Meet Glynna

Hola! I’m Glynna Prentice, editor of Mexico Insider…and I love my job. I travel throughout Mexico on your behalf, searching out the very best in living and investment opportunities for you, the Mexico Insider readers. It’s rewarding, educational, and always interesting.

But I haven’t always lived and worked here in Mexico. Not so long ago, I had a “normal” life like yours…

Until 2006, I lived in New York City—in Manhattan. Yes, I was doing the whole corporate thing. I had a decent job, great friends, and an apartment that I loved…what many people would consider a great life. But it came at a high price. New York is expensive, and costs kept going up—faster than my salary did. Health care premiums were rising, too, but coverage wasn’t getting any better. And what about saving for retirement? I sure couldn’t afford to retire in New York. And though I could look for another job, it promised to be more of the same…with even longer work hours. Even less time to enjoy life and to travel. The more I considered my future, the more I believed that I needed a big change.

A few years ago I began visiting Mexico. I’d heard wonderful things about it. And the more I saw of Mexico, the better I liked it. Was I looking for culture and history? There’s plenty of it here. Friendly people? The friendliest. Beautiful scenery, arts and crafts, great food, good medical care…Mexico has it all. And after every trip, I was amazed at how affordable everything was.

Then I discovered International Living. I read IL’s postcards on Mexico, and I subscribed to Mexico Insider. And I began to wonder…what about living in Mexico? Was that possible? So I bought Mexico: The Owner’s Manual. I learned how easy it is to establish residence and a business in Mexico—and my dreams became concrete plans.

Last year I sold my apartment in New York and bought a colonial house in Mexico, which I’m restoring. And earlier this year I joined International Living’s Mexico staff.

For me, it’s been the right decision. My cost of living has dropped dramatically, while my quality of life has risen. I can shop at U.S.-style stores like Sam’s Club and Office Depot, or buy products for even less in the local markets. My house is five minutes from a lovely esplanade on the Gulf of Mexico, where locals jog and bike every morning and evening. On weekends I can visit friends at a beach development an hour down the coast, and lounge the afternoon away in a hammock while I sip juice from a cold green coconut. Or I can jump in a car and have lunch at a restored hacienda half an hour from town. If I drive a bit farther, I can be in the jungle, visiting an eco-reserve or clambering through the ruins of an entire Maya city.

I enjoy being a Latin American, too. My geography has shifted south. Belize and Panama, Argentina and Colombia, suddenly seem much closer—and I look forward to visiting them as a neighbor.

And my family? They love the fact that I’m in Mexico. They look forward to visiting—regularly. They also love the fact that I’m close by. With the right flight connections, I can fly home to them in four hours. And if I want to, I can drive.

In the end, this big change wasn’t so hard to make. It just takes some planning. My job now is to show you how you can do it, too. I’ll be writing about Mexico for IL’s free e-mail postcards and now and again for International Living magazine. And every month, in Mexico Insider, I’ll be giving you valuable insider tips, the latest scoop on great real estate deals, and the information you need to live well, retire, and invest in Mexico.

Thanks for reading, and ìViva Mexico!