La Vida Buena Beckons Boomers to Mexico

	Kicking Back at Casa Verde
	Photo: Carol Selzer

As the plane dipped down into the fog, I saw what looked like thousands of tea lights extending endlessly in a spider-web pattern. My friends had beseeched me to stick to safe havens like Cancun, but here I was, headstrong and hurtling into Mexico City.

In a country reputedly not for the faint of heart, I found the ice in my drinks the only threatening thing; here, my senses were happily assaulted daily with color, music and a culture of celebration, passion and bravado.

Still, there are reasons actress Selma Hayek was quoted as saying, "My driving abilities from Mexico have helped me get through Hollywood." My nerves won't soon forget careening through Mexico City on a bus that seemingly had no brakes.

Yet surprisingly, retirees, not young adventurers, are the largest and latest group to migrate to this fabled country in droves. What besides cool margaritas and balmy weather is so attractive about a Mexican retirement?

Casa Comforts

First of all, my Mexican vacation differs greatly from what retirees are seeking. Many baby boomers in their 60s want to escape the doldrums of Florida golf-course living without leaving behind the comforts and closeness of home. In Mexico, this paradox is to be found in even the most remote places.

Computer analyst Carol Selzer and her husband Michael were vacationing in Mexico in 2004 when they unexpectedly happened upon a breathtaking house in the fishing village of Sayulita, on Mexico's West Coast. They hadn't done much research but wanted to invest in something other than the stock market. In a week they bought the house, dubbed it Casa Verde Sayulita and began renting it out. It may be a while before they see a profit, but they have already added a third bedroom and pool using some of the rental income.

Carol and Michael don't plan on retiring in Sayulita, but they like the area because it's affordable and not yet touristy, unlike the nearby hotspot of Puerto Vallarta.