My One-Year Sabbatical: Let's Review this Fascinating Year of Traveling and Escaping the Corporate Workforce -3 Surprises 2022 Year in Review
2022 Year in Review-Sabbatical
How is all this possible? Come along for the ride!
In this fast-moving article, we will provide a gentle recap of our year, the excursions we went on, and the adventures explored.
2022 had been a year of deep change, risk, and new adventures.
Really, it was a whole lifestyle change, which was needed.
Changed Careers
This year we “gave it a go” and sold our home, conducted our own estate sale and sold off most of our belongings, and booked a flight out of the country.
Let’s back up a bit.
Before this, I have been longing to leave the USA and start living abroad. I have wanted to do it for years and decided now is the time.
Yes. Now.
I am only getting older, and want to be able to explore before, well you know…
Exploratory Trip to Mazatlan, Mexico
In late April 2022, I ventured on a solo trip to Mazatlan, Mexico and the purpose of my trip was for several reasons.
(1) See if I could possibly live there;
(2) Experience a real Mexican city, not a tourist city; and
(3) Try to integrate into the culture. Learn about the people, practice the language, learn customs, experience the weather, and let it all sink in.
I loved the trip. It was eye-opening for me and when I came home, I thought about it and decided to pursue my residency in Mexico.
Exploratory Trip to Mazatlan Mexico
Applied for Residency in Mexico
If I was going to literally move to Mexico, there were several steps I needed to take in order to make this move. I wasn’t going to go on a tourist visa, I wanted to have my residency.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the process of residency, there are two types of residency, one is temporary and the other is permanent. There are different requirements for each and it’s best to contact the Office of Immigration (IMN office) to find out the requirements.
Note: The requirements can vary from each Immigration Office, so it’s quite popular for example, to travel to the Las Vegas Immigration office even if you live in Texas.
I applied for residency and it was approved. I will write more about it and describe my experience and the process soon.
Nonetheless, I was excited when I received my residency, I was absolutely thrilled. I actually yelled out VIVA MEXICO and put my hands up in the immigration office!
One lady then hugged me and all the other people in the office actually cheered for me. We all had a moment. It was special.
Moved to Mexico in 2022
With half of my residency process completed (the USA side), I still needed to contact a local Immigration Office to complete the other half of my residency. I completed this half upon my arrival and was a formal resident of Mexico, much to my delight!
Then I went touring the lovely country of Mexico and started in Ajijic, Mexico!
Moved to the Lake Chapala/Ajijic Area
Ajijic is a popular expat community. There are many Canadians and Americans from the USA who either have relocated full-time or are snowbirds and spend about 6 months of the year in Mexico.
Ajijic is an area known as the second best climate in the world, as it stays warm all year, about 5,000 feet above sea level so it doesn’t get the hot and humid coastal weather. It’s in the mountains and beside it is the largest lake in Mexico.
Started to Travel Domestically Within Mexico
Then I stretched my legs beyond Ajijic and started to take local trips to explore the area. I visited Etzalan, Mexico, then Comala, then to Tequila, Mexico.
These trips were in a van with about 8–10 other travelers also on the same journey of exploration. If you are looking for some videos on these jaunts, take a look here (below) at our playlists.
Comala Mexico: Playlist Here
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico: Playlist Here
Embraced a New Culture, Language, People, and Weather
During this time, my mission was to fully embrace the new culture and language, learn about the people, the history of the country, customs, socially accepted customs, etc., etc. I had so much to learn and still do. The Mexican people have been nothing but kind, generous, authentic, and appreciative.
Felt the Big 7.6 Earthquake
In Lake Chapala, I felt one big earthquake, a 7.6, the biggest earthquake I have ever felt while touring the boardwalk/Malecon. I felt like I was drunk when it hit, or had vertigo, and felt the ground move in waves I had never felt before.
I even felt a little sick and had to find a sturdy place to sit down. Aftershocks continued for days afterward. What is interesting is the date this large earthquake occurred was the anniversary date of other terrible earthquakes that occurred in Mexico. September 19.
