One thing in life, Never wait for someone else to make your decisions for you, I was fortunate to travel around the World by myself, not waiting for others as they say "s#&t or get off the pot!"
Brad has a cute house and how nice that he's close to the malecon. I have never seen a stainless steel counter in all of the videos I've seen in MX, how lucky for him to find it! Thanks, Brighton, for another interesting interview!
As always Good vid good guest. At 55 my father "invited" my mom to retire with him. She reluctantly agreed. They sold most unnecessary possessions including his beloved Vet and C&C boat and moved to his home. Nova Scotia. The story goes on but let's just say until he died they had a great time. He truly wanted to live before he died and they did. Now it's my turn. I'd really like to try a place like the La Paz area if only to see if my poor stiff joints would ease up. In some ways I envy you , Brad but, I will be bringing my dogs and of course Pam . Mr. B Keep em coming. P n D
@davebaker I’m so glad your mom & dad LIVED before your dad passed. That’s beautiful,💜 and yes, I’m really glad your mom took the reluctant leap and stayed with him.😊
This is so inspirational! Thanks for introducing us to Brad and his lifestyle in La Paz. I’m just now turning 65 and I’m narrowing down my permanent move to Mexico to either the Chapala area or La Paz. I’ll be heading to Chapala in September and hopefully La Paz towards the end of the year, and God willing will be moving to one of those places next fall.
Once again, I am amazed at the type of video you make❤ take on things is really original. I’m enjoying it the things that you say are right on spot for me a lot of the times.😂
What a great video! Love learning about people finding happiness living abroad in retirement or almost in retirement. Your channel makes us want to explore Mexico but not sure when we'll be able to squeeze it into our already packed retirement schedule so far.
Wondeful video! My young daughter and I are coming to La Paz by the end of August and need to find a place to stay. I SO enjoy your videos; they give me hope and positive energy. I’d love to buy you and your wife a couple rounds of margaritas! 😂 Thank you for everything you do for others. Hope to meet you one day. 👍🏼🌺
How long will you be in La Paz? We are in Oregon now, and I'll be back in La Paz September 14 for a week. Then down for the season starting November 1.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Oh thank you so much for your reply! We would like to stay for the full 180-day period that the Tourist visa allows. However, I’ve been told that that time period is not guaranteed. Praying we get most of it. Would really like to meet you and your wife and get to know La Paz (and surrounding areas)…to start fresh, less stress, better food, more safety, etc... Currently, we’re in Southern California working on our businesses in eCommerce (so we’re flexible to move and live anywhere). The goal? Finding PEACE!🙏🏼🤗🌺
You can find peace in La Paz! Right now, the 180 day visa seems to be pretty standard. We'll be in La Paz a bunch during your stay. I host happy hours (or breakfasts) on Sundays when I'm in town. I'd love to meet you at one of those.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico THANK YOU, Brighton!! This is my prayer - for us to be granted the full 180-day stay. I hope that we will be able to receive this when we fly into La Paz’s airport. I was told (previously) that flying into Queretaro would NOT be good because the officials are “cracking down” and only granting a few weeks; that it was better to fly into Leon or Mexico City. So, given this news, I have wondered whether we’d have a better shot with getting the full 180 days flying into La Paz. I appreciate you confirming that we CAN find some peace in this beautiful city (La Paz)! And, yes, my daughter and I would love to come to one (or more) of your Sunday brunches…or any other gathering. We wanna spread love, joy, peace, and laughter and hopefully some hugs, too! Life can be tough on some days and we could use some joyful occasions. Stay well! Looking forward to meeting you and your wife. 🙏🏼 Angela
I really enjoyed this video! Brad is such a wonderful authentic person and I am really blessed to be one of his dinner guests from time to time! @Brighton - love you channel!!!
Brad, congratulations on your new life in Mexico. I'm a Michigander too. My husband and I spent 4 years aboard our sailboat cruising throughout Mexico. We spent a few months in La Paz. It's a great community. Since then, we purchased a beach front home on Mexico's mainland. I'm envious of your dinner party get togethers. Enjoy Mexico living. It's a wonderful lifestyle
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico We bought a beautiful hacienda seaside house on the Sea of Cortes in San Carlos Sonora Mexico. We sailed from Seattle, down to Mexico, sailing throughout Mexico's Pacific Coast and the Sea of Cortes for four years.
Hi Brighton, this is such a good video. Good information. My husband and I are coming soon for the winter months. Can't wait to go to these activities. We will be staying in El Centinario, can't wait!! Thanks for the encouragement and these amazing videos!
Yup - it worked out perfectly in the end for him. Who knows - those divorces might have cut his nest egg so much that he was forced to retire in Mexico. Best move ever!
