Solo Aging In a Different Country: A Real-Life Story

Join us for a live and interactive discussion with Beatrice Blatteis as she shares her story of changing her nearly unlivable life into one of incredible blessing in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. In an instant her loneliness and isolation, and financial insecurity were solved without much effort. As a popular destination for expatriates and retirees, San Miguel de Allende offers a high quality of life coupled with a relatively affordable cost of living.  

Beatrice Blatteis
TEAMsoloager

• beatrice@blatteis.com 
  cell 901-356-0090 (US number, Central Time)
• WhatsApp or Zoom preferred for phone calls
• www.MarTechTeam.com
  http://www.linkedin.com/in/bblatteis

Questions Asked 

• "Beautiful, ""Leaf Ice"" Ice on Leaf as Seasons change, Winter Turns to Spring, thankful for messages and lessons of all Seasons of Life Change... Thank you Steve and Everyone for  Extended Family Community for these gatherings and teachers teaching growing learning"
• Are you fluent in Spanish? Have you experienced the cartel presence in San Miguel? Thank you!
• What's the name of the course?
• Please talk about health insurance. I just returned from a wonderful year in San Miguel because I couldn’t figure out health insurance for my 67 year old self.
• Have you dealt extensively with the healthcare system there? Hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
• So have you moved there permanently and again, how long have you lived in Mexico...?
• After caregiving for other family members, how have you repaired or addressed the financial concerns about the underfunded retirement and budget income needs?
• "Cost of medications? 
• 
  
• If you pay for health insurance with pre-existing condition, Can you get cardiac care? ex."
• If this isn’t too personal, do you practice Judaism? Have you found a community there?
• What has your experience been related to telecommunications and technology? i.e. internet, smart phones, etc
• "How much for Insurance w preexisting condition to get coverage ? In Dollars 
• 
  
• Did you look into Retirement Community in Mexico? Or care facilities? If one needed home health care would it be affordable?"
• So this is not clear, co housing? Are you sharing housing with someone else?
• Is there a tourist culture in San Miguel?
• What is an approximate cost of living for one month? Karen
• If you had osteoporosis would it be a poor choice for cobblestones.
• Why is health insurance an issue in Mexico?
• So did your roommate already have condo, and you share condo and expenses?
• Are biologic medicines available in Mexico?
• How did you make such close friends in a year?
• What is the African American population?
• How about import taxes? One thing I would miss is being able to order books and other things from Amazon (guess Kindle books would be an option, though).
• The previous question is being asked because I am African American and curious about the population.
• Would San Miguel be ok for person who does not drive?
• Food, eating, cooking, highlights, we all love good food, any comments about food
• What type of consulting did you do in the US, if you don’t mind me asking?
• Thank you Beatrice. This was wonderful. I’m interested in follow up to the possibility to start with a visit soon.
• Nevermind. I see your LinkedIn profile was posted. :)
• Any issue with "scammers" trying to take advantage of people. I know when I traveled to Mexico City, I was warned to be sure to use the "sanctioned" taxi and not just get in any auto that was a "taxi." Going in a government sanctioned taxi guaranteed the rate to my destination.
• Do you use local banks?  local credit cards?
• Do you have to leave the country every six months (or?)  in order to not overstay your Visa? Or do you need a Visa at all?

Chat Transcript

12:06:26     From Christine Smith : Looking forward to what you'll share today, @Beatrice Blatteis!!

12:07:22     From Rena Tobey  to  Hosts and panelists : Love San Miguel. Heard the cartel has moved in - horrifying. Is this true?

12:11:02     From Christine Smith : Hooray for your sister!

12:11:45     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Anonymous Attendee 12:09 PM 

Beautiful, "Leaf Ice" Ice on Leaf

as Seasons change, Winter Turns to Spring, thankful for messages and lessons of all Seasons of Life Change... Thank you Steve and Everyone for  Extended Family Community for these gatherings and teachers teaching growing learning

12:13:53     From Diana Backlund  to  Hosts and panelists : Wow, such a familiar story. Difficult

12:14:32     From Christine Smith : Those are important issues you're sharing in the LOSSES of family care-giving: friends & career left behind, your own health, your ability to focus on your own future

12:21:38     From Virginia Falconer : Villages are another alternative, e.g., Lamorinda Village in the San Francisco Bay Area.