Traveled to Cabo, Baja Sur (Cabo)
Then, after living in Mexico for about 4 months, and had a little confidence built up, I decided to take a trip to Cabo. The Airline Ticket was $35, so I said yes to the trip.
I visited San Jose del Cabo, and then the neighboring city Cabo San Lucas and then hopped on a day bus trip to LaPaz. I visited tourist areas but also ventured off and stayed where the locals stayed. One of my goals for this trip was not to party until the break of dawn but to figure out the local bus system (I am fascinating at parties, lol). I got a few quick lessons and am grateful for my experience.
Re-Entry to USA
Then, after being in Mexico for about 5 months at the time, I needed to make a quick trip back to the USA.
I booked a flight and stayed in the USA for about a month, and spent some time in East Texas, then flew off to Vegas, then San Diego then to Puerto Vallarta as the re-entry city back in Mexico.
I will share my reverse culture-shock, how I felt about the USA after being out of the country for 5 months soon. Drop a comment if this is something you’d find interesting!
Visited Las Vegas
My Vegas trip was fun, completed a timeshare tour, stayed at MGM Grand, walked the strip, went to Fremont, and had several interesting Uber Rides while recording and filming several videos. Check out our playlist on Vegas here.
Are you tired yet? There’s more…
Visited San Diego
After Vegas, hopped on another flight for $25, and then landed in sunny San Diego. I had been to the city years ago and spent time visiting Coronado Island, the Coronado Hotel, the ferry, and a few other things, this trip was to spend time in the downtown Gaslamp Quarter.
We stayed in the HI Hostel Downtown, and walked the Gaslamp District, for a few days. It was great to tour the area, have a nice meal, walk the boardwalk, see the USS Midway. See our videos here and here on our adventure.
Re-Entry into Mexico via Puerto Vallarta
After San Diego, we hopped on another plane directly to Puerto Vallarta (PV). PV had been on my list to visit for some time, and finally made it happen.
This was also my re-entry city with a resident card so I was unsure how this was going to pan out, exactly.
Once I arrived at the airport there were two lines in customs. One line said Visitor and the other line said Mexicans. That sign was a little interesting to me and to be honest, I didn’t know which line to go in. I was not a visitor in Mexico (I lived there) and I am not a Mexican by birth. I initially went to the Visitor line but then told the attendant I have residency and moved to the line marked Mexicans, which was the correct line for me.
I went through customs without any problems in this line. I had to show my residency card, received a stamp in my passport and continued through the line.
Then I got the flu in Puerto Vallarta. I had a couple of days of touring around the city but caught a cold that was going around everywhere. I felt awful. Cold, cough, no energy. I ended up cutting my trip short in Puerto Vallarta because I didn’t want to get anyone else sick.
Before I got sick, I booked a bus trip and was able to travel up to Sayulita Bucerias, see the boardwalk, get a haircut, visit a biological dentist, and of course tour the various neighborhoods of Puerto Vallarta such as 5 de Deciembre, Zona Romantica, and more.
Two Long Distance Bus Trips in Mexico
After Puerto Vallarta, I decided to take a long-distance bus to Guadalajara instead of flying back to the area.
Why? Great questions. I wanted a new way to experience the country, I have heard great things about the long-distance buses in Mexico and I wanted to experience them firsthand for myself.
I hopped on Primera Plus, which was excellent and highly recommended. It was luxurious. I felt safe, could easily fall asleep if I wanted to, was smooth, and so comfortable, plus the scenery out the window was fantastic. It was about a 5-hour bus ride that took us through the mountains off the western coast of Mexico down into Guadalajara. From Guadalajara, I got a taxi back to the Ajijic area and planned for my next trip.
Visited San Miguel de Allende
Since the bus was so great, I decided to book another trip from Guadalajara to San Miguel de Allende via the same bus line, Primera Plus. San Miguel is another tourist city, where a lot of expats congregate, and wanted to experience the city and see all the wonders. I was able to tour the El Centro area, see the Parroquia at the best time of the year, when it was lit up for Christmas, and celebrated my first New Year out of the country.
I ended the year in San Miguel de Allende and am making plans for adventures in 2023.
Due to several requests, this article has been re-published.
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