I first went to Mérida, Yucatán México 35 years ago on a bus from Tehuacán, Puebla – during the time I was an exchange student in high school.  Captivated by the colonial city, Mayan history, and nearby beaches with a series of quintessential fishing villages, I didn’t want to leave.  But college beckoned in New York, then onto an MBA, and soon, a 30-year career ensued. I retained the dream of having a home in México someday.

Then in 2007, I started to explore the possibilities of retiring abroad – at least on a part-time basis – to enjoy a slower pace of life, different experiences; and not least of all, help offset the financial requirements of retiring sooner or pursuing Career 2.0.

I checked out Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and a few other places too.  International Living (www.internationalliving.com) became an on-line fascination.  When I was staying in Bocas del Toro (Panama), I read a book called “Don’t Kill the Cow Too Quick: An Englishman’s Adventures Homesteading in Panama”, by Malcolm Henderson.  The book captures the essence of the adventure that awaits in moving abroad, and motivated me to delve further.

Explore the Web, and you’ll find a whole industry devoted to retirees looking to live under tropical skies with daily maid service, affordable healthcare, houses and apartments at the beach, in colonial cities, or quaint mountain towns.

The U.S. State Department estimates some 4 million Americans live abroad, not counting military and embassy personnel, with 500,000 to 1 million just south of the border in Mexico alone. About a quarter of those are estimated to be retirees.

From a financial perspective, spending time overseas is certainly tantalizing.  The cost of living can be low enough to retire years earlier than otherwise possible.  We know people in Mexico who live very well on $2,000 USD per month, and others who make it work with less because they’re willing to forego imported goods and adopt a simpler lifestyle.

From my experience living/working abroad I’d say that if you’re the kind of person who is motivated just by the financial aspects, then retiring abroad probably isn’t the right thing to do. You need to be desirous of a different lifestyle, crave some adventure, and embrace the cultural variety. If you’re not open-minded, flexible, tolerant and patient, or have an attitude that “Amurka” does it best, then you probably shouldn’t even consider it.