Alicia Kishpaugh and her husband Evan have a message for millennials – like themselves – who are considering a life outside of North America.
Armed with a sense of adventure, four children in tow and work schedules, their message is: “Consider Lakeside, because it’s not just a retirement community.”
And while the family speak enthusiastically of the great times they have enjoyed here, they are back on the move – temporarily. This past week, they all piled into their car and headed for Brazil. They will be making stops along the way during their yearlong trip.
Says Alicia Kishpaugh: “We’ll stay in Mexico City during Christmas, then in Belize in February. As to what comes next, before landing in Brazil, we’re letting ourselves be guided by our faith.”
Having sublet their Ajijic casita, the family will return to Lakeside next December, undoubtedly with even more stories to tell.
At home in Ajijic
Two years ago, the Kishpaughs left a comfortable lifestyle near Phoenix, Arizona, complete with their own business, a three-bedroom home, and a golden retriever.
Arriving at Lakeside on Christmas Day, they were thrilled with their decision to have made the move.
“We ultimately chose Mexico because we wanted to create a lifestyle that focused more on family and less on income and stress,” says Alicia. “Even though we had a good life in Arizona, we noticed how our stress levels kept on rising. I was pregnant with my fourth child, and didn’t want to raise another while running a business, tending a large family, and experiencing so much stress while doing so.”
The couple came to Lakeside after a recommendation from Ecuadorian friends of Alicia’s parents, who had told them it was a great place to retire.
Says Alicia, “Six months after we made our move, my parents visited us, but ended up returning to Arizona because they didn’t connect with the area.”
Alicia and Evan continue to work in Mexico, but only part time. Evan works on a small segment of their after-school sports business, while helping raise the children, and Alicia teaches English online.
As expats living at Lakeside, the Kishpaughs stand out – literally – with Evan measuring six feet, six inches tall and Alicia slightly shorter, at six feet tall.
Says Alicia, “Being that we are tall and on the younger side, with four kids, we often get stopped by Mexicans and expats who want to ask us questions and take our photos.”
She laughs, then adds, “I want to wear a t-shirt that describes why we’re here, when we arrived, what we do for a living, and finally – no, we’re not visiting our parents!”
Two years ago the couple sold their house and most of their belongings, retaining only a small portion of their business. With four kids piled in the back seat and a car packed with all their belongings, they crossed the border on Christmas Eve, 2016. Kishpaugh’s sister, Jamie, decided to join them, with her 10-year-old daughter, but drove separately.
“Once at the border,” says Alicia, “somewhere between the American booth and the Mexican one, Jaimie got a flat tire. Since she couldn’t turn around she had to drive backwards to the American side so that she could get a new tire. Despite it being Christmas Eve, we were able to buy a tire at a Nogales Walmart. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who was able to change the tire. The whole crazy episode set us back around five hours.”
With ages ranging from two to 10, and with names that include Faith, Courage, Honor and Serenity, the Kishpaugh kids have integrated well into the community. The three oldest attend a bilingual school and all of them are working on their Spanish.
“Our two oldest kids can already translate and our third kid knows Spanish so well, he needs to relearn how to speak English,” says Alicia.
Even though the Kishpaugh children are kept busy with piano lessons, play dates, the chess club and children’s art program at Lake Chapala Society, their parents make sure to schedule in plenty of family time, such as walking on the malecon, playing in the plaza, and taking trips.
Alicia likes to compare riding a Mexican bus – which they all do on a regular basis – with all that she loves about living in the country.
“Firstly, riding the bus at Lakeside is super cheap. Kids even get a discount, which exemplifies the area’s low cost of living. Second, riding on a Mexican bus means no boundaries. Everyone shoves on and makes more room for the next person. To me, this demonstrates the way that Mexicans work together as a community to ‘get everyone on the bus.’
“Lastly, we love how children are essential to the Mexican culture. Back in the U.S. our kids would be shoved to the back of the bus. Here, someone will give up their seat for our four-year old, or offer him their lap.”
If you want to follow Kishpaughs’ adventures, log on to Alicia Kishpaugh’s blog, 6PackAdventures.com.