“The People Are So Lovely and Polite”
Names: Clayton Sanguine & Ina Peters
From: Windsor, Canada
Living in: Cozumel, Mexico
Visiting Mexico for the first time for his daughter’s wedding on the Riviera Maya, Clayton Sanguine looked out over the mesmerizing Caribbean waters and was hooked. “We could see Cozumel,” he says, “and fell in love with the Riviera Maya.”
For the previous five years, he and Ina Peters had been escaping the ice, snow, and sub-zero winter temperatures in Canada by flying south to spend half the year in Fort Myers, Florida. But safety issues convinced them both that they should look farther afield for their annual dose of sunshine.
Cozumel—Mexico’s largest island— proved to be the Caribbean bolthole they’d sought, where they found the sun and safety they were after.
Ina loves the color and vibrancy of the island. “The talent of the Mexican artists is unbelievable,” she says. “My favorite things here are the people, the culture, the Caribbean scenery, and the activities. But my all-time favorite thing is that people are so lovely and polite. They all say good morning just passing on the street.”
Being able to walk everywhere, day or night, exploring the island, makes for a healthier lifestyle. Plus, their Canadian dollar stretches a lot further on Cozumel. “We enjoy a weekly date night trying a different restaurant each week,” Clayton says. “We’ve found so many great places, and it’s a third of the price of back home.”
Eating out is not the only difference. Weekly grocery bills are lower, too. “Staples, like a tray of 36 eggs, are half the price,” Clayton explains. “A whole chicken in Canada is about $11. On Cozumel it costs about $4.50.”
Spending less on everyday items means they have more money in the bank for daytrips, or in case something comes up health-wise. If they need a doctor’s visit during their six-month stay in Cozumel, they know they can easily afford it.
Utility costs in winter here are practically nothing.
Having been a nurse for over 30 years, Ina knows what she’s talking about. So, when Clayton had to visit a gastroenterologist in Mexico, they were impressed with the speed, professionalism, and efficiency of seeing a specialist. Plus, the low costs were a pleasant surprise.
“Although in Canada healthcare is free,” Ina says, “the long wait times make it not worthwhile. It’s more favorable to pay the small fee here, and get it done straight away. Most of the expats we know wait to get to Mexico to take care of their healthcare and dental procedures.”
Their rent—around $800 a month, is all-inclusive. Gas, electric, water, internet, and even bicycles to get out and about are included in the monthly rent. The only thing they pay for is a maid, who charges $25 a day for cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the laundry. She’ll even cater dinner parties or get-togethers, spending the day in the kitchen so that Clayton and Ina don’t have to. “It means,” says Clayton, “that we can get on with the best job ever—retirement.”—Bel Woodhouse
“I Can Have Calmness and Peace of Mind Here’
Name: Diane DiMeo
From: New York City, New York
Living in: Tulum, Mexico
After 20 years of working hard and playing hard in the thrilling, but exhausting, New York City scene, Diane DiMeo found herself in Mexico. “I needed a break. I didn’t want to be anyone; I didn’t want to do anything; I just wanted to be calm,” Diane recounts.
Having worked as a chef in Mexico City, Diane was no stranger to the country. “I’ve always had a connection to Mexico. The cooking techniques are brilliant; there’s such authenticity and realism to them. I have empathy for Mexico on so many levels.”
For her semi-retirement a little over four years ago, she chose the Riviera Maya town of Tulum as a new home base, and she hasn’t looked back.
Born and raised on a family ranch in California, food had always played a part in Diane’s life. It was when she moved to New York City though, that she made a name for herself and launched a dizzying career as restaurateur and TV celebrity chef. Noteworthy highlights include various competitive cooking shows, including the Food Network’s Chopped, and Taste with the late Anthony Bourdain.
Today, she’s the director of Tulum Eats magazine and the local Food, Wine and Spirits Festival so there’s no shortage of busy days, though today they come with the peaceful backdrop of the Caribbean Sea and small-town Mexican vibes. And they’re punctuated by blissful moments when things slow down for a while, and there’s time to take a leisurely bike ride, visit a beach club, barbecue with friends, or—ever the foodie—forage for fresh ingredients.
