Becky McCormack and her husband dreamed of a Caribbean Island retirement. They finally made the move. Four months later they moved back to the U.S to care for an ill family Member. This year, they made a second attempt and moved from Missouri to Mexico for the second time. Becky shares her perspective, as a retired librarian, how to go about conducting the research to make such a move.
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Becky McCormack and her husband dreamed of a Caribbean Island retirement. They finally made the move. Four months later they moved back to the U.S to care for an ill family Member. This year, they made a second attempt and moved from Missouri to Mexico for the second time. Becky shares her perspective, as a retired librarian, how to go about conducting the research to make such a move.
Did you get your Free Copy of Dawn's book yet?
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifeinparadise/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawndfleming/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnfleming/
Dawn: 0:02
Welcome. You are listening to the overseas life redesign podcast where you'll hear fine relaxed and inspirational interviews with people who are really living the dream. I'm Dawn Fleming and attorney turned out, Alchemist and your host for the show coming to you from the tropical island paradise of Isla Mujeres Mexico. Listen to conversations with courageous souls who stepped out of their comfort zone and designed a new way of life. They'll share their experiences, wisdom and offer practical steps you can take to redesign your life overseas. Listen, and you'll believe if you can dream it, you can achieve it.
Dawn: 0:42
Okay, I'm here with Becky McCormick, and I'm really excited to be able to chat with you. You just literally moved from the United States to here to Mexico. And you said You're retired like where
Becky McCormick: 0:57
I am we have moved here a year ago. Today is Wednesday, last Monday. So I'm so excited to be here. My husband and I retired and 2016 and we decided on a vacation we decided that we did that way, fell in love with a place, said we're gonna moved here we are retired. And so, uh, hired them. We just Sunday. Let's go a pack of all over stuff. Get rid of money presented the stuff that we don't need and we moved. And so but then grill into pickup because my brother got sick. And designer, we have to move back to the States to over him. And so we did. And he has since passed away. And we had a little french bulldog passed away. So we are free now to get back to the island? I just grew up
Dawn: 2:00
Okay, so this is actually the second time. When was the first time how long?
Becky McCormick: 2:04
In 2016.
Dawn: 2:06
So? So you didn't make the move right after you fired approximately four months
Becky McCormick: 2:14
Not too long.
Dawn: 2:15
Yeah, So you really didn't even have time to get into there and then? Like, let's just go back, take care of my brother and that. And I don't know just tried again. Move it.
Dawn: 2:34
Okay, So in 2016 was that the first time that you could come here on vacation?
Becky McCormick: 2:40
No, We had come here, probably in 2009. Our very first trip is in 2009. Stay there Isla Mujeres palace made really good friends. We're still friends.
Dawn: 2:53
Nice
Becky McCormick: 2:55
So? Well, fell in love then. We decided on one like that before my mood. So in 2016.
Dawn: 3:08
So that's about seven years after the first time in January so did you travel to any other places to kind of get a feel for, You know, there was some other area that you might consider
Becky McCormick: 3:20
well, through my mind. And I took a vacation, but I liked it there, but I really, really loved Isla and I wanted to come back. A sign from the Dominican. I haven't been anywhere. Make a point of friends here and so many to help us with the things we needed.
Dawn: 3:47
It was that kind of the determining factor Is that the main reason you feel for the move or were there other things as well?
Becky McCormick: 3:54
The main reason actually is monetary because we can't put up with insurance issues, you know, think for much cheaper down here. Some things down here. So we decided that now. So many people talk about when I'm tired. I'm gonna move to the island. My parents were that way. Move to wherever they think, don't you? Then they sit on their butts and nothing could stand And the best way never knowing, you know, the dream. So, you know, we decided that we're not gonna be good for you. Yeah.
Dawn: 4:45
Yes, you're right. I think, uh are too many people talk about so talking about the, you know, with things, the challenges that you had or, you know, things you could have used some help with or what? What that experience was like. Well, you actually did it twice, so I don't know. Did you have to kind of go through that process all over again the second time? Or did you way too schooled in the process from the first time? Tell me.
Becky McCormick: 5:13
Well, actually, plead my friend and I have the tremendous presidency. Now I got the last time you were here. I kind of made some friends on Facebook and did some research online. And I need the requirements. Are permanent residents and we hope Complicating the issue, I think for us was getting all of those that are in a row all your determined how much you give her retirement. How much? 30 do you get. You know, when I myself security, the process first starts in the consulate closest to her house. In our case, we lived in Missouri, so our consulate was in Kansas City with so all that, we did not all way took our intention to Kansas City and applied for our beat. Performs seven augur documentation.
