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Karen Blue (Blue) worked a stressful job and lived in a very expensive city. At 52, she was ready to retire, but her accountant advised that she’d be unable to do so if she wished to stay in California's Silicon Valley. Blue then has a premonition about living in an enclave. A few days later she read an article about expats living in an “enclave,” known as the Lake Chapala area of Mexico. She visited the town of Ajijic on the Lake. The rest is history. It has been 26 years since Blue sold her California home and moved to Ajijic, known for its idyllic weather and stunning views. Find out more about living in Ajijic, Mexico, on episode 75 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.
Karen Blue authored two books on moving to, and living in, Mexico:
She blogs at Mexico Blue: Imagine Your Retirement in Mexico.
Karen Blue, known simply as “Blue” was born in Montana, spent her first 7 years in Minnesota then her family moved to Silicon Valley, California, only then it was fruit orchards! She holds a B.S. in Business Management and has had at least seven careers ranging from information systems to business-to-business direct marketing to Vice President of an international software service organization. At the age of 52, Blue escaped corporate life in Silicon Valley to retire and write in Ajijic.
Over the years, Blue has written hundreds of articles on moving to and living in Mexico, and 2 books: Midlife Mavericks: Women Reinventing Their Lives in Mexico and Baby Boomers: Reinvent Your Life in Mexico. The Baby Boomers book is dedicated “to those baby boomers who choose to fill their retirement years with passion, purpose and potential–wherever they may live. Blue sits on three different boards - It’s her way of giving back to the community.
In addition to reading and writing, she spends time line dancing, playing bridge and scrabble as well as myriad other card and board games, traveling, cooking for CASA (Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic) and simply enjoying the weather, culture, fundraising events and social activities which abound at Lakeside. She believes that the Lake Chapala area is perhaps the best place in the world for a single woman to live!
Blue raised two children as a single parent since they were 6 and 18 months old. Her children are now grown and she has a grandson.
