Profiles Archives

Puerto Morelos: The Perfect Match

By Donald Murray |

March 19, 2016

In 1999, the 50-year-old Valorie Gallagher fell in love while vacationing along Mexico’s Riviera Maya. She’d been looking for her perfect match for years, and once they met, she instantly knew that her life would never be the same. This wasn’t the typical affair of the heart, however. Valorie had fallen head-over-heels in love with one of the lesser-known jewels of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the fishing village of Puerto Morelos. And 17 years later, she’s still in love with it.

An Ideal Beach Lifestyle in Tulúm, Mexico

By Jason Holland |

March 19, 2016

“What would we do in Wisconsin in retirement?” says Lance Koehler, reflecting on his new life in beachside Tulúm. “Go to the mall, shovel snow. Here I love the warm weather, the sun, and going to the beach.” Lance and his wife Jeanette have found more than their place in the sun. They’ve also found their place in the local expat community.

Retire on $1,000 a Month in Colonial Cambodia

By Steven King |

February 20, 2016

San Diego-native Tom Richter, 57, was already living in paradise when he decided to move to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A corporate sales executive, he’d decided that moving to Central America was his best option for an early and affordable retirement. So he’d moved to a house in the Costa Rican countryside, where he could enjoy retirement on a Social Security pension.

Slow-Paced, Simple Living in the Philippines

By Kirsten Raccuia |

February 20, 2016

Tired of cold weather and the workday drudgery in his native Minnesota, Dave Christopherson was eager to turn his back on the working world. Having snow nearly five months a year was just too much.

A Love Affair with Tropical Cebu

By Kirsten Raccuia |

February 20, 2016

His love affair with his new home is understandable. For him, the tropical climate, the beaches, the Filipinos’ friendly, hospitable nature, and the low cost of living make it a dream come true. He lives in a big city, yet he still feels that he has the typical “island lifestyle” that you’d expect from the Philippines. Life is simpler, like the 1950s U.S., but with all the First-World amenities he could want. And “if you ask me for just one thing I love about the place, it would be the people. Their seemingly never ending smiles brighten each and every day.

Old-School Community Spirit in Low-Cost Quebradas

By Deb Schaffer |

February 20, 2016

"My favorite thing about my new life is the kindness of the people,” says Carol Blair Vaughn, 63, of her rustic retirement in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone. “I have never been treated so warmly and generously by anyone. They are gems.” For Carol, the people may be the main benefit of life in the small town of Quebradas, but they’re certainly not the only one. Here she has found her perfect spot for a peaceful, rural retirement.

Great Living on $1,500 a Month in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle

By Wendy DeChambeau |

February 20, 2016

I’m here to tell you that I’ve found the Holy Grail of expat destinations. Each of us has our own priorities, but to find a place that ticks the boxes on nearly everyone’s list is something special. A perfect climate that’s neither too hot nor too cool (60 F to 80 F all year); amazing natural surroundings; plenty of cultural events; history-filled cities; superb healthcare; friendly people; and a welcoming country…all with a fantastically low cost of living—figure $1,500 a month for a couple, all in.

The Most Affordable Retirement Havens in Romantic France: Part 2

By Barbara Diggs |

February 20, 2016

Picture a jumble of honey-colored stone houses with russet lichen-covered roofs nestled together in a valley, thick with lush green trees. Rising above the village, a medieval château of pale stone stands protectively, its slate-grey turrets piercing the sky. At the foot of the village, a river slides by with deceptive slowness. This is the kind of sublime scene you’ll find in the Dordogne, again and again.

An Affordable, Sustainable Lifestyle in Thailand

By Steve LePoidevin |

January 24, 2016

When most people think of retiring to Thailand, they think of relaxing on white, sandy beaches or enjoying the spectacular sunsets from their beachside condos in Phuket, Koh Samui, or one of the many tropical islands that dot the Kingdom’s coastlines. Not so Carl Barrow, who has found his own personal-retirement Shangri-La on a farm in Isaan province.

Enjoying a Low Cost of Living and Warm Climate in Santa Fe

By Linda Card |

January 24, 2016

Bill and Mitzi Martain are living the retirement of their dreams. “We have a lovely new home, a beautiful farm, wonderful friends and neighbors, and each other,” Mitzi says. “There’s no way we could have this lifestyle and quality of life in the U.S.” Bill and Mitzi have what they consider an ideal life. They own 10 acres of fertile land in a rural valley, surrounded by hills and mountains. They enjoy sunny, warm weather year-round, with no snow, no ice, no hurricanes or tornadoes.