Why We Left Our Dream Life in Mexico and Returned to the U.S.

Summary

The speaker recounts his journey from a 25-year law enforcement career to a debt-free life in Mexico, where he and his wife lived on a third of their US income. After returning to the US to care for Linda's mother, they faced the reality of increased costs and health insurance needs, leading to reemployment and home ownership. He also shares his successful venture into YouTube, amassing over 100,000 subscribers, and his decision to leave his job to focus on content creation, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and reinvention.

Takeaways

• 👮 The speaker retired from a 25-year career in law enforcement in Florida in 2015.
• 💼 Due to insufficient pension and his wife's ineligibility for retirement, they decided not to travel or do nothing but to find another route for financial stability.
• 🛫 They sold or donated nearly all their belongings and moved to Cancun, Mexico with a third of their previous income.
• 🌴 The couple lived a debt-free lifestyle in Mexico, even having extra money to travel and enjoy life to the fullest.
• 🔄 After a few years, they returned to the US due to the need to care for Linda's mother, who required more assistance than they could provide from abroad.
• 🏠 Upon returning to the US, they liquidated their assets in Mexico, including a condo and a vehicle, and moved back with the intention to start over.
• 📈 The speaker noticed that the cost of living in the US had significantly increased since 2015, with high inflation affecting their financial situation.
• 💼 He had to work again in the US to support the increased expenses, including health insurance for his wife.
• 🏡 They initially lived in an Airbnb and eventually bought a house in Florida, which led to them being in debt again.
• 🎥 The speaker tried his hand at being a YouTuber to create an additional revenue stream before securing a job offer.
• 📈 He successfully grew two YouTube channels with millions of views and over 100,000 subscribers each, creating multiple revenue streams.
• 🔄 The speaker is leaving his regular job to focus on being a full-time content creator, embracing the need for continuous reinvention in life.

Q & A

What was the main reason for the speaker's retirement from law enforcement in 2015?

The speaker retired after completing a 25-year career as a deputy sheriff in Florida.

Why couldn't the speaker and his wife Linda travel and do nothing after retirement?

Linda was not eligible to retire, and the pension was insufficient to cover their expenses if she quit her job.

What drastic decision did the couple make to manage their financial situation after retirement?

They decided to sell, donate, or otherwise dispose of 99.9% of their belongings and move to Cancun, Mexico, with the remaining items packed into four suitcases weighing less than 50 lbs each.

What was the financial strategy that allowed them to live in Mexico on one-third of their previous income?

They lived a debt-free lifestyle and managed to have extra money for travel and leisure activities due to the lower cost of living in Mexico.

Why did the couple eventually move back to the United States?

They returned to the US because Linda's mother needed more assistance than they could provide while living abroad.

What was the impact of inflation and increased expenses on their financial situation upon returning to the US?

The one-third income they had in Mexico was not sufficient in the US due to higher costs of living, inflation, and the need for health insurance.

How did the speaker's wife Linda contribute to their living situation in both Mexico and the US?

Linda, being a skilled negotiator, secured long-term lease rates with Airbnb owners in both countries, which helped them establish their living situations with minimal belongings.

What was the speaker's impression of the private healthcare system in Mexico?

The speaker was very impressed with the private healthcare system in Mexico, describing it as outstanding and of high quality.

What led the speaker to consider becoming a YouTuber?

The speaker considered becoming a YouTuber as a means to fund their life in the US before receiving job offers from former colleagues.

How successful was the speaker's venture into YouTube content creation?

The speaker was fortunate and successful in YouTube, with two channels achieving millions of views and over 100,000 subscribers each within three years.

What is the speaker's current decision regarding his employment and content creation?

The speaker has decided to leave his regular paying job to focus on being a full-time content creator, hoping to make it work as a sustainable career.