Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Still Choosing Chapala

Billy Kaderli

The view that keeps bringing me back

As many of you know, Akaisha and I first came to Chapala, Mexico in 1993. Not many of the people we met back then are still here. In the tropics, people come and they go.

In Mesa, Arizona, friends asked me, “Are you going to sell?” Here, they ask, “Are you staying?” The answer is no to the first and yes to the second. I am not going to make any major decisions at this time in my life, especially with the recent passing of Akaisha. I have enough on my plate simply trying to get through each day. I do not need more disruption.

Besides, I like both locations, and both are only thirty minutes from an international airport.

Chapala is full of life. Young mothers with their children are everywhere on the streets—shopping, talking, and eating. It’s hard to see these children and not feel optimistic. Older couples walk hand in hand, stopping to chat. It’s alive here, and you see many of the same people and shop owners daily. Sure, there are people in cars, but in Chapala Centro most people walk. And you can walk everywhere. We’ve never owned a car here, nor cared to. There’s no need.

The climate is fantastic year-round. At 20° latitude and 5,000 feet elevation, winters are mild and summer days are warm with cool nights. We say here you can tell the season by which side of the street you walk on—the sunny side in winter, the shady side in summer. Either way, the weather suits my clothes: shorts and shirts. There’s a reason so many expats live here.

Chapala has certainly gone through a lot of changes since the early ’90s. In my opinion, most have been for the better. Traffic is an issue, as there is basically one east-west road that feeds the many villages along the north shore of Lake Chapala, and it can get choked. Another reason I prefer to walk.

For me, it still feels a bit like going back in time. When I first arrived, there were men tying up their horses at the local cantinas. These days they are slowly replacing the cobblestone roads with pavement, and of course everyone’s on their phones. Still, the church bells are rung numerous times a day by men pulling long ropes.

The restaurant scene has greatly improved, including a recently opened French restaurant, Bistro du Lac, that is now my favorite. Of course, local Mexican food is everywhere, along with Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and plenty of tacos. For me, the best tacos are a two-minute walk from my door.

It’s like stepping back in time. The people are friendly, they respect their elders, and the cost of living—though rising—still offers excellent value.

Do I stay or do I go?

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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