Retiring abroad early to Mexico wasn't easy at first, and it took me years to redefine success and build a life I truly feel fulfilled by.
Ivy Ge
I was standing in the security line at San Francisco International Airport when a sudden panic seized me.I was 50 years old. I'd just quit my job as a hospital pharmacist, packed my life into two suitcases, and was on my way to Ajijic, Mexico, where I didn't know anyone.For months leading up to that moment, I'd been excited to retire abroad early and pursue writing, something I'd wanted since grade school.But as I waited in that line, one frightening question kept repeating in my head: Was I making the biggest mistake of my life?At first, I struggled with losing my identity and having freedom without structureBefore the move, my career was a huge part of my life. I'd spent years publishing research articles, speaking at international conferences, and acquiring multiple pharmacy specialty licenses.Without that role, my sense of identity faded. Although I'd planned and saved, even losing a steady paycheck felt more like grief than freedom.As I wandered through the cobblestone streets of Ajijic, listening to Spanish conversations all around me, I felt untethered.