Dawn: 6:30
Where is that temporary? That was permanent, right? Right now?
Becky McCormick: 6:34
Yeah, because we qualified for permanent residency. Retired. He's had enough income, will our investments and so for that we required right after that for permanent. That was like, It's enough going through. Mom, look you straight off. So we get We went to the Kansas City wide and an interview with the Kansas City Hospital about to later usually tell you six months. I was so shocked when they called and said that appointment They son of Friday You have an appointment on Monday. The way we're trapped. How short time it after we why? And cemented everything. Get and dinner for it. Process in women. It was the one place here for May because I spoke Spanish already. Um, well, don't sweetly scrimmage. What life? For either the robbery or the permanent residence. I really need to take some more with Spanish. And so, Yeah, if you know, me and the ship would have been kind of you. So that was finished. One that was finished on our in us. Then it starts, and that is a wrong and process. I wasn't familiar. Really? With the Mexican way of doing things until I got here the first time in 2016. It's a bunch of G train. Enough of this paperwork in the correct one. Well, we didn't realize tomorrow one next month, you know? So then Magnon is my but someday and it's not today. Yeah, it's really funny, because of those things that here, you know, tomorrow really true. Yeah, that was that was
Dawn: 8:58
Did you hire anybody to help you with that process Or you did? I didn't know myself.
Becky McCormick: 9:03
Had some help from him and expand our I the one site experience. A breakout. I'm finding. I wonder when it comes. Um, more so I think. Then tell him.
Dawn: 9:25
Where would you recommend somebody doing it themselves? Or I know we had our accountant and his sister's immigration attorney. So they have been handling all of that for us, are a little bit different because the way had a Mexican corporation and we were like to work here. Right? So that's a difference. The whole sign me retirement. One might not be too bad to try to do by yourself, you know?
Becky McCormick: 9:55
I mean, I had heard buries people told the what's getting take you a couple of years to get your residency. It's not gonna be quick. You have to hire an attorney. You cannot do it yourself.
Dawn: 10:10
Uh, I really find that too.
Becky McCormick: 10:13
No, I did not. But they were nice book finish. And it wasn't that hard to complete the paperwork that they needed. The mean thing for us was a speck important thing. I mean, I probably would take Cancun five or six different times. So anything difficult was more than running back time. Kind of chance, Obviously traveling thing when you're just getting your permanent residency don't have the let's expensive very tickets sells out every time coming. Prices on the ferry every time you go.
Becky McCormick: 11:01
Yeah, it was a long walked
Dawn: 11:04
Yeah, it's considerably higher. So talk to me a little bit about the cultural difference. It sounds like you out of the gate with this residency process. Got the lesson in patience that Americans sorely need who come to Mexico. Right. But yeah, but that I mean, how's it been culturally for you coming from Missouri to Mexico
Becky McCormick: 11:30
To mean culturally, they have a rich, deep, very natural that I would I'm not saying you're not, but our heritage might go back, What, 200 a year? You know, they were here in 1000 out. So read it. It's a very it's a thinker here. I find that a lot of Mexican Americans have religious types to know. This is the first time the taxi drivers, you don't think drive about the church and the first thing they would your yourself. We're driving my church, but the people here are so accommodating Nice, especially if you speak Spanish on me. It's not. I recommend that anyone come here that sweets any more than gracious. Yes. You know, as long as they try to speak a little Spanish, you get further in a lot more comedy. At least if you try and I think that is, is the lesson, that people lot of earned please Just try making them. And I found that things that would cost a certain thing. If you just want to speak Spanish in kind of a bargain, you can get these. They couldn't student guns and said, No, I'm gonna skip anything. You're not in again. As far as people make me that I love the island. I can't say enough about it. It's just wonderful.
Dawn: 13:33
So you're retired. So do you have What do you do to keep busy? You have hobbies or what do you like to do?
Becky McCormick: 13:44
I like horses like the beach. But those about to move here have realized awful in this what I learned the first time. Well, can't send it out on the beach every day you get a little How shall I say Hurtful. Get hurt. So I turned out to do them yesterday. Four hours of reads. I'm finding it. That's funny. That's enough. So I read it. When you move down, you don't have really a whole lot of room for a book. So I do. So my Kindle and I agree. My husband also is a reader were returned by burying. So that makes sense. I would like to get more involved with my animals. I love animals and I'm a firm believer. Render it's So I've discovered a wonderful group that don energy to these Sisters of the perpetual disorder. And that's a wonderful resource that if you need anything, these ladies are very accommodating. Burial. You have questions or anything you know, very helpful in the Islanders are Well, I need to know where to get my driver's licenses. That was a question I had. You know what the first carrot I knew it could be. But to tell you where we're you go there. You asked what? Not rich. You needed to come back with them. And yeah,
Dawn: 15:30
I actually did that too. I went to the So you know, here's where you go. So I did. I She was telling me all the documents. I speak enough Spanish. I could understand what she said, but there was a list of things. So I was reading So she wrote it all out for me. A little piece of paper. So I had to take it with me. They were very kind, very like you say the fact that I was the effort to get in Spanish and they were very helpful,
Becky McCormick: 16:01
oh, the very ladies were there this morning to me. I need the very same thing that said, You know what I want to bring back to get the resident very car So and I have her, right? Well, so the same face there.
