International Living

I feel like I’ve been studying Spanish for a very long time. This year I finally got some real traction. You see, I started studying almost-worthless French in high school because I liked the way it sounded. I stuck with it after year one because I liked the people in my class. In nearly two …

I put up this post during the very first year I lived in Mexico. I’m chiming in much later, in 2024, to say most of what’s in here is still in place and still just as fun. I’m leaving it here as a snapshot of first impressions. For a more recent post, see this one …

I may not be known as a guy who’s muey romantico cada dia, but it’s sure a lot easier to turn on the charm when the cash register is not ringing so hard. Here’s how the darling wife is making out this Valentine’s Day in Mexico—and how much easier it is on my bank balance …

Many people that dream of quitting their job and traveling the world have already figured out that their monthly long-term travel expenses will be less than what they’re spending now just for the daily grind at home. Going to The World’s Cheapest Destinations makes that even easier of course. Then comes the hard realization that …

A few years ago my mother got an estimate from her dentist on all the work she needed to have done on her teeth. Implants, crowns, a bridge, and more were going to add up to $80,000. “Screw that,” I told her. “Go get it all done in Costa Rica. You’ll get a vacation out …