That’s a Wrap!

When Judi and I started this blog, we didn’t really know what it would become.

We had no ambitions of becoming travel influencers or collecting followers.

Mostly, we wanted a way to tell the story.

Now, after these weeks of writing and reflecting, it feels like a good time to bring this little project to a close.

Before we sign off, I wanted to share why we started writing in the first place.

There were probably four reasons.

The first was to document retirement. Retirement is a strange thing. People talk about it as if one day you clock out of work and immediately begin sipping tropical drinks while smiling into the sunset.

For us, retirement felt more like dismantling one life and building another. It involved hard work, uncertainty, logistics, emotion, excitement, grief, and more than a few moments of asking ourselves, Are we completely crazy? I wanted to record some of that while it was fresh. Partly in case our friends who still have retirement ahead of them find something useful in our experience. And partly because I wanted to remember this season myself.

We did a hard thing. And hard things are easier to forget once life settles down.

Retirement isn’t always easy.

But for us—it has absolutely been worth it.

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The second reason was to document moving to Mexico as a couple.

This was the adventure. The part where life gets interesting again. The part where we traded routine for uncertainty and discovered we still had a little courage left in us.

But this adventure also came with a cost. We left behind people we love. Pets we still miss. Places full of memories. That part was bittersweet. And maybe it always will be. But sometimes the things that stretch us the most end up becoming the experiences we treasure most.

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The third reason was simply to stay connected. This blog became our way of telling family and friends: “We’re okay.”

Actually… we’re doing more than okay. We wanted the people who care about us to know what life looked like from this side of the leap. And maybe, in a small way, to encourage others to chase something they’ve been quietly dreaming about. Not necessarily moving to Mexico. But whatever version of bravery or change has been waiting for permission.

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The fourth reason may be the simplest.

Gratitude. Life is short. Time moves fast.

We are aware that this season of good health, enough energy, and modest resources is not guaranteed forever. We feel lucky. Lucky to have had meaningful work. Lucky to have people who care about us. Lucky to have each other. Lucky to have this chapter. And writing these posts helped us pause long enough to notice that.

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Thank you for reading. Thank you for your comments, encouragement, questions, messages, and for staying connected to us. Thank you for caring enough to come along for the ride.

We are ready now to settle in. To live ordinary days. To make friends. To improve our Spanish. To enjoy tacos, thunderstorms, bike rides, music, coffee, and whatever comes next.

And honestly… we don’t want to become those people who accidentally turn every normal Tuesday into blog content. Some things are better simply lived.

Please stay in touch. Visit us if life takes you this direction.

And if not— know that somewhere in Mexico, two retired people are doing just fine.

With love and gratitude,

Kent and Judi

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