Sherri Green is a 56-year-old African American woman working as a Medicare Insurance agent in Hopkinsville, KY. Her hobbies are traveling, movies, cooking, and hiking. She explains why moving to Merida.
In a time of COVID and recent tornados here in Kentucky, I ask myself what is an ex-pat of America in Mexico today?
I am an African American woman in her 50s. Because of technology I can work anywhere on the globe as a Medicare insurance agent. I decided to go on vacation after finishing the Annual Enrollment Period’s enrollments, the period when anyone can enroll in Medicare Advantage insurance. A couple of my family members have settled in the beautiful city of Merida, Mexico located on the Yucatan peninsula. They are semi-retired.
My cousin Stephen Boyd and his wife, Elaine Boyd live in the United States half the year and in Merida during the late fall to spring. I was asked for a visit before Christmas and found myself looking at real estate and considering working online in the balmy climates of Mexico during the winter and spring months. Stephen is a publisher and a senior resource in Ports Townsend, Washington, while his wife Elaine recently worked as a teaching nurse in a clinic in Alaska. Till recently, Stephen and Elaine worked most of the year in the United States and took time off in Merida. Elaine retired six months ago and Stephen has given thought to retiring in the next year or so. My other cousin Moira Boyd, who lives in Merida Centro Santiago was an HIV researcher in New York City. She retired to Mexico approximately 10 years ago to get away from the hectic pace of New York.
In Merida, she travels, hosts Airbnbs, hosts CouchSurfing, writes, does photography and publishes a blog called “Fromthemouthofmoi.” Both of my cousins pointed out the fact that life in Merida is sunny, safe, and relaxed. They pointed out that their retirement dollars stretched farther, there were many ex-pats and many people spoke English. Although both are Spanish speakers, they admit that the language is the biggest obstacle.
But, other than the weather and the inexpensive real estate prices why was I so eager to go? I found three reasons: the burgeoning African American ex-pat community in the city of Merida, the strength of the U.S. dollar and my ability to work anywhere where there is Wi-Fi, a computer, and an internet connection.
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