Casa de Sueno Playa del Carmen
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer"
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I Heart Playa Blog

This blog is Laurie's spot to ramble on about anything and everything, but mostly about things that guests to the condo might want to know, and musings about her beloved Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

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Blog post #1 - In Pursuit of a Dream

9/30/2012

8 Comments

 
Well, here it is – my first blog post!  I have had so much fun creating this website for  our home in Mexico and our second home town, Playa del Carmen, that I decided to take advantage of the website’s capabilities and write a blog!  I get asked questions all the time about our crazy adventure, and I am looking forward to being able to share our opinions and experiences in Mexico as well.  Will anyone be interested in reading my posts?  Who knows?  But I know that I will enjoy being able to record my thoughts and create a small history of our journey to living (well, not yet, but soon) in our beloved Playa. 

For those who don’t know us, Mark and I had a goal for over 10 years of owning a home in a foreign country, and retiring at a “young” age (exact age yet to be determined).  Where did this desire come from?  Well, I’ll tell you.

We have always loved to travel, especially to tropical locales.  About 11 years ago we took a trip that would forever change the way we looked at the world.  We went to the Bahamas Island of Exuma and rented a houseboat for the week – this was by far the coolest thing we had ever done!  The houseboat could travel the 5 mile by 10 mile calm waters off of Exuma between the main island and many smaller islands that created a barrier to the waves of the Atlantic.  We didn’t know at the time that this was a major gathering spot for liveaboard sailboaters whose lifestyles we would find so appealing, and that they would become the catalyst for a major life change for us.  
We were invited aboard many of these boats by their friendly owners, and were given a glimpse into a lifestyle unlike any we knew existed.  Many of these were people who had traded everything that a “normal life” contains and exchanged it for adventure and freedom to call their own shots.  We pummeled them with questions about their cost of living (unbelievably low), how they got started (“we just decided to do it and did!”), where they traveled, how they communicated with family back home, etc.  We were fascinated with the concept of living in this unique world – in other words – we had never even considered the possibility of a life other than that of our parents – “work hard until you can draw retirement, then spend time with friends and grandkids until you die”.  We were excited about the low cost needed to actually live this way, and for the next couple of years we dreamed of being full time sailboaters.  

But after reading a few books about sea voyages and the perils and dangers involved, we realized that while we loved the water, this particular life was a bit outside of our comfort zone.  But we were determined to make a change, sooner rather than later, and would need a cheaper lifestyle in order to do that.  We became devotees of the Kaderlis (www.retireearlylifestyle.com) and their lifestyle of “accumulate experiences instead of stuff”.  We realized that, although we were pretty conservative by nature, we still spent money on wasteful things that we didn’t really have to have to be happy. We vowed to cut back and save like crazy, and we began really examining all of our choices. 

We then began researching islands and other countries where we might like to live.  We quickly eliminated many of our favorite island travel destinations due to a lack of the type of healthcare that we anticipated we would need as we got older.  The thought of having to wait for a ferry or take a plane just to get us to a hospital was not appealing.  And living on an island is expensive – everything costs more than it does in the U.S.  There was also the hurdle that the only way to get to most of our favorite islands took at least 2 flights – not only does it take forever to get to the destination, but it’s expensive to boot!
 
It was then that Mexico became the clear choice – we had loved visiting Akumal for years as well as Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta and Zihuatenejo.  Mexico wasn’t on our first list of choices because of the language difference.  But then we decided that might be half the fun!  So now the only decision left was where in Mexico we would take up residence.   Although we love the pacific coast of Mexico, and were attracted to the expat community and low cost of the areas around Guadalajara, we were drawn to the Yucatan peninsula and its gorgeous water.  We had spent several vacations in the little community of Akumal, which we loved, but felt that it was a little too small for more than a two week vacation.  But just 30 minutes to the north of Akumal is Playa del Carmen.  Some of the best medical care in Mexico is in Merida, only 3 hours away.  And the airport of Cancun is only a two-hour flight from Houston.  Decision made! 

Next post – details on our adventure to being homeowners in Mexico!  If you read this - I'd love you to post a comment about it!
8 Comments
Mark Ritchel link
9/30/2012 09:34:59 am

Wow! What can I say other than the traveling experiences which we've shared over the past 15 years have led us to the decision of purchasing this beautiful property in one of the most unique destinations that we have falling in love with! We have owned this property for over 4 years now and have only seen a fraction of what this region has yet to offer. Still to come is swimming with the whale sharks, visiting Merida and a trip down the coast to Belize....

Reply
Laurie
9/30/2012 01:35:11 pm

OK, sweetheart - so nice of you to comment on my first blog post but really, you don't count! Hahaha. All my love to my one and only. (But almost 100 of you have visited and read this post - woo hoo!)

Laurie

Reply
sheri
10/3/2012 03:42:36 pm

What a great outlook and approach to life and what it has to offer! I can vouch to all the adventures available in the Yucatan and especially the uniqueness of Playa. This is my FAVORITE destination in Mexico!! If you can't find something you like doing there; then you just aren't living! Playa reminds me of Europe in many ways with the diversified people,menus,sidewalk and beach cafes, artisians, crafts and also upscale shops all within a block from the beautiful carribean sea. Snorkeling, diving, surfing, lazy beach hammocks, golf, shopping, massages, biking, wildlife, bars, nightlife, sightseeing, pyramids, cultural arts, cenotes and lots of history. The people are so friendly, the town is really quaint and you feel like you have stepped back in time, to a better place. Even the prices are incredible! I cannot say enough about Playa without feeling "homesick". Cannot wait till my next trip!!!!

Reply
Janet
11/2/2013 03:09:23 am

I'm enjoying your blog and looking forward to our first visit to Playa.

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Akaisha link
5/17/2014 12:11:19 pm

Hi Laurie! Congratulations on choosing a life on the path less traveled. The people you meet will enrich your life forever. We wish you the very best of everything! Thank you for mentioning us, we appreciate it. You have done the work so you deserve the kudos. Congratulations again!
Best,
Akaisha Kaderli

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Elijah link
8/17/2021 10:49:08 pm

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7/8/2022 03:57:46 pm

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11/15/2022 03:08:19 pm

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    Laurie Ritchel and her husband, Mark, purchased their dream vacation/eventual retirement home in Playa del Carmen, Mexico in October of 2008.  But her love affair with Mexico has been going on for many more years.  Laurie currently lives in Texas where she is employed as a fundraiser for Lamar University.

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