A self-professed “Type-A++ personality,” Diane couldn’t sit still for long in Tulum. Seeing an opportunity in the town, she drew on her previous experience and network to create the first Food, Wine and Spirits Festival. Featuring renowned chefs from North America and collaborations with local luxury venues, the event was a roaring success.
In the years since that first festival, Tulum has developed from a quiet and exclusive hippie retreat to a top-10 international tourism destination. No stranger to reinvention, Diane has successfully repeated the event yearly, changing with the times and adapting the festival to the town’s evolving culture.
After the third edition of the festival, Diane’s next move was to take advantage of the growing buzz and create a magazine. The first edition of Tulum Eats magazine was published in early 2020. “There is a synergy between the festivals and the magazine,” Diane says. “They both feed into one another and provide a very good marketing and public platform. Everyone wants to come and experience the wealth of Mexico—Tulum, tequila, food, beaches.”
She admits that sometimes she looks back on her old life in New York and wonders what things would be like had she stayed there, but Tulum provides her with a balanced quality of life that New York never could.
“In Tulum I have the ability to center myself at any given time. As a businesswoman, I’m constantly on the move, mentally and physically, and yet I can have calmness and peace of mind here, 24 hours a day.”
And even when she’s not in the kitchen herself, in Tulum, Diane’s always on the lookout for the next flavor sensation. “I love finding all the little nooks and crannies, street food, mom-and-pop stores where I’m paying 15 to 20 pesos ($1) for the best food ever.”
Would Diane encourage others who are considering a similar path? Absolutely. “You don’t need a lot of money to make your dreams come true,” she says. “You just need the guts to do it.”—Siobhán Gallagher
“I Save So Much Money Wintering in Mexico”
Name: Meg Goodman
From: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Living in: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Meg Goodman loves to spend summers in her Midwest home, but has no interest in ever spending another harsh winter in the Twin Cities. Back in the 1990s, she and her then-new boyfriend decided to vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They ended up coming back every year for longer and longer stays. For Meg, these extended vacations eventually grew into regular stays of five or six months a year.
Why did she keep coming back to Puerto Vallarta? Meg mentions the nearly perfect weather, the wide variety of fabulous restaurants, the walkability, and the ease of getting around. But it goes beyond that too: “It’s the genuine friendliness of the Mexican people and those choosing to make their homes here,” she says.
For most of her winters spent in Puerto Vallarta, Meg has rented the same unit in the Zona Romantica. (Better than the Hotel Zone, she says, as she found she’d regularly take the bus over to the old part of town anyway. Best to just be based there, she figured.)
With its charming cobblestone streets, wide variety of shops and eateries, and easy access to the malecón (beach promenade), Zona Romantica (also known as Old Town) offers the charm and conveniences Meg enjoys.
For Meg, there were additional reasons to choose Puerto Vallarta as her winter escape. “If you’re traveling from the Twin Cities, like I do, it’s super easy to get to Puerto Vallarta and back to the U.S. again,” she says. “Sun Country and other airlines offer non-stop flights that take four to four-and-a-half hours.”
Meg estimates that her rent in Puerto Vallarta costs her about 35% to 50% less than a similar unit would cost in a nice area of Florida or California. Meg rents a private bedroom and bathroom in a gorgeous condo with views for about $1,500 per month. The building is only about a 10-minute walk from the center of the malecón, or a $3 cab ride.
“I don’t cook in Mexico,” Meg adds. “I save so much money by spending winters in Mexico, since the bars and restaurants are about half the cost of the ones in Minnesota. And utilities in Puerto Vallarta in the winter are practically nothing, since you don’t need air conditioning or heating. The weather here is perfect in that respect.”
Another saving is on transport, especially with the rising price of gas in the U.S. “You don’t need a car here,” Mag says. “There are so many attractions that are within walking distance. But cabs and Ubers are also plentiful and very affordable. And, if you really want to save money, take the bus; most rides are 10 pesos or about 50 cents.”—Bel Woodhouse
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