From the American Dream to Reality in Guatemala

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For retired Italians, the main destination for expatriation was Portugal, where a special tax regime for foreign residents was established in 2009. This regime was later revoked by the government in 2024, removing the Iberian Peninsula country from the list of tax havens for retirees. And for an American? There's South America. The story of Robert Robert Zimmerman, 72, and his wife had worked their entire lives in the United States, but despite years of sacrifices, the dream of a serene retirement seemed unattainable in the States. The ever-increasing cost of living had pushed them to seek a new opportunity elsewhere. So, hoping to find a better life, they decided to move to Guatemala, a country that promised a lower cost of living but hid daily challenges. Farewell to the USA The decision to leave the United States was certainly not made lightly. Robert, after being laid off due to budget cuts, faced an uncertain future. Unemployment checks were not enough to maintain their standard of living, and over the years, he realized he hadn't saved enough money for retirement. 'I hadn't accumulated enough savings,' Zimmerman reflects, with a note of regret in his voice, in a testimony to Business Insider. They had moved from Seattle, first to Phoenix, Arizona, and then to Houston, Texas