I left my job at 50 and retired to Mexico. After 3 years, there are 5 things I'd tell any American hoping to do the same.

In 2023, at 50 years old, I left my career as a pharmacist in California and moved to Ajijic, Mexico.

Three years later, I'm waking up to bird calls and watching avocados grow in my backyard. It hasn't been an easy journey, but it's been a worthwhile one.

Here are a few things I'd tell any American who's also hoping to retire abroad in their 50s.

Before I moved, I treated Mexico like a vacation destination rather than a place I'd actually live in. And if a place looked nice in pictures or on a quick tour, I believed I'd found "the one." This thinking turned out to be a big mistake.

For example, in late 2022, I was vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, a trip I'd planned long before I decided to retire in Mexico. But by the time I flew out, I'd bought my one-way ticket to Ajijic and was actively hunting for a place to live.

Since I was already in Mexico, I figured I could just squeeze in a quick visit to Ajijic and line up rentals. One by one, my viewing appointments were canceled. The only house available during my short trip was much larger and more expensive than I'd budgeted.

It was beautiful, and I loved it so much that I ended up signing a yearlong lease — something I'm confident I would've resisted if I'd taken the time to know the area first.

Soon, I discovered the frequent, loud block parties in front of the house that lasted until early morning. Eventually, I broke the lease at a loss and moved to a quiet neighborhood away from all the action in the town center.

Looking back, I needed months in Ajijic, not days, to explore different neighborhoods and find the one that fit my needs.

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No matter where you go, a short resort stay won't show you what it's like to live somewhere full time. Seasons and tourist cycles change traffic, noise, and prices.

After researching your dream retirement country, plan an extended stay during a less favorable season and rent in local neighborhoods rather than popular tourist areas.