live, but like the fact that Guadalajara and its shopping, cosmopolitan atmosphere, etc. is close by. Others who write about San Miguel de Allende are equally rabid...they either love it or they find it to be a place dominated by Americans who speak no Spanish.
My reading about living in Mexico is not an indication that I will move there. I have a wife who may not have the same degree of interest as I. I do not speak Spanish, but have a command of enough words and pronunciation skills that I think I could learn enough to be able to communicate reasonably well. My wife speaks none and, as far as I know, has no interest in learning Spanish. We'll see, in time, I suppose. I'd rather not wait until I'm of 'retirement' age, though. I'm ready to start planning now, with a goal of 3 years hence, to be retired in some form or fashion...living less lavishly, living frugally even, is fine with me. I'm just feeling 'done' with work, at least the work I am doing. I own the company. The question is, "Why?" I make less than I did when I worked for someone else...but I DO like being in control. I am a control freak, I guess.
I've also been looking longingly at information about moving to the Santiago, Chile region. Lots of interesting stuff there, I've found. Not nearly the American support population, but there are Americans down there, getting along fine, not being persecuted simply because their president is an asshole.
Living in the United States is less and less appealing to me. Regardless of the party in power after Bush vacates the White House, this country's policies are too deeply embedded to change fast enough to suit me. I'm not really in to revolution, because revolutions are apt to be too bloody or too shocking to the system, but unless there is a revolution here, this country has no hope for the long haul. I suppose I believe in getting out while the getting is good. Radical Islam is apt to be taking over large portions of the land mass of this planet, and I have no tolerance for that, nor for fighting it. Isolationism, in the right place, seems so very, very appealing. Of course, I realize that is very selfish, but what the hell...I've a geezer...I've earned the right to be selfish, or at least curmudgeonly about my take on global society.
Besides being enamored with the idea of starting a new life somewhere else, I'm enamored of starting new businesses. My political and economic and social ideas are sometimes in opposition to one another. Over lunch with our staff the other day, I mentioned an idea that I thought had merit: set up a commercial-grade kitchen and a reasonably good-sized dining area and rent the space to people who want to show off their culinary skills but don't have the equipment and space. As usual, it wasn't an original idea. A guy in Austin has established a company called "Just Add Chef," which does just what I had in mind. My meeting planner, whose son is a restauranteur, knows the guy. I decided to contact him to inquire about how he does it...not sure just why, since I do not have the resources to replicate it in Dallas. Anyway, he finally called me back today...left a voice mail for me. I might pursue with him the idea of franchising the concept. Anyone reading this blog have money to invest? I'm ready to bring you in as part of this equation!
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