Our Retirement: Beach Boredom & Travel Exhaustion

We Suck at This Whole Retirement Thing

We thought we had it figured out. Six months basking on the beach in Mazatlán, soaking up the sun and sipping margaritas. Then, a repositioning cruise to Europe for another six months of cobblestone streets, charming villages, and wine that doesn’t give you a hangover. The ultimate hybrid retirement dream, right?

Wrong. Turns out, we get BORED on the beach after a few months and absolutely EXHAUSTED from too much travel. Who knew retirement could be so stressful?

Here’s the thing, we’re not your typical “sit by the pool” retirees. We crave a little adventure, the thrill of discovering new places, and the occasional break from knowing exactly where the best tacos are. But we also value having a home base, a comfortable routine, and not living out of a suitcase. That’s the balance this whole hybrid retirement thing promises, and it’s way harder to achieve than the Instagram photos make it seem.

Lesson #1: Paradise Gets Old (Sort Of)

Don’t get me wrong, waking up to the sound of the waves in Mazatlán is pure magic…for a while. Then, the endless sunshine and lack of spontaneity start to wear on you. We found ourselves missing the change of seasons, craving a cozy café on a rainy day, and the simple joy of browsing a bookstore where we could actually read the titles.

Turns out, paradise needs a little spice thrown in to stay interesting.

Lesson #2: Travel is Tiring, Y’all

Remember when backpacking in your 20s felt like the ultimate adventure? Try doing it in your 60s. Our bodies just don’t bounce back like they used to. After a few weeks of hopping between cities in Europe, hauling our luggage up flights of stairs (elevators are a luxury, apparently), and deciphering train schedules in various languages, we were ready to collapse.

All-inclusive resort, anyone?

The Visa Hustle: It’s Real, Even for Retirees

Here’s where the practicalities of this lifestyle kick in. As US citizens, we get the sweet deal of 180 days in Mexico without any hassle. Europe’s a whole different beast. That Schengen Zone thing? Major buzzkill. You can bop around most of Europe for 90 days within a 180-day period, then you gotta leave.

But fear not, there are ways to stretch your stay:

• Digital Nomad Visas: Countries like Croatia, Portugal, and Spain are rolling out the welcome mat for remote workers (and retirees with steady income).
• Schengen Loophole Countries: Gorgeous spots like Georgia (the country!), Albania, Turkiye, and Cyprus offer longer stays without the Schengen restrictions.

Our Verdict: Hybrid Retirement Is a Work in Progress

Would we trade our Mazatlán condo and European adventures? Absolutely not! But we’re learning that balance is everything. Maybe it’s shorter stints in Europe with longer chill time in Mexico. Perhaps it’s a month volunteering somewhere completely new thrown into the mix or a repositioning cruise for 25 USD per person per day (sort by price per night).

The beauty of this retirement thing is that the rules are ours to write. And if we decide to ditch it all and move to a tiny village in Tuscany? Well, that’s the adventure of it all, isn’t it?