Ayutthaya is an island city in the center of Thailand founded in 1350. This city flourished for more than 400 years, and at its peak, supported hundreds of thousands of residents.

There is no one way to live a life, or for that matter, one way to live a dream retirement. Carole and Margo have an interesting story and when finding themselves single in mid-life, decided to join forces and resources to create a unique retirement style.

Four of us hired a lancha to take us from Chacala Beach to Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico. Lanchas are small but seaworthy boats and our trip took 1.5 hours on calm seas. Landing on the beach was another matter. Sayulita is well-known internationally as a surfing destination. Take a look!

According to the financial pundits, we should have run out of money long ago, barely getting by, living on social security, and with little possibility of travel. At least, according to the money managers who write article after article on how Americans are not saving enough, investing poorly and need to follow their advice to succeed. If their advice is so great, why are they still working?

As I note in the piece, places like Mexico, the Far East or parts of Europe have such a relatively low cost of living that average Canadians might be able to retire early just on the strength of CPP and OAS. Add in any employer pensions and registered or unregistered savings and that would be gravy.

The north shore of Lake Chapala, Mexico is one of the premier retirement destinations for North Americans.

Billy is out on the Wharf in Puerto Vallarta where early morning fishermen are trying their luck to catch some fish. The Sail on the Wharf is a major landmark now and very photogenic. Get a look at the beach from out in the water.

Billy Kaderli separated a delicious–looking piece of cheesecake with his fork. That’s when he turned to me and smiled. “A financial reporter recently interviewed me,” he said. “I explained that we live off the proceeds of our investment portfolio. She was surprised when I told her we have more money now than we did when we first retired.”

Thanksgiving is this week. It’s a day of not only giving thanks for all that we have received (despite any of our personal challenges), but also of remembering the many friendships we have been blessed with.

Billy walks the beach in Old Vallarta on Olas Altas and Playa do Los Muertos. You see the beautiful Sail on Vallarta's Wharf and many beachside restaurants where international tourists come to eat.

Famous and exciting colonial towns are to the north of Guadalajara so we took ten days to visit them. Our trip through the High Sierra in Central Mexico brought us through 4 Mexican States: Jalisco, Zacatecas, Aguas Caliente and Guanajuato.

This year, we all decided to go to the historical mining town of Jerome, Arizona and see what we could find.

Billy shows you the ocean view from our Puerto Vallarta Hotel. We like to stay in the Romantic Zone in Old Vallarta. Lots of good restaurants, and music concerts are often held at night in the Plaza below our room.

Located in the stunning southwest of the United States, Sedona, Arizona has captured the hearts and fantasies of people for centuries.

A two hour drive from the tourist resort of Cancun, Mexico, and an hour from Playa del Carmen, the Maya ruins at Tulum are the most known, most advertised and most popular Maya site in the Yucatan.

Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico is an international surf haven. Surfers come to this tourist town to catch the waves, meet other surfers and chill. Check them out on the waves and do some people-watching in town.

After coming out as absolutely hating the FIRE movement (“I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.”) she also states unequivocally that she personally believes retiring early “is the biggest mistake, financially speaking, you will ever, ever make in your lifetime.”