Baby-boomers love the beach, and many are transitioning from living in the States to spending more time at their vacation homes in Mexico. That's one step closer to retiring in Mexico, and savvy developers are building "designer communities" to respond to the need for more of a neighborhood than a vacation feel.

Seeing a move to Mexico as a leg-up on the economy, boomers see Mexico as a place where they can live a better quality life and afford to retire early while they still have a full head of steam for enjoying life. They can see themselves taking their laptops and moving to where they can slow down.

The 2nd largest land developer in the world, Homex, has plans to develop 22 designer communities in Mexico in popular destinations. Some developments, like, Las Villas de Mexico, will offer membership benefits that include a certain amount of free urgent care and preventative care. In addition, there will be a focus on neighborhood culture.

"Since in a brand new development we can't talk to the neighbors, we want to know what a developer can tell us about what they are doing to support a community culture; like a community center or an arts commission, or even a theater either being built or already available in the accessible town culture," said Kate Grinnell a Seattleite who recently attended a "Retire in Mexico" dinner presentation in Bellevue, Washington.

The attention that night was on a particular location in the coveted Cabo San Lucas area; homes in a brand new planned community, and according to the promoter, "going for the early 1990's prices".  Those who love the California lifestyle are finding the ocean-side developments along Baja very appealing in terms of amenities; country-club living at American middle class prices.

Grinnell's comments were typical of other guests who were swapped stories and experiences around the dinner tables. Several guests said they have been considering living in Mexico for many years and travel there often.

"We met this guy who was disabled, and a retired lawyer living in a beautiful home in Baja," said Grinnell. "He was in a wheel chair and I said to him 'forgive me for asking but it must be very difficult for you living with a disability in Mexico because they just don't have the wheelchair accessible accouterments in Mexico we have in the U.S."

"And he said to me, 'Are you kidding me? I live like a king here'. He said he had a guy who drives for him and practically carries him anywhere that he can't get with his wheelchair," said Grinnell, "and he explained that, besides the housing and taxes, service is so inexpensive in Mexico that you can live like a king."

"The point of living in Mexico is that you can live very well on not a lot of money and to me that is the main point," said Grinnell, "and also that you can make friends easily in whatever community you live in."

Grinnell contrasted the "neighborly" atmosphere of expat communities she's visited in Mexico to the experience of her friends who live part time in the Palm Springs area and part time in Mexico.

"They have owned their condo in Cathedral City longer but they know no one there," exclaimed Grinnell", "They have no social life there so they go to their place in Mexico every other week and have the most glorious time down there with all their friends; all really interesting people!"

"That was my other point," she said, "I think the people who even think about leaving the United States, for a retirement community abroad or for any extended stay, are just more interesting people. That's just how I feel about it."

 

Turbinoplasty tourism means traveling abroad for affordable surgery done in an efficient manner at world class hospitals.  It is 1st world care at 3rd world prices.

The world is flat when it comes to opportunities for consumers shopping for better and more affordable healthcare.  in 2007, approximately 750,000 Americans traveled outbound for medical care.  But the trend is global. 

This podcast is the first hand account of Rajeeve Rameth, a resident of the UK, as he explains having his surgery done in India.

Recorded interview of Dr. Steven Hacker by Traveling4Health recorded at Microsoft Connected Health Conference.  Hacker is describing why Microsoft HealthVault and PassportMD, two competitors in the field of personal health record storage, are collaborating. 

Where’s all the gun fire the press Is reporting?  American expats, snowbirds and RVers scratch their head over all the bad press Mexico’s getting. 

What the news media is portraying is ignoring the experience of the majority of American expats, snowbirds, and travelers who report such a different picture as to make them question whether there’s a political agenda behind the reporting, and they’d like it if the media dogs were called off.  How would you like it if the only news broadcast about your favorite places focused on national police blotter coverage? 

U.S. patients are saving 30 to 70% off the cost of medical procedures in the States by crossing the Canadian border to The False Creek Surgical Centre in Vancouver, B.C

For example, the same knee surgery involving an anterior cruciate ligament costing over $10,000 in the States will cost $5,500 in Canadian dollars, according to Centre founder and Clinic Director, Dr. Mark Godley, MB ChB, FRCPC.

To learn more about the founder of False Creek Medical Centre read the article in Traveling4Health.com and listen to recorded interview with a US patient as he shares his first-hand medical experience in Canada "A Skiing Accident In Whistler, B.C., 1200 Miles From Home"

 

U.S. citizens skiing at Whistler in January 2009, faced what we all dread; having a bad accident far from your home in another country. 

Larry & Shelia Hakim, a Detroit couple in their early 50’s were enjoying a skiing holiday when the worst happened – from the standpoint of ruining a vacation.  The fourth day into their vacation on January 27th, Larry had a skiing accident that resulted in an emergency surgery situation.

Podcast is their 1st hand medical experience with a private pay hospital in Vancouver, B.C. 

To read more in depth and review recorded interview w/the founder of the private pay hospital - how US patients can expect to save 30-70% on surgical procedures, review related article "A Better Deal For US Patients In Canada" on www.traveling4health.com.

Listen to recorded interview with Healthcare Professional David Printy as he shares how U.S. physicians,  medical
institutions and insurance companies are building global healthcare networks.

Read the article.  To research more options for living abroad and global healthcare, visit Travelingforhealth.com.