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Dawn: 18:07
So let's go back to your move and talk to me about anything. That road bumps that you have along the way. Some of the challenges. What else You mentioned the retirement of the financial part of it is very important. Anything else?
Becky McCormick: 18:28
You know, I think that hard thing was before we left. Deciding what? No, because before we move three suitcases and we were coming from a juice 3-4 bedroom. Now tip. Three suitcases. Yeah, it was, You know, the Americans I found out to collect more stuff and we, you know, going for your belongings that you had your entire life saying, Do I really need this in Mexico? So it's very hard and very And makes sure people wonder about your life group. Say my and period, You know I can't live without this. Then you get your fine. Oh, I did. I bring that I did. You end up selling mostly. Did you put anything in storage for later? You know, way. Never been with anything in the story. Okay, The first time we laughed, we sold everything. Just collecting this pattern of dishes for 45 years. I'm amazed at it. Like by thinking now my way of thinking I don't want I don't like, didn't think anymore. I don't think about stuff that I you know, I've seen him on the ground. I don't know anymore. I don't want this. And so it's refreshing, liberating, minimalist. You know, when you know, then what makes you think too well, maybe Ester brook together? Maybe. You know, we haven't done that this time. So I think we learned a lot the first time. You know, this time we bought a golf cart. The last time we didn't have transportation, and it was very way live downtown. But I do need transportation. You lived in. Really? We've been like Colonia this time. Living blood, Gloria. So who would come up here wherever needed? No, my husband and I did want the golf part, So Okay. Yeah.
Dawn: 20:57
So and then you're renting. You didn't. Did you sell your house back there? Really? Okay, So So you told me your house and you are just excited to rent here. Did you consider buying way?
Becky McCormick: 21:10
Not because we don't have income. And we never really wanted to buy anything because Our first experience with mine in the United States was so poor I didn't weigh. Didn't Make Money house. Oh, you're a real estate market. We're, like, not so we figured it would just bring here. So you got a nice house now, but we're gonna move into a really tiny two-bedroom apart during the night. So that's a long time. Yes, it is signed out at least for a year. And so where do you know that will make us more? Besides, I really want to take him down. But I found that apartment online actually on Isla Mujeres Term risible group. Okay. And I recommended every one, you know, do research like that that I'm a former librarian. So researched. These are good at that. Don't do anything without doing your research right now. Place You're going right. A little background investigation. Research is is it
Dawn: 22:40
Is there anything that I didn't ask you that?
Becky McCormick: 22:45
Well, I have got Well, I'm beginning to get used to the heat now, See, after Missouri. So it's staying hot during the summer. But it's nothing like this. It's so human in memory, but it's a different kind. I really can't explain it. You know the old standard droid right now?
Dawn: 23:11
Well, one thing I noticed. Maybe this is a case of the sea breeze. You know, that stagnant air for the last two sodas. So, yeah, I would be very They're about lakes and everything, but there's, like, a could be, like a stunt site where there's no air. You know, sometimes it was sentenced. I get like that, but it's not very often.
Becky McCormick: 23:37
It's very hot, though. Here. Tell you so I'm looking for that. What? I'm out here by the Caribbean or something like that. I get really hot, but okay. Yeah. Yeah.
Dawn: 23:59
So you said that there were some questions you wanted to ask me.