12:26:46     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Modern Elder Academy https://www.meawisdom.com/

12:29:33     From Karen Roberts  to  Hosts and panelists : Can you give an approximate cost of living for one month?  Karen

12:32:01     From Diana Backlund  to  Hosts and panelists : My fear was an emergency situation and hearing stories from others, I couldn’t figure it, health insurance, out.

12:32:33     From Diana Backlund  to  Hosts and panelists : Doctors are amazing in Mexico, but a hospital stay can become expensive out of pocket. ?

12:33:21     From Wendy Pachter : Was all the healthcare you needed available in San Miguel or did you have to go elsewhere in Mexico?

12:34:55     From Diana Backlund  to  Hosts and panelists : Almost all, but many specialists are in the larger city 40 mins away, Querétaro. San Miguel is pretty small but growing

12:36:22     From Linda Morgenstern  to  Hosts and panelists : Are you recovered from Vertigo?

12:37:30     From Wendy Pachter : I know someone else who moved there for years and loved it but ultimately came back to US bcz of the cobblestones

12:37:31     From dixcy bosley : Can you speak  to the political vibe there and do you expect mass immigration to Mexico after the US elections this fall (depending on outcome)?

12:38:45     From Silvia Balderas  to  Hosts and panelists : How were you able to research the insurance?

12:39:17     From dixcy bosley : Are you aware of the Namaste community in your town? A older friend of mine moved there from DC for similar reasons and loves it

12:41:08     From Elva Roy : There's an inexpensive newsletter called "International Living." (if you don't mind being inundated with emails)

12:41:13     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Three Books I recommend, in particular:

Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats, by Janet Blaser

Midlife Mavericks: Women Reinventing Their Lives in Mexico , by Karen Blue

Baby Boomers: Reinvent Your Retirement in Mexico, by Karen Blue

12:42:07     From Virginia Falconer : Can you get every medicine you need in Mexico?

12:42:33     From Virginia Falconer : What about biologics?

12:47:40     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Retire Abroad? Discussion with Dan Prescher, Senior Editor of International Living https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/retire-abroad-discussion-with-dan-prescher-senior-editor-of-international-living

12:54:48     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Beatrice Blatteis

TEAMsoloager

beatrice@blatteis.com 

cell 901-356-0090 (US number, Central Time)

WhatsApp or Zoom preferred for phone calls

www.MarTechTeam.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/bblatteis

12:55:45     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : International Living Magazine   https://internationalliving.com/

12:55:58     From Kay Lawton : Thank you so much.

13:00:23     From Diana Backlund  to  Hosts and panelists : Taxis are about $4-6 anywhere in San Miguel

13:01:34     From Diana Backlund  to  Hosts and panelists : I didn’t have a car and needed to taxi, and ultimately found a great taxi group who were professional and consistent in pricing

13:02:28     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Diana Backlund to All Panelists 01:01 PM

Taxis are about $4-6 anywhere in San Miguel

I didn’t have a car and needed to taxi, and ultimately found a great taxi group who were professional and consistent in pricing

13:04:48     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : biologic medicines Biologics are medications that come from living sources. They're more complex than other medications and tend to be expensive. Some of the conditions biologics help treat include cancer, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes.

13:08:45     From Carolyn Hunihan : This was just SO GREAT!  Thank you for all your sharing!

13:15:08     From Ana Cardoso  to  Hosts and panelists : Thank you so much for all the info, this is great! Need to leave now.

13:19:24     From R H  to  Hosts and panelists : Thank you so much for this discussion. Very interesting and informative!

13:19:35     From dixcy bosley : Beatrice,  Very inspired by your turning fear and grief into claiming life and joy.

13:19:53     From Jan Brito : This was amazing!  Thank you Beatrice!

13:20:14     From Johanna Levitt  to  Hosts and panelists : Thank you

13:22:01     From Laurie Spencer : Very interesting. Thank you.