I left my full-time job at 50 and moved to Mexico. The savings were great — and the reinvention was even better.

By moving to Mexico, I was able to retire early, and I'm living comfortably until my Social Security kicks in.

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• I wished to retire at 50, but doing so in the US — especially in San Francisco — felt impossible.
• After much research, I decided to move to Ajijic, Mexico, where I have a lower cost of living.
• Early retirement feels comfortable here, and financial freedom allows me to pursue a fuller life

Retiring at 50 sounded dreamy,...