Living Without Borders

7 ways Latin America is more accessible than you might think

June 8th, 2007

1). All of Latin America is simply cheaper than the US or Canada. Latin America offers better prices on housing, clothing, food, everyday expenses. Only on gasoline and electronics is it about the same or slightly more costly.
2).Latin America is America. You’ll be surprised at the similarities, especially if you’ve traveled a bit to some far off places. Europeans and Asians leave other Americans, well, a bit stunned. Latin America is just like what you remember the US and Canada used to be like.
3).Latin America is always just 5 or 6 hours away. It’s not a ten or 12 hour flight. For most of you up there, it’s like 2 or 3 hours on a plane.
4).Latin Americans, the people, are not all out to rip you off. They are, for the most part, normal and want to live within a system of law and ethics that protects not only you but them, too. One of the reasons that writers who spend a lot of time spilling our guts over Latin America get frustrated is that we keep having to spell this out.
5).I surprised my self. After six months eating Mexican food, I savored McDonald’s like it was a gourmet meal. You’ll be surprised too, how little of that stuff you want, and how much easier and more accessible is truly good stuff.
6).People aren’t angry here. Maybe there is a hot-spot out there, but I haven’t found it. When you’re not angry, you get access to whole different sides of yourself, life opens up. Sure, you can feel pity. But you’ll also feel happiness and a sense of exploring and opening up new channels.
7).If none of that convinces you to check it out, you should rest assured that dozens, hundreds, thousands of others just like you have. And they are still around checking things out. We can put you in touch with them through our newsgroup, or we can locate a community that is just perfect for the kind of people and personalities that you want to meet.

Entry Filed under: Travel, Moving Abroad, Living Abroad, Living in Mexico, Living in Panama, Comparing Cultures, Retirement, Living in Costa Rica