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South of the Border
Want to save money and still enjoy a nice lifestyle in retirement? Join the hundreds of other gay retirees relocating to Mexico and other countries where the dollar still goes far.
From The Advocate  February 26, 2008
South of the Border

What if you could retire today? Sure, your investments haven’t reached their target value yet, but what if you could live large on a smaller nest egg than you originally thought—as much as 30% less? And what if you could still afford a regular gardener and housekeeper -- not to mention a weekly massage?

There has to be a catch, right? And there is: You’d need to move south -- south of the border, that is, to Latin America, where many retirees are going these days to stretch their dollars. And gay people are part of the trend too. Joe recently traveled to one such gay retirement destination --Ajijic, Mexico, near Guadalajara -- with his partner, Carlos, to see firsthand what moving there might be like.

Situated on Lake Chapala, a 60-mile-long lake that’s attracted many American retirees in recent years, Ajijic (pronounced ah-HEE-heek) was once an artists’ colony, and its narrow cobblestone streets and colorful facades offer plenty of charm.

Joe and Carlos flew into Guadalajara, rented a car, and made the short 45-minute drive to the town. Upon arriving, they met up with Damyn Young, 47, a gay Canadian who works as a local real estate agent targeting the gay market. Young landed in Mexico four years ago after traveling the world, and he met his American-born partner in Ajijic. He estimated that over 150 gay and lesbian couples are living in Ajijic now and that over 70% of his new clients are gay -- with both numbers growing yearly.

Although home prices run the gamut, bargains are plentiful. One recent sale was a brand-new lake-view home with two bedrooms and two baths in a gated community with an exposed brick ceiling, granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances. The cost? A relatively cheap $188,000.

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Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: patalarga
    Date posted: 2008-11-17 6:05 PM
    Hometown: Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Comment:

    Very nice article, and accurate as well. However, Ajijic is pronounced ah-hee-HEEK. You're not allowed to move here till you can pronounce it correctly!


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