Rhonda, age 49, chose San Miguel as a retirement destination, moving here from northern California. She loves the year-round, Spring-like weather and the interesting friends she’s made here. She spends her days doing charity work; taking Spanish lessons; visiting with friends; and attending art and cultural events.

If you had one day to experience the many facets of San Miguel Rhonda recommends an early morning hot air balloon ride followed by breakfast with fresh pastries at La Buena Vida Café. Learn the history of this World Heritage site on a guided 2-1/2 hour walking tour of the city. La Aurora for lunch and margaritas at the Food Factory, then explore the stores and art galleries. In the evening, cocktails watching the sunset from the La Azotea, a live music concert, dinner at Harry’s then conclude your day with a Mariachi serenade in the Jardin.

Rhonda lives with a rescued Old English Sheepdog. Her future plans include continuing to enjoy the tranquil, peaceful lifestyle that is the essence of San Miguel.

Nathan, 48-years-old, moved to San Miguel from Toronto, Canada. He chose San Miguel because he was tired of the cold, gray Canadian winters and wanted to experience living in a new and different culture. Nathan’s favorite things about living in San Miguel are the weather (always sunny and reasonably warm), the great people, the numerous activities available and the many options for nearby places to visit and explore, especially Querétaro.

Though retired, Nathan’s daily activities include going to the gym, doing yoga, traveling throughout Mexico, designing houses for fun, having lunch or dinner with friends and reading a lot. Nathan’s future travel plans include spending time on a quiet Mexican beach and visiting the states of Veracruz and Chiapas.

Karen , originally from England, is 41-years-old. Before moving to San Miguel, she lived in Bermuda for six years and Los Angeles for nine months. She came to San Miguel temporarily to work on some creative projects. Though she intended to move back to the U.S., she fell in love with San Miguel and met so many wonderful people, she decided to stay.

Karen’s favorite things about living in San Miguel are that it’s inexpensive, peaceful and has many shops and galleries. She spends her days here painting, exercising, walking her dog and spending time with friends. Karen works as a portrait artist and leather designer, and is currently busy getting her line of sample purses ready for market. Her future travel plans in Mexico include spending a week in Pozos, San Luis Potosi, about an hour’s drive from San Miguel, taking photos and sketching. Pozos is an old mining town with numerous ruins that are fabulous subjects for a photographer and artist.

Thirty-year-old Rodrigo was born in Mexico City and grew up in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. He attended college in Leon, Guanajuato, studying veterinary medicine. He moved to San Miguel to open a veterinary hospital with his best friend and college classmate. He lives with four show dogs, one rescued cocker spaniel, one rescued cat and one Persian cat.
Rodrigo’s favorite things about San Miguel are its energy, its people and the Parroquia (the parish church on the town square). He says, “I can sit in the Jardin and look at it for hours.” Rodrigo is a naturopathic veterinarian, and stays busy working in his clinic, spa and boarding facility.

Rodrigo’s Mexican travel plans include visiting Oaxaca, Chiapas, the Maya Riviera, the Copper Canyon and Chihuahua.

Rebecca, age 55, grew up in New Jersey, and moved to San Miguel after living several years in Lake Chapala, near Guadalajara, Jalisco. She first considered moving to San Miguel because her parents were thinking of retiring here. Before moving to Mexico, Rebecca traveled widely, exploring towns with ex-pat communities. She felt San Miguel had more to offer than other places where ex-pats live, but her late husband preferred the Lake Chapala area. In San Miguel, Rebecca lives with four Chihuahuas and a monkey.

What Rebecca likes best about San Miguel are the wonderful people, who immediately make you feel welcome; great restaurants, clubs, music and shopping; the easily accessible day trips, many charities to support; and good medical care. She fills her days with walking the hills of San Miguel; meeting friends for lunch or happy hour; visiting the Tuesday Market with girlfriends; and gardening. In addition to helping her son in his Ren Ellis Leather Shop , she’s busy starting an Import Business

Rebecca’s Mexican dream vacation is to pack up her four tiny Chihuahuas, drive to Guadalajara to visit friends on the way to Mazatlan, her favorite beach, and on the trip home, stop in Lake Chapala to see friends there. Her future plans are to live in San Miguel forever.

Charles, who is 48-years-old, moved to San Miguel from the San Francisco Bay Area. He moved here for three reasons—1) to escape a career in Corporate America; 2) to re-invent himself; and 3) Bush was reelected. Charles is retired and what he likes best about living in San Miguel is not working; a genuine sense of community, the weather and the warm and accepting culture. He stays busy writing, studying Spanish, making home improvements, gardening and traveling.

Charles shares his home with one dog and two cats, and his future plans include becoming fluent in Spanish, publishing a novel and riding the train through Copper Canyon. His one-day dream vacation is to check himself and a special friend into Casa Quetzal (luxury boutique B&B), eat chilaquiles verde for breakfast, go horseback riding at La Cañada de la Virgen and enjoy a picnic overlooking the pyramid there, followed by martinis at Harry’s New Orleans Café and a leisurely dinner at ex-Hacienda La Landetta.

Carmen is 49-years-old, and moved to San Miguel from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. As an interior designer, she was looking for new job opportunities and a new lifestyle, and plans to one day open her own design store and work for herself. What she most enjoys about living in San Miguel is the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and the ease of making new friends. Carmen stays busy with work, social activities and caring for her two birds.

Her Mexican dream vacation is to travel to the Yucatan peninsula to visit the beautiful beaches and the pyramids. One of her favorite activities in San Miguel is to relax at one of the thermal spas just outside of town.

Michael Amici is our official photographer.
Please visit his official web site at www.michaelamici.com