This blog chronicles the adventures of John and Libby as we traveled through Mexico by car (three times), vacationed in Playa del Carmen (for nine months), and started a Mexican computer consulting business (Si, estamos locos por seguro!).
In October of 2005, we left our jobs as software developers in Chicago for a six month time out in Mexico. We packed up our Honda Civic coupe with our two cats, snorkeling gear, laptop, and as much other stuff as we could cram in on the very same day that Hurricane Wilma hit the coast of Playa del Carmen. Read about our journey here and here.
In Playa del Carmen, we lazed on dazzling beaches, snorkeled our hearts out, met expats and other locals, lost our Billie, learned some Spanish (not enough), made some friends, ate lots of pastor and arrachera, and fell in love with an amazing little (but ever growing) Mexican coastal town.
With our six month hiatus closing in on us, we found we couldn’t bring ourselves to leave. So we did what any self-respecting loco gringo would do. We drove back to Chicago, sold off all our stuff, drove back to Playa del Carmen, hired lawyers and accountants, and formed a Mexican computer consulting business … so that we could work for it … so we could get work visas.
Over the next few months, we fired lawyers and accountants, visited the Mexican tax office more times than we care to remember, memorized every crack in the floor of the Scotiabank branch, secured jobs through word of mouth, hired a Mexican employee, got our provisional visas renewed, and possibly even managed to remain somewhat sane.
Now, we’re just trying to return to some degree of normality. Dinner parties, bowling, and watching American TV shows are awfully appealing. But we have to admit … the beach, the sun, the palm trees … they never do get old! 
I must say, you two are my heroes. I am a 36 year old attorney in Dallas, and I have thought of doing what you have done on many occassions. To make things worse, I travelled to PDC for the first time over the 4th of July holiday. I’m hooked. I would love to spend as much time as possible there and would even be interested in business/employment opportunities, but I’m not sure what demand there would be for an American attorney who speaks very little Spanish (which I am currently working on. I may even take a Spanish course in Playa).
I don’t want to pry (too much), but could you give me an estimate as to what one would need to spend per month to live somewhat comfortably in Playa?
Thanks for any info you can give, and I eagerly look forward to your next website update.
Chad
John and Libby,
Please call us! Or email me back!
Pat
Wow you are heroes…I would go there in a heart beat as well, I am planning on moving to Mexico permantely in the future..
Hello John and Libby, Love your blog! My name is Angela Price and husband is Richard. We will be at the Barcelo resort on the 14th through the 21st. We are in our late 40’s, and have been going to Mexico twice a year(one week resort - one week cruise)for the last couple of years. We are like everyone else………..falling in love with Mexico. And just like you, we are planning on making a move there in the next several years. We have an appointment with an Real Estate agent on the 15th to go and look at some property close to Tulum. Really my reason for the email is, is there anyway to meet up with you guys during our stay? My husband and I have a million questions to ask. Not really a million, but you get the gist. It would really ease our minds just to get to talk to an American living in Mexico. Please say yes……………..And on that I have to get back to work. Wainting for a reply.
Thank you….Angela Price