We are Tiffany and Tom, and two years ago we moved to Queretaro, Mexico. We wanted a lower cost of living and better quality of life than 70-hour work weeks.We’ve traveled extensively, but after a quick birthday trip to Mexico, we thought “Why not move here?” We did some research and discovered the visa and financial requirements for Mexico were more attainable than other countries, and it would be a short flight back to the States if our parents needed us for health issues. It took us seven months to get our finances in order, fix the house to sell, pack and acquire the necessary visa and vet permits.
Queretaro has almost everything we could want; an international airport, international businesses and communities, historical center, modern conveniences and an established middle class.
Our realtor found us a rental in a wonderful neighborhood. Mexicans are very friendly, and our neighbors include us in holiday celebrations like the Christmas posada and New Year’s dinner.
Setting up internet and cable TV has been difficult with us not knowing enough Spanish, but our neighbors have been very helpful. We’ve met many people while walking our dog and have a fruit and vegetable purveyor who recognizes us in the Sunday market.
What we like most about Queretaro is the variety of regional cuisines available. We have beautiful grocery stores, ethnic restaurants and a mall 15 minutes away. On Sundays, we shop at the local market and have lunch in a small village nearby.
One of the difficulties we’ve had is getting used to everything being later. Coffee shops open at 10am and lunch is at 2pm. We live in between two wine subregions and have started our own wine and food tours. Both of us worked in the wine industry in the US for several years and see great opportunity to promote the region.
For anyone thinking of moving to a new country, do your research on the basics like crime rate, weather, housing prices and things to do. Narrow down your search to a few cities and visit them each for at least a week. You’ll learn more talking to bartenders, Uber drivers and random dog owners than you will from the internet.
Schedule a meeting with a realtor to show you different neighborhoods. If you are too young to retire and still need to work, try to find jobs you can do online before you move. There will be ups and downs, but the opportunity to learn more about a culture than just observing on a trip is priceless.
You can keep up to date with Tiffany and Tom's adventures on their website,
www.epicureanexpats.com, and find out about their tours here.
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