As I travel around the country, I am always intrigued by the motivations of people coming to Mexico to live. I have previously written about my experience as an immigrant to Mexico, including why I am thankful for living in my newly adopted country and what I miss or don’t miss about my native United States of America.
Of course, the flow of “snowbird” retiree immigrants coming to Mexico from the United States and Canada is nothing new. What is new — and the team at Mexico News Daily has written extensively about it — is the diversity of the more recent waves of immigrants coming here.
Digital nomads, artists, younger couples, families with children, corporate management expats, as well as people from a diverse mix of countries in South America, Europe, and even Asia are all increasingly common in cities and towns throughout the country.
What also seems to be new (or at least, far more common) are immigrants coming for very different reasons. In many parts of Mexico, a large percentage of people would say that one of their main reasons for coming here is the lower cost of living and/or much better weather than where they came from.
They most often did not cite motivations “for leaving” but rather more reasons “for coming.” Lately, I’ve found that the reasons “for leaving” are growing (some cite social reasons, healthcare costs and quality, political reasons, etc.) and the reasons given “for coming” are also growing. Some of these motivations include being drawn to the culture (music, art), the food, wanting to start a business, and to learn the language, to name a few.
Perhaps the most fascinating trend I am seeing is that of first- or second-generation Mexican-Americans moving to Mexico to live.
I am referring to children born in Mexico whose parents moved them to the U.S., or to children of parents who were born in Mexico and at some point moved to the U.S. They grew up in the United States but this diverse group of immigrants is moving back to every part of Mexico. They vary in terms of age, professions, socioeconomic status and motivations but they’ve all decided to come here in search of something better.
This is the inspiration behind a new upcoming MND series called “My American Dream is in Mexico.”
We will tell the stories of these immigrants, explore their diverse motivations, their journeys on both sides of the border, the reactions they received from family and friends upon making the decision, and compare and contrast their lives before and after the move.
We will learn about what has been exciting, surprising, fun and difficult for them in making the move. We will profile people from across the country, with very different backgrounds.
Throughout the world, the lives of immigrants are often oversimplified, misunderstood and stereotyped.
The reality is that each immigrant has his or her own complex motivations and emotions behind the decision to leave home. These stories will help us to better understand their hopes and dreams — and maybe even our own.
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
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What an exciting addition. I look forward to read the many different experiences and stories 🤗
Travis, I am one of those first generation Mexican-Americans who have returned to my family roots. My father was Jorge until he became a Naturalized US Citizen and then he changed his name to George. He gave me that name when I was born in the US and after I came to Mexico I changed my name to Jorge. We made a complete circle. I would be very happy and honored to contribute my experience.
I would be very interested in reading it.
What a great story Jorge. Thanks for offering and I will pass this on to our writer! Thanks again.
Hi Jorge! I’ll be writing the series — can you share your email so we can connect?
Don’t forget to include the stories of people like my husband. He went to USA to earn money but NEVER planned to stay there, did back breaking work in the sun, never sought citizenship and sent money home for 30 years to buy cement, rebar, sand, gravel bricks… sometimes 100 dollar’s worth at a time. He improved his parent’s house, loaned money to 7 brother’s and sisters, built our house and now that his parents are older he has returned, as he always planned to, to look after them and I am grateful and delighted to accompany him.
That sounds like a great story Jane…a beautiful story. I will share with the writer of this series. Thank you for sharing.
This is a story of pure Love. Your husband is going to get many blessings and graces. I love to meet people that left their country in search of a better life for themselves and their families, but never forgot their roots, and accomplished their dreams.
It should read my Chinese dream coming to Mexico
I’d like to learn more
We moved to Mexico from the United States years ago. We’re from Los Angeles and have been coming to Mexico since we were kids. We always knew we would retire here. It’s beautiful and friendly and fun. There were many reasons to move here.
I bought a home in Ajijic 8 years ago when I was a broadcaster in LA. My wife , who was a high-ranking TV executive – and I – got tired of the constant buyouts, changes of regimes, and layoffs etc in the TV industry and the rising home prices and costs in LA. Being an LA native, I was quite familiar with northern Mexico. I had worked with the Mexican government when I was on the governor’s staff in Calif, and had many Chicano friends who were from Mexico, so the culture was not strange to me (after all, LA WAS Mexico until 1848). But when I moved t central Mexico I found a much deeper, more colorful, more friendly, and more welcoming Mexico. While my original reason for moving was largely financial, I am staying because of the magic. Today I am the editor of our local bi-lingual newspaper, a member of the local Mexican Committee producing the Day of theDead celebrations here, I help produce events and records for local musicians, work with Mexican and Expat organizations, and generally am having my dream life. My wife still consults to TV networks in the US, and she and they are quite happy with the arrangement. She spends most of her time helping manage a local theater and working with her horse. None of this would be remotely possible in the US. Viva Mexico.
If the price of gas come down 10 % in Mexico like in Quebec Canada it will bring by transport to our food and shopping at least 5% less and plus ,in U,S the price of gas is 25% less than in Mexico. Do not be surprise for the prices at the market in Mexico,there is something wrong,Miss President.
I grew up in the tropics, married a Canadian and suffered through many Canadian winters. When my husband and I retired, we used to drive down with our truck and fifth wheel and camp on all the beaches through the Baja for the winters. We absolutely loved La Paz and the people we met a wonderful Mexican couple and their grandchildren on the beach and became firm friends And when my husband finally said he was getting tired and couldn’t drive the truck and fifth wheel anymore I said well we’re gonna sell the house and move to La Paz and that was in 2013. We bought a small house all on one level for when we are in wheelchairs, near a grocery store we couldn’t drive anymore and a swimming pool would be lovely and we got all three. sadly my husband passed away here in La Paz in 2022 but I’m still here and never plan to go anywhere else. I’d love Mexico and I love their people.