Did I Move to Mexico? Let's Catch UP!
Life Update
We have a lot to catch up on as it has been a minute since I have last recorded an episode or video. My heart and mind has been with our Podcast and our Wake the Elephant YT channel every single day.
Today in this article (and below video),
- We are going to talk a little bit about where I have been and what I have been up to which will include a recent big move that I made.
- We will address some reasons why I made this move
- And Where I ended up and how this ties into narcissism.
I am thrilled to be back. I have missed you.
So, let’s get to it.
Table of Contents
Watch here!
Summary
In this video, I share with you, a recent big move I made, why I made it, and the process to accomplish this. I share some highlights, the highs and lows and where I ended up. Subscribe to follow along and for updates.
Searching for a new Place to Call Home
In the video entitled My Story, I shared with you that I lived in Texas, for about 20 years or so. I have loved Texas, so many things to do, great people, though for the past few years or longer I have felt the desire to move.
I had no idea where to, but I was searching for where I would move to once I left the area.
I searched all over the USA from Florida to Missouri to Colorado-all great places! I took trips around the country exploring areas that I haven’t visited before, looking for a new place where I can call home.
I investigated alternate ways of living too, as I was open to doing life differently than to collect things to store in my house.
Exploring Alternate OPtions
I looked into tiny home living. I looked into RV life, which has quadrupled over the past couple years. I researched living abroad, the requirements, the process, and those who have made it happen.
And then I listened to my heart after all my searching and decided to make the big move and in this episode, we are going to talk about it.
I looked into moving to Portugal, which has recently become a very popular country to move to.
You see, I needed a change and needed one in a big way.
The city life had got to me. The city I lived in for decades had changed. Or maybe it was I that changed.
Tired of Fast-Paced Living
I no longer was enthralled with the fast pace of life and no longer was needing to fill up my calendar with endless events around town. I was seeking something different. A different pace, a different culture perhaps.
Now, Texas will always have a special place in my heart. In fact, many are choosing to relocate to the state and are selecting cities like Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin and other cities in Texas. People are coming from everywhere to make it home. While they were wanting in, I was wanting out.
Exploring outside the USA
After researching for years, probably going back 5 years, I boarded a plane to take an exploratory visit to Mexico. (Read the article here to find out which city I selected for my exploratory trip in Mexico.)
What happened next may shock you.
I absolutely loved it.
I felt safe. I was able to dust off my Spanish and it resurfaced my curiosity to learn about a new culture and a different way of life.
I was beyond excited.
People were friendly – something I was not used to from my big city life. I was able to interact with ease. I didn’t sense I was being manipulated or exploited. It was like a breath of fresh air.
People seemed genuine and supportive. Was I living in a cloud or fog?
I felt welcomed, people were patient with me and interacted with me and I felt included even though I was a foreigner.
I didn’t expect to like it that much.
I now see the lure to Mexico.
Should I move to Mexico?
Now I didn’t decide right away that I would move to Mexico after my exploratory trip, but it was a huge contender.
I thought about it a lot when I returned home and made several pro/con lists.
Ultimately, I decided to move forward with applying for a Mexico residency card so it could open the door to Mexico as an option.
Residency Requirements
There are several ways to enter Mexico if you are not a citizen: 1) Tourist Visa 2) Residency Card. In 2021, Mexico changed the timeframe for the tourist visa and it was no longer guaranteed to receive 180 days. It was up to the immigration officer upon arrival, which many were receiving less than 180 days. I wanted to establish residency which means to apply for a temporary residency which is renewed annually and after 4 years I can become a permanent resident.
Making the Move
After my residency card was approved, I went through a series of steps and events to leave the USA and make the move to Mexico on a permanent basis.
When I say I was ready for a change, I was ready.
This change may sound abrupt to you, but it’s been a change that has been in the works for many years. It’s odd, but when I purchased my home, I thought then, that I wanted to live abroad.
I decided to take a big step and move forward with something I have wanted to do for a long time.
There's a LOT TO DO!
So I began a series of preparations that needed to be made in order to make this move happen.
Some of the items were:
- Applying for and Getting Approved with a Temporary Residency with a Mexican Consulate
- Downsizing and Selling my Home
- Holding an Estate Sale and Selling Most of my Possessions
- Moving Remaining Items into Storage
- Deciding Where In Mexico to Start My New Adventure
I was thrilled, excited and yet nervous at the same time, I didn’t know where I was going to land, exactly.
Let's Get Going!
After conducting my own estate sale, and putting the rest in storage, I boarded a plane to Guadalajara and from there headed to the Lake Chapala area. I accepted a housesit/pet sit for approximately 2 months so I could not only take care of animals (which I adore) but to learn a new area and city.
If you’d like to learn more about pet sitting in Mexico, Check out this link here. Use code saman62c49f06a6be7 and you can get 20% off your membership.
Lake Chapala, Mexico
Now Lake Chapala is a popular ex-pat community with many foreigners from Canada and the United States. English is widely spoken and it’s a hotspot for many retirees. It’s right on the largest lake in Mexico which is a big draw to the area.
After my two months of pet sitting, I had to make a decision if I was going to stay in the area or if I was going to move and explore another area of the country. What was I going to do?
I decided to start looking for an apartment in the area within my budget. I was absolutely stunned with what I found!
I found a perfect Casita for me, on absolutely stunning grounds. After seeing the place for the first time, I was all in. I signed a lease, and I love it. Now, I can go into more detail on this if you’d like and/or do another video on this, drop a comment below on what questions you may have.
I can talk about the process for obtaining temporary or permanent residency, local contacts, the process and contacts for insurance while here, local drivers and taxis, how to find a place to rent, and more. I am still learning and getting acquainted but if you have thought about leaving the USA, exploring Mexico and are seriously considering it, I’d love to be a resource for you.
Global Narcissism
Now as you know, we talk a lot about moving forward after a relationship with a narcissist, but we also touch on the broader global narcissism.
I don’t want to get too off-topic, but I share this recent chain of events for several reasons.
Need a Big Change?
- You may feel something needs to change in your life. It could be a relationship; it could be your country. It could be an environmental change.
One thing that happened during the most recent events is that many started to gain a new perspective. Many eyes were opened, and people started to see things they never saw before. You may be afraid to move forward but let me encourage you to make the move when ready at a time that is right for you.
- The change may be big and could require many steps.
After I decided to sell my house which was one big decision, I was faced with about 10,000 other smaller decisions afterward. Some too, made me question my original decision.
- We may be accustomed to being the frog in the water.
We may see the water start to simmer, but we may tell ourselves that we are okay, and it’s just a simmer. So, are you the frog in that water?
May this episode be a tool to allow you to increase the questioning of events around you and encourage you to Move Forward if and when the time is right for you.
Now, I’ve shared a lot in this episode and it’s a little different from my others. Drop a comment below, let us know what you think, drop some questions, give us a like and subscribe to our channel to be part of the journey.