Becky McCormick: 24:02
Oh, my questions are more, you know, like help? Sure. Oh, my God. My husband and I research right now, our health insurance. I can't I know here, you know, and I was wondering what your thoughts were, so
Dawn: 24:22
that's a great question. And I may lean into you on your research. Actually, there's I did find a resource just this past week, but right now, my husband's 10 years older than I, so he's actually 67 so he is been out of America for the past 2 years. Eligible for Medicare for the past two years. So before that, we both had the same policy that I have right now, which was purchased through a small business association. And it was, I pay $225 a month now, once you turn 60 in Mexico, you have the in the pan. Are you actually have access to free health care public systems to two systems in next public, and there's private if you're employed, you also have access to the public system legitimately, right where now what I was wanting to look into is from what I gathered in the game. I haven't really come to a definitive answer, but to 25 months is actually a good chunk to be able to put towards international health insurance and then, you know, basically switched over because if anything happened and I needed to use that, I don't leave her with the coverage here. However, talking to people any, the prices are so much lower than what we paid. I mean, you get a doctor to make a house call, Doctor Salis comes for, you know, 500 pesos, $25 for a house and the possum's services are a fraction of what we paid states. So my thought is, Well, that US policy is there. Should something major, I could go back there. However, based on the research that I've done, my first husband was a doctor. So I basically went through us medical school with him. And that was, during the time change from the old way of practicing medicine. The jury this new age, every you know, people interfere with that relationship. So I am not particular about myself. Uh, thrilled with the way medicine has evolved states with me. They think they're the best in the world. They're not by a long shot. Statistically, you could see all the international organizations that right, especially for the amount of money that Americans pay. They're really getting short-changed in terms of service is so I don't know that I would want to go back to the United States to get something taking care of. I think I would rather do it here or in Europe or somewhere else if I have that option. So there, from what I gather, there are policies that are particularly affordable. But they don't cover you in the United States for that reason because things are so inflated. So I'm actually okay with that. If I were to get that type of a policy where I have access to international talk here, it's and not the United States. I think I would be fine. Just haven't I haven't taken the time because, you know, we've been doing construction, and, you know, there's just been a lot. It's on the list. And as I build out this new business, that is something that I think everybody having from the United States. Very interesting. So I need to get up to speed on that myself. So maybe we could kind of share notes. What should you come across? You don't look old enough to be eligible for Medicare yet. Here is your husband. Yes, he already he's got here and there is emergency service Medicare. So that's what Tom has. And then, like I said, he stopped. And then he'll wanna get a car. Huh? Yes.
Becky McCormick: 28:22
Is that what we want to give us? Well, I have heard from another expense. No, I don't know. This is true or not. I really like social media. But some of the time Social year people will just show you more because on some of the eye, you know, rumors now that they are giving out cards anymore. And I don't know that for a fact, because I have not tried to get one year, so but I think it would be a rare very helpful for those of us who are coming to. He's allowed to go to sit down and write like that. Thank you of things that No. Here you go. Here, you need did bring documents ago here. Rather then. Yeah, well, that's what in part, why lies in that good? I love that. And maybe that's an area of expansion. Yeah. Include, So you know, if you need to get a driver's license, here's where you go. Here's what you need. I want to get a discount here. Here we go. Here's what you need. Yeah, no help. A lot of ex pants and a lot of those of us who moved in Mexico, too, to retire Wave got no. But, you know, like together. And there have been instances that I've been aware of that sometimes the prices aren't what they say they are, because sometimes a beach trouble table. It costs three in a big piece to use or whatever, but sometimes it doesn't. So what else could gassing?
Dawn: 30:12
But things do change. Well, I know, you know. For example, in the guide, I put there were a couple of restaurants that we're taking a credit card with my girlfriend, that staying here this week. She loves those restaurants, and she just told me she goes, they don't take it apart. And then she said, But I think they do at night for dinner. Like we don't take him for breakfast or lunch, but we'll take him for dinner. I know it's a crazy thing. Like, wouldn't you need either getting credit parts or you don't write certain times a day in certain meal, so I haven't been able to figure that out. I probably will go down there sometime. Say, what? What gets here? Because next could be an important consideration. And they ate. The M's are working. I have less money to exchange anymore. So you know we do and U s forces so reliant on plastic out to Yeah, yeah, we're flying past year. Yeah, it's very much past base, so having. But again, you know, sometimes it's difficult to stay on top of it. If they make a change like that, you think you're giving accurate information. So the same thing I did see as well on social media, there was one of the beaches looks at the South End, what had a policy where he went and marinated in charge for the chairs and umbrellas and then all the sudden, the next time they did. So, you know, like I guess you need to ask is the answer every time and say, you know, what is the deal? Are you gonna charge separately or you're going to wait? It works and is there Then about how much is it, right?
Becky McCormick: 31:56
And we want Trump. He's fun, you know, yesterday and didn't go to the beach club that we were thinking about doing it because they work. There was a charge for their insurers in Berlin. So tells a different each to go because of that consideration. Everything else I'm kind of having to learn to slow down and nations and no different. It's not real light. You don't hurry around like the do states is just back. I don't get you you know you get on if they come back?
Commercial: 32:53
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