A few short months ago, Gary (Yolisto:
Papaw007) and Nancy Draper thought it was impossible to retire and move to their house in Mexico.
But after a visit in April and a meeting with their financial advisor when they returned home to Monticello, Indiana, the couple decided to make the leap.
“When we went home last April, Nancy said why don't we just retire and move down,” Gary recalled. “I didn't think there was any way we could retire at 55. I sat down and made up a Mexican budget using stuff from friends here, on MI and Yolisto. We called our financial planner, went over investments, pensions and income from selling our house, and he said 'you're fine. You can do it.'”
The Drapers wasted no time. They listed their home and began packing. Despite the depressed housing market in the U.S., their house sold in six weeks. While waiting for escrow to close, the couple bought a 6-by-12-foot cargo trailer, held several yard sales, decided what to bring and what to leave behind.
“We packed up and moved down like the Clampetts,” Gary said. “We sold everything else or gave it to friends and family.”
They arrived three weeks ago, racing Hurricane Ike across Texas. Nancy and Gary are just beginning to feel like permanent residents.
“It's starting to sink in that this is our new life and not just a vacation,” Gary said.
Nancy began eyeing early retirement after two deaths in her family. Her brother and sister-in-law both died of cancer just months apart.
“It makes you sit back and re-evaluate life and what's important,” she said. “Life is very precious and it can get away from you.”
Nancy is quite familiar with life and death. She has been a registered nurse since 1993, most recently working as an intensive care nurse in a 358-bed hospital in Indiana.
Gary retired as the plant superintendent for a bearing factory after 31 years on the job. He started with the company right out of college and stayed to make a career out of the opportunity.
“We knew we couldn't retire in the states and live well. One good thing about the company I worked for is that it's one of the few remaining companies that still offer a pension plan and a 401K match,” he said.
The Drapers first came to the Yucatan in January, 2007, after exploring Panama as a possible retirement site.
“We stayed in Merida and fell in love almost immediately,” said Nancy. “The people were so friendly and so laid back.”
The climate was also a plus. After enduring Indiana winters, the couple wanted a warm environment for their retirement years. They had spent many vacations in St. Maarten but property there was not affordable.
“We always had in the back of our minds we would be expats somewhere. We like to travel to different places and different cultures,” Gary said.
On that first visit they found their current home in Chuburna and began remodeling. They have made several trips since to oversee improvements. Now they are ready to embark on a rooftop addition and final renovations.
“Once we get the house done and the big projects done, then it will be time to really relax, see what's around and take day trips,” Nancy said. “I want to see out-of-the-way things...not tourist areas. This is my country now. And, I want to learn Spanish.”
Once she learns the language, Nancy could volunteer at one of the local hospitals. She also wants to begin a clean-up project to rid the neighborhoods of trash.
Both Drapers enjoy golf, and look forward to playing at nearby courses. Gary likes to fish and is looking for a boat to buy. They also are getting re-acquainted with “Tito,” a street dog they adopted in the Spring.
“I think my blood pressure has gone down 10 points by moving here,” Gary said while describing his new life as “muy tranquilo.”
He frequently turns to his wife while relaxing on the terrace with a snack or beverage.
“This is a tough life,” he jokes. “Do you think they'd take me back at my old job?”
Beachbum conducts interviews with expatriates and collects their stories. Her column, Expat Profiles, can be found here on Yolisto.
Tags: Expat Profiles
