In 1999, I took a weeklong trip with a good friend to Mazatlán, Mexico — and it was love at first sight. I used to be so smitten with the seashore metropolis that I went to a realtor the following day and purchased a small home for $28,000.
My plan was to make it a second house for once I needed to get away from California. However in 2002, at 49 years previous, I made a decision to observe my favourite mantra — “Leap, and the online will seem” — and left the U.S. to dwell in Mexico full-time.
After just a few years in Mazatlán, I used to be prepared for a change. I thought of a number of locations, together with Oaxaca and the Lake Chapala space, earlier than turning my sights to San Miguel de Allende, a colonial-era metropolis in Mexico’s central highlands, recognized for its baroque structure.
I used to be very fortunate to have discovered an enthralling place inside my value vary for $160,000. Since actual property in Mexico is a money market — 90% of international patrons are money patrons — I needed to promote one among my rental properties in Mazatlán and take a small mortgage from my brother to give you the cash.
It took three months to shut the deal, and by 2006, I used to be totally moved in.
Constructing the proper house
My 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom San Miguel house has a entrance courtyard on the bottom flooring. On the second flooring is the lounge, kitchen, eating space and a small terrace.
It is a attractive house with greater than sufficient area for one particular person. However as a retiree who does portray, printmaking and sculpting on the aspect, I needed to have a devoted place to work on my artwork.
So in 2007, I started building so as to add a 3rd flooring studio and a rooftop, increasing the full area from 900 sq. ft to 1,600 sq. ft.
I constructed two steel stairwells from my entrance door — one to the rooftop backyard terrace, and the opposite resulting in my studio in order that guests who come to see my paintings do not need to enter by means of the bed room.
I do numerous studying in the lounge, the place there is a small library and a comfortable hearth. The small eating space connects to the kitchen, which is adorned with stunning Talavera-style ceramic tiles.
I am very proud of how the studio turned out. There is a ton of pure gentle, a big wall to show my artwork, and sufficient area to carry workshops.
In whole, the renovations value about $32,000 and took lower than a 12 months to finish.
What I like about San Miguel
A Unesco World Heritage Web site since 2008, San Miguel is a beautiful metropolis full of old-world attraction.
There’s nothing like strolling on the cobblestone streets and passing the colourful colonial facades draped with bougainvillea. There are a number of small cafes, yoga studios, eating places and occasions for writers and artists.
One among my favourite issues to do is visiting artwork galleries. Often, I am going to go to small venues to listen to dwell music for the worth of a meal or a $15 cowl change.
The one main draw back is that the climate is far cooler right here than in Mazatlán, which prompted me to purchase sweaters, jackets and heaters that I by no means wanted earlier than.
Whereas I largely stroll in every single place, I’ve a automobile that is primarily for transporting my paintings or taking day journeys to close by cities.
My revenue and spending in Mexico
My revenue, which ranges from $1,100 to $2,500 per thirty days, is a mix of Social Safety, ebook and artwork gross sales, workshops and rental property in Mazatlán.
Here is a fast take a look at my common month-to-month bills:
- Property tax: $41
- Personal medical health insurance: $250
- Automotive insurance coverage/fuel: $50
- Utilities (water, electrical energy, telephone, web): $70
- Groceries: $110
- Leisure/eating out/procuring: $99
Whole: $620 per thirty days
I am undecided if this might be my eternally house. Mazatlán nonetheless holds a particular place in my coronary heart, and it is potential I’ll transfer again in some unspecified time in the future. However I positively plan to remain in San Miguel for the following 5 to 10 years.
I by no means would have been capable of construct this good life again within the U.S. The low value of residing in Mexico permits me to dwell my supreme retirement way of life and do what I like most: creating, educating and being surrounded by artwork.
Glen Rogers is an artist residing in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She has traveled to many sacred websites looking for connection, understanding and inspiration; Newgrange in Eire, Knossos in Crete, caves within the south of France and Las Labradas, Mexico. Discover her on Fb.
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