I decided to retire early in Guatemala. I'm only getting half my pension, but the lower cost of healthcare makes it worth it.

"I retired two years ago, in June 2023. I was a high school teacher, and I decided to take early retirement after 32 years of teaching. But because of the fact that I was not eligible for social security, I was only able to receive half of my pension. I will get the other half about six years from now when I turn 65, or whenever I choose to also tap into my social security. It's kind of a mixed blessing."

"Around 2013, I noticed an influx of migrant students coming into my classroom from Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador, and I got to know some of these kids. I was led to believe that Guatemala is this country with endemic poverty, crime, corruption, cartels - who on earth would want to go down there? And these kids really said, "You need to rethink that.""

A retired high school teacher left the profession in June 2023 after 32 years and began early retirement with only half a pension due to ineligibility for Social Security. The other half of the pension will begin at age 65 or upon claiming Social Security. Years of disciplined investing using the FIRE approach enabled the retirement plan. Encounters with migrant students prompted travel to Guatemala beginning in 2013–14. A condominium in Guatemala City was purchased in 2018 and paid off in under ten years. Residency in Guatemala is being pursued while maintaining property in Washington and splitting time between both places.

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