In 2006, I packed my bags and moved from Santa Cruz, California to Mazatlán, Mexico. I was attracted by the city’s beauty and tropical climate, a simpler lifestyle, and the chance to have a real adventure.
I continued my career as a freelance writer and even started my own magazine before I decided to retire in 2018. That’s when everything shifted.
In theory, retirement — with no work hours and all that free time — sounds like a dream. No deadlines? Living near the beach in a $420-per-month rental apartment? Count me in.
But it wasn’t an entirely smooth journey at first.
What the early years of retirement is really like
After I stopped working, my circle of friends and the community I’d established over the years seemed to shrink. I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted anymore. I’d thought I wanted a “new life.” But without those foundations, I floundered.
I reached out to my best friend, who is a little older than me, and told her that I felt lost.
“Up until now, you didn’t have time to really consider how you want to spend the rest of your life. You were far too busy,” she said. “It’s perfectly natural to feel that there may be no point to anything you’re doing, because you don’t have to do anything in particular right now.”
Her wise words resonated with me, and slowly I was able to adopt a more positive mindset: In this stage of my life, it was OK to do whatever I wanted, especially if it brought me joy, relaxation and contentment.
A new, life-changing perspective
It’s been five years since I felt stuck, and I’m now in a much happier place.
I still wake at 6 a.m. every day. But instead of going to the office, I go surfing, have breakfast with friends, or take a brisk walk. I also do a daily meditation and yoga practice.
Otherwise, I putz in my yard. I do a bit of writing. Once in a while, I have small get-togethers at my apartment. I’m kind of embarrassed by how deeply satisfying and comforting my simple routines are, and by how much I care for my…
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