Staying Safe & Smart in Mexico: What almost 50  Years Have Taught Me

After more than four decades of traveling through Mexico and Latin America—and now living full-time in Mexico for over eight years—I’ve picked up some hard-won lessons about staying alert and protecting my valuables.

Running a relocation business means I get asked the same question almost every day:
Why Mexico?”

It’s a fair question—and one I didn’t take lightly when I made the move eight years ago. I’d been traveling here for decades, getting to know the place bit by bit, before I finally said: “Alright, I’m in.”

When I first began visiting Mexico 47 years ago, I was working in the restaurant industry, where the phrase “turn ‘em and burn ‘em” was commonly used. It was a mentality that promoted quick turnover to maximize profits, benefiting everyone from the waitstaff to the owners.

These are two great Spanish expressions that Mexicans are not used to hearing from extranjeros (foreigners) and they are always pleasantly surprised, and will not forget you the next time you have occasion to bump into them.

In the 47 years I’ve traveled throughout Mexico, and especially during the eight years I’ve spent living here as a full-time resident, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the country’s relationship-oriented culture.

One of the most rewarding aspects of moving to Mexico is the abundance of free time many expats find themselves with. This extra time often translates into an opportunity to give back to the local community through the many volunteer opportunities available across the country.

I happen to live in one of the more expensive places in Mexico, San Miguel de Allende, and my monthly costs run less than $1500 USD/month (30,000 pesos), and I live very well on that amount of money.

Moving to Mexico is a huge leap, and for many, it’s one of the most transformative experiences of their lives (it certainly was for me)…

Over the past eight years that I've lived in Mexico, I've had countless conversations with people considering a move here. One recurring theme that comes up is the notion of a geographical cure…