AARP ranks Mexico the best place in the world to retire.

AARP which has some 40 million retirees as members world wide has decided that Puerto Vallarta Mexico is the best place in the world to retire. I have tried to put the significance of the article into perspective here:
http://jaltembajalapeno.com/lang/en/2010/07/28/aarp-ranks-puerto-vallarta-best-in-the-world
but if you only have time to read the article you can do that here:
http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/press-center/info-07-2010/best_places_retire_abroad.html

It is hard to get a good news story spread so please pass it on.

I wonder when the article was actually written?

kipissippi wrote:I wonder when the article was actually written?

It appears the article was published July 26th, 2010.
In order of recommendation:
1. Mexico - PV
2. France
3. Panama
4. Portugal
5. Italy

The publication date is July 2010. The piece if full of bad info; First, no way are there 50,000 Americans living in PV! Concerning the European countries mentioned, North Americans cannot immigrate to the EC, so forget the health care. Never the less, maybe this will help the tourist business in PV.

I have to agree. Also Portugal has become expensive and their economy is in turmoil. I don't imagine France and Italy are cheap either however the article may not have been from a "cost concious" point of view.

Most of Portugal, France and Italy is rural and the living is cheaper than being near any major metro area. Even so, a foreigner cannot partake of the healthcare system. We considered retiring to Spain and investigated immigrating. Found out that a) it wasn't easy, and b) no healthcare. It could have been done before the EC but not now.

AARP also believes that $1200 a month is reasonably priced medicare supplemental insurance.

David wrote:....First, no way are there 50,000 Americans living in PV! ........ Never the less, maybe this will help the tourist business in PV.

Some sources say there are over a million expats living in Mexico. I agree there probably are not 50,000 of them in PV itself but if you include the neighboring communities like Buceriac, Nuevo Vallarta, Sayulita, la Peñita and Chacala to the north as well as the ones to the south then I suspect the number is not too far off. It may even be low in my humble opinion. I have no idea where they got the number, however.

I suspect it will help tourism in our area which is partly why I posted it. A lot of families rely on those tourist dollars and the spate of bad news worries us a lot.

Lakeside is widely regarded at the largest American expat community in the world and there are only 6-8,000 here. Go figure. That Million number, I'd like to know where that comes from. The state of Jalisco has less than 40,000 expats (of all nationalities) holding FM2/3s. If anyone here is on the PV board pls pose the question, "how many American residents in the PV area."

David wrote:Most of Portugal, France and Italy is rural and the living is cheaper than being near any major metro area. Even so, a foreigner cannot partake of the healthcare system. We considered retiring to Spain and investigated immigrating. Found out that a) it wasn't easy, and b) no healthcare. It could have been done before the EC but not now.

I seem to recall from Michael Moore's "SICKO" movie that the health-care system in France covers EVERYBODY, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. I have no idea about the others, but are you sure that France doesn't cover foreigners?

David wrote:..... there are only 6-8,000 here. Go figure. That Million number, I'd like to know where that comes from. The state of Jalisco has less than 40,000 expats (of all nationalities) holding FM2/3s. If anyone here is on the PV board pls pose the question,......

I guess some of it comes down to who you call an Expat. I would certainly includes those FMx holders you mention, David, but I would also include anyone who owns a home. Do your 6-8,000 folks include people who only stay 4 to 6 months? In our area a lot of folks own homes but cannot stand the heat so they leave for 3 to 6 months even if the biggest home they own is in Mexico. All that said, I think my estimate is wrong after seeing your numbers. The "million" came from a source I do not particularly trust.

I quoted your numbers on one of the PV forums and then asked:

How many do you all think we have in the PV area? Does anyone have a reliable source or even a wild guess? Does anyone have any numbers for Bucerias, Sayulita etc. I figure there are about 300 to 500 in our area, La Peñita, but then I would be including anyone who stays more than a couple of months each year.

And while we are at it how about the claim (which I simply do not believe) by EXPATForum.com:

Mexico ... With the American Expat community in Mexico reported to be well over one million it is the largest population of Americans living abroad.

I have no idea where they get this number but then I haven't found other info on that site too reliable either.

I've heard that 1 million number numerous times but never is a source quoted. I'm just using logic; if Lakeside is the "largest community of expat Americans" and there are less than 10,000 here.......hmmm. The 6-8,000 number is the number of full time residents. The expat population increases by several thousand when the snowbirds are here. I've also heard that there were "over 100,000 expats in Jalisco" but the info published last year in the Guadalajara Reporter showed there to be closer to 40,000 total foreigners holding FM2/3 in Jalisco. The source for that data was INM.

I checked out immigrating to Spain and learned that we would NOT be covered by the health care system there. As a side note, I've benefited from n/c medical care in England, The Netherlands, Germany, France, and Japan over many years while travelling on business.

Its all a matter of Opinion really... and you know what they say about opinions...

Mexico would be a dandy place to retire... and that sentiment should ring out loud and clear here, as that is certainly the one thing that has brought us all togeather..

For most folks ... perfect retirement amounts to a TV Remote and a comfy chair with a big comfy pillow to fart into...

hockables wrote: For most folks ... perfect retirement amounts to a TV Remote and a comfy chair with a big comfy pillow to fart into...

Oh, I certainly hope there's a little more to it than that.

That sounds more like what I envision for when I'm in my 90's, between now and then I want more

No sheet sherlock!