Hi! Never written before but I watch your channel regularly. I'm Mexican lived in the states for 50 years and now go back and forth between LA and Guadalajara my hometown. Just want to say I appreciate your wanting to speak Spanish and your kind comments on my compatriot. If I may offer my help for you guys. Be wonderful to meet Ray and practice his Spanish
Thanks for watching and commenting. It's great that you can travel back and forth between the two countries. I just made a video with someone who was born in Mexico, lived in the US for many years and moved back to Mexico to retire: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--9_3HrX9ukU.html
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I've looked into the logistics and by the time I got approval to bring her she'd probably be dead. I can wait and try to learn some Spanish. I might re-evaluate in a few months when Winter hits.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico If she were a cat or dog it would not be an issue, but she isn't. I have to get an import form approved, proof she was treated for parasites (she has none), gets a rabies vaccination (and risk anaphylactic shock with that). Plus she could get sick at any time. She's deaf and blind and wouldn't enjoy it at all. I can wait.
Awesome story! I'm 53 thinking of doing the same thing, I already told my wife are you coming or staying ? I'm really having a hard time getting her out of her comfort zone, she is originally from Sinaloa Mexico, I'm originally from Guadalajara Mexico, we have a house by lake Chapala, I live here in Covina California, struggling with this heat wave. Life is to short not to enjoy, thanks for this awesome videos.
Highs are in the low 80's right now in Guadalajara. What does she think of living in the house on Lake Chapala? That's a pretty nice area - and close to GDL. BTW, I'm working on a video about a Mexican guy who grew up in the USA returning to Mexico to live in retirement. Coming soon.
Sounds like a very doable budget!! But what about qualifying for the residency? The income requirements are higher than what my SS will be. Maybe find a way around that. And what about driving your car down to La Paz? Is it safe for a single female? I would fly, but I have a couple things that won't fit on a plane. lol. Or are too delicate for that sort of transport. As I commented on another video, I will be 62 next year and hope to sell my house and travel. Mexico and/or Panama are my goals. Mexico options are La Paz or Lake Chapala. Panama options are Boquete, Volcan and several other locations that I have visited there. Plus for Panama is that it's on the dollar so no exchange thing going on there. But it's more expensive. Another plus is that the Pensionado visa income requirements are only 1k per month. Far easier, imo. BUT I do want to see Mexico!! Decisions!!!
I watched the video. I have not read the comments. I have been in La Paz for a month now. I have rented a 2 bedroom 'apartment' in the middle of the malecon. I paid 48,000 pesos for my month's stay (which is coming to an end). The accommodations are maybe a 5-6 on a scale of 10. My first week here the weather was pleasant. Since then the weather has been HOT (I wonder what Brad thinks today coming from Michigan(?)). The food is fantastic - but not cheap. The local facebook groups seem supportive (with a couple exceptions). Brighton (is it ?) - you are a great spokesman for La Paz - but ya know - for someone who loves La Paz so much you sure do seem to spend time away. I visited your Centenario area and I guess we are different people. I want to end this on a positive note - I can appreciate La Paz as an alternative to 'The Villages' in central Florida for some retirees. (I hope that is positive).
Thanks Charlie. I'm hoping that La Paz and The Villages are very different places. The weather definitely gets hot in the summer. My wife really likes summers in Oregon which is why we spend so much time up north. I usually come down a few times in the summer - I'm headed down in a month. My wife also picked the El Centenario area ;-) I would have chosen Esterito. But El Centenario is a hard place to visit without a guide. If you don't know which streets to turn down, you'll miss all the good stuff. It's mostly a regular Mexican town. But the view of La Paz across the bay at night is wonderful - the moon rises over downtown. Most of the gringos live off calle 13 or 19, which have great views starting about 5 or 6 blocks off the highway. There's a little traditional park where the locals play soccer Friday and Saturday nights. But you'd never find that stuff if someone didn't tell you. I'm thinking about making a map of El Centenario so people can understand why folks live out here. ;-) Best of luck finding your forever home.
Thanks Brighton, I'll be down in the area end of the month and would love to buy you a Margarita, or the beer w the hot seasoning, etc on it. Can I just come into the Spangish Club anytime I'm in La Paz as I continue to investigate and plan my retirement. May I get a Brad dm? And a Brighton? I live in Bellingham, WA. so cool..!! Thank you so much!!
You can show up at Spanglish. I think they prefer RSVPs facebook.com/share/g/PDh2Ph8XKHcxCJcd. You'll also find Brad at Baja Buddies on Wednesdays: facebook.com/share/g/QMQoohQMuLUGnnjq/ I try not to share my guest's personal info as they could get overwhelmed ;-) I'll be in Oregon, then Oaxaca until mid-September (then in La Paz for a week.)
Is it safe? We used to travel to Mexico a lot. We stopped going after tourists were targeted in Cancun and I had a scary guy follow me wearing a gun in Mazatlan. I'm scared of abductions trafficking. Is that a reality, or somewhere else?
