For those interested in Mexico, its Art and Crafts or Indigenous Art with its age old and often laborious techniques of manufacturing, then the 11^th Feria Maestro del Arte, at Lake Chapala is the place to be. Plan ahead- November 16 to 18, 2012 are the 3 days that you will be able to peruse and buy from the 70 plus prime artisans that have gathered from throughout the vast country of Mexico. See map of some of their locations.

By: Jim Scherrer

LIFE , FUN AND FAMILY- VIDEOS           

The International Community Foundation is pleased to announce its “Retiring Responsibly in Mexico” research series with our first report “U.S. Retirements Trends in Mexico’s Coastal Communities:  Lifestyle Trends and Demographics.”  You can access the report here:  http://www.icfdn.org/publications/retireeresearch/. 
Forthcoming research studies will address trends in health care, volunteerism, philanthropy and civic engagement, real estate as well as the environment.  For more information on the International Community Foundation, visit our website at http://www.icfdn.org.

By: Jim Scherrer

By: Jim Scherrer

By: Jim Scherrer

HOW DO WE SPEND OUR TIME IN PÁTZCUARO?

A New Boomer Member recently sent me a message saying that she and her husband were looking for a retirement place in Latin America and asked if I could share our daily experience living in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico.  She asked, “Is the assimilation difficult? How important is the language? How are the locals treating you? What is the price of the real estate? How much on average does it take to live there a month? Sorry for this many questions, we cannot find any sources yet to have a good objective overview of living in Mexico.” I answered her with an email, but it seems to me that many people, who have not yet made the move to overseas living, probably have the same or similar questions.  So, I would like to share the comments I sent in my email to the New Member.

By: Jim Scherrer

I work for the International Community Foundation (http://www.icfdn.org), a 501c3 organization that works to increase charitable giving across U.S. borders to benefit overseas communities and nonprofit organizations.  Last year, ICF donated over $5 million to organizations outside the U.S. in the areas of education, environment, health, community development, and culture and the arts.  Over 75% of our grants go to Mexico -- we focus primarily on the U.S.-Mexico border region and the Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez regions.

By: Jim Scherrer,

International Living Study Says Mexico Best Country to Retire

Mexico jumped four places to take the top spot as the world's top retirement haven. It is praised as an affordable combination of modern features and old-world charm.

"Mexico offers the perfect mix of centuries-old traditions and contemporary lifestyles. Moving to Mexico means you can still have all of the amenities you grew accustomed to north of the border: cable TV, high-speed Internet, and modern home appliances," says Laura Sheridan, International Living's managing editor.

Debunking Some Myths

If you go to Mexico, enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches, and experience an intense desire to have your own property there, you have a lot in common with many other Americans and Canadians. Buying property in Mexico can be a good investment, financially as well as emotionally, since Norteamericanos, as the Mexicans call us, enjoy approximately six times as much buying power in Mexico as in their home countries. Recent changes in the economy suggest that this may even be a conservative estimate.