You’ll Need to Prepare for Cold Weather if You Retire in the Interior of Mexico January 4
It’s coooooold in Mexico. Acapulco, Baja, Cancun and all the rest of the coastal areas are still toasty warm, but if you retire to the interior of Mexico you’ll probably experience cold weather. In fact, a hurricane in one of the coastal areas could also cause temperatures to drop enough to warrant warm clothes. It was 62 degrees Fahrenheit in our house this morning and we got chilled just after we got up in the morning. We’re surviving with layers of wool sweaters and wool hats. Then, when the sun gets higher in the sky we go outside and stand in the sun!
Even if 62 doesn’t sound that cold to you, remember that that’s the temperature inside our house and it’s low enough to cause hypothermia if you are sitting still and not dressed warmly. When you retire in Mexico, even though it’s hot 90% of the time, you still need to be prepared for occasional cold snaps such as those caused by cold winds, hurricanes, or low winter temperatures in the central highlands. I saw on the news that it’s snowing in some parts of Mexico!
As you pack to retire in Mexico you might want to include a small propane-burning space heater. You could also bring an electric heater, but remember that during extreme weather you are likely to be out of electricity. If you choose to bring a propane burner make sure that you have ventilation so that you don’t get high levels of carbon monoxide in your home. You should also make sure that you include some really warm wool clothes wear in layers, at least one wool ski hat, and some thick socks–preferably wool. You can store these in a suitcase you are not using or in a plastic storage box with a tight fitting lid until you need them.
Once you are in Mexico, learn to keep an eye on your body temperature. If your fingertips or nose are cool it’s time to put on another layer. Remember that your body shuts down blood supply to extremities in order to preserve heat and keep your core temperature up. Help your body keep you warm by dressing well. Hats are really helpful because 20 to 40 percent of your body heat escape through an uncovered head. Mexicans drive me nuts. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard an older Mexican woman, who has been sitting in a cold house for hours complain that her feet are cold making it sound like there is something wrong with her. Of course her feet are frozen! She is not wearing a hat and is wearing a calf-length polyester skirt and slip-on shoes.
Even if you don’t get hypothermia you can be effected in other ways. Last night I got a migraine. As my husband was massaging my shoulders I noticed how warm his hands felt through my clothes. I put on a ton of layers, warm socks, a hat, and finally even added socks on my hands and I finally warmed up. I had gotten the migraine from tension in my neck and shoulders as my body was trying to keep warm, but without shivering.
You’ll enjoy being retired in Mexico more if you are prepared for all eventualities.