Nope - you'll still pay the same costs for housing, car insurance, gas. Food prices might double. A couple could live comfortably in La Paz for $2500-$3000USD
Could anyone recommend a good location/neighborhood to come and scout the area for a week or so? We prefer to be in an area with locals as well as expats and it doesn't have to be fancy. Want more of a living type of feel as opposed to touristy. Planning on week visit next March. TY
Most tourists in La Paz are Mexican, not foreign. So even touristy places don't feel like gringolandia. I suggest looking in the Esterito neighborhood - or anywhere within 4 blocks of the malecón.
What about healthcare down there? Is there some kind of universal coverage and does it work differently for ex-pats? Or is it cash pay and how expensive is it?
There is universal care for $1000usd, but it’s slow. Most expats just pay for private care. Really fast and cheap. A specialist visit might cost $50USD and you can get an appointment next day.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Wow! That’s mind-blowing compared to here. Have you talked to anybody who is navigated through the healthcare system down there if they are living with more complicated and expensive health conditions? With a bunch of people retiring down there, they surely have to be a few with age-related conditions that will need more care as time goes on. *Or* are they delaying the arthritis and heart disease because it’s easier to live a healthy lifestyle?
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico But, healthcare costs could escalate to $100K or more for catastrophic illnesses such as Guillain Barre syndrome, stroke, heart attack, trauma injuries, etc. Those urgent/emergent things will not allow a return to the USA for treatment. They need to be handled there ASAP. I have been following expats for years, and it happens. Have plenty of savings. No money, no treatment.
@@lizaronni Great questions. For the most part, Mexico is a healthier place to live - so some disease is delayed. But if you have a serious problem, it could get really expensive. There was an 80 year old guy who was hit by a car on the highway. He needed expensive care until he passed about 6 months later. His bill was around $130k USD. In the US, it would have been in the millions. My suggestion is to buy into the universal care - but only use it in a catastrophe.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I had forgotten that La Paz is the capital city of Baja. Whew..I thought I was loosing my mind as I have been up and down Baja for many years. Great Video BTW-Thanks
La Paz isn't one of the "popular places" on the peninsula. But it's becoming discovered. Mexicans have been vacationing here for decades. Gringos are just figuring it out.
Good story!! - a shame he waited "patiently 5 years for his partner to come on board.. only to find out.. not happening" HE wasted 5 GOOD YEARS!! - Great thing he came to his senses & waited no more... great to see he is enjoying his retirement!! MY FAVORITE VIDEO IS STILL The couple that came from ALASKA & bought the property site unseen PRE RETIREMENT INVESTMENT!!! 🥰😉
Yes - Brad could have moved sooner if he knew that it was never going to work out with his wife. Tom and Toni - the couple from Alaska. I love that video too!
I agree! When we look back to colonial times, it must have been better to be colonized by the Spanish than by the Brits. The US turned out to be a bunch of jerks while Latin America is so friendly!
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Well in some places. In South America it can be a challenge navigating through the poverty and their dictators. Not all... but some.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico It's full of illegal immigrants and high crime, very dirty streets, public transportation is a disaster. Rich people refuse to invest or live in that cesspool that's why NYC is so cheap. Dollar stores everywhere.
@Mongoose-ct6us Do you actually live in NYC or are you getting this info from watching the news? Studios rent for an average $4000 a month - I'm not sure how anyone could call that cheap.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I've lived in NYC all my life. No studio goes for four thousand dollars. NYC is the leading city to host illegal immigrants, criminals and welfare recipients. How could it possibly be expensive? It's a city of immigrants so there is no way in hell it's expensive. Trains don't even work in NYC. Rich people have all left.
I think if you are struggling to meet Mexicans in Mexico says you are comfortable in the homogenous bubble ways you come from back in your country and you want the comforts of your familiarity to acclimate into mexico. It still is a form of whiteness .
@@CassieDavis613 Not at all bitter. Acclimate into your new land. It's that simple. If one is not willing to to associate with the culture, then go back to where you came from. Your only there for the comforts of economic convenience and that's not acceptable.
Help me understand. His Mexican landlord created 5 units of housing on a property that was probably originally one house. One of the families is Mexican. 2 are long term renters and then 2 are short term rentals. Gentrification usually implies that locals are being displaced. To me this seems like the solution to gentrification - building additional housing while maintaining units for locals too.
Hi Ho. I like your videos. Could you contact me please. I need information regarding daily home care in La Paz for a person with a physical disability. Is there a home care company in La Paz? And if there is an accessible vehicle service. I’m financially set…and thinking seriously of buying/leasing a property condo/house. I’ll certainly offer you a consultant fee should you be willing to assist me with what’s actually “on the ground” as far as transportation/home care/real estate. Best Regards. Brian
Brian - this is a little tough in La Paz, but I suggest you contact comfortcare.mx. They are a nonprofit in Todos Santos and I know that they have helped other gringos connect with similar services in the past. They are a really helpful group of mostly retired nurses. Their website loads slowly - be patient ;-) Let me know how it goes. I know there are other folks in La Paz talking about this and how we can get more services in the future.
