Expats vs Snowbirds vs Tourists: Are We Just Weird?

My husband, Jeff, and I used to be normal, until that is, we became expat explorers. Well, normal-ish. We had jobs, a mortgage, the usual snow shoveling duties. Then we did the unthinkable: we retired young. And ditched the shovel for a suitcase.

We became expats. Mazatlán, Mexico, became our base. Tacos replaced takeout. Beach sunsets replaced rush hour. We smugly high-fived ourselves for figuring out this whole retirement thing.

But something was…off. We craved more than cervezas and perfect weather. We missed cobblestone streets, deciphering foreign menus, and getting delightfully lost. Cue our not-so-brilliant plan…

Expats: We Build a Tiny Kingdom

Expat life is seductive. You find your rhythm – the best bakery, the hole-in-the-wall taco joint, the locals who don’t roll their eyes at your terrible Spanish. You build a life, not just a vacation.

But then…it gets cozy. Too cozy. Routines are great until they become ruts. You know the bus driver by name. You become fluent in grocery store small talk. Suddenly, even the thrill of finding avocados at peak ripeness fades.

Tourists: The Whirlwind of Wonders

The solution? A healthy dose of travel chaos! We transformed into tourists – backpacks on, guidebooks crammed in pockets, ready to conquer Europe. The energy shift hit us like a double espresso.

Every day was a feast: charming villages, questionable street food, museums upon museums. We felt alive, a little frazzled, but definitely not bored. Until…decision fatigue kicked in. What town next? Which train? Do we dare try this sausage-looking thing?

Snowbirds: Escape Artists Seeking Sun

The expat vs. tourist identity crisis was confusing. Then we realized something – in the winter, we kinda turn into snowbirds. We crave the warmth of Mazatlán when the northern hemisphere shivers. But unlike classic snowbirds, we don’t fly back to the nest when spring arrives.

Nope, we get restless. We crave croissants, not pancakes. We want bustling piazzas, not familiar beaches. That’s when the vagabond in us takes over.

The Hybrid Experiment: Glorious Mess

So, what the heck are we? Expat-tourist-snowbird-vagabond explorers? Here’s the thing about retirement: there’s no rulebook. We’ve discovered our sweet spot is a chaotic blend of the familiar and the thrillingly unexpected.

Here’s how we (mostly) make it work:

• The Home Base: Mazatlán is our anchor, preventing us from becoming full-time nomads (too exhausting).
• Budget Travel Wins: Repositioning cruises, slow travel, and house sitting let us stretch our dollars.
• Embracing the Mess: Missed trains, language disasters, questionable Airbnb choices – it’s the messy bits that make the best stories later.

The Verdict: Ditch the Labels

If you feel torn between settling down and seeing the world, you’re not alone. Forget the labels. Retirement is about freedom – the freedom to experiment, to change your mind, and to embrace a little joyful chaos along the way.

So, are you an expat, tourist, snowbird, or something entirely your own? Share your retirement adventure story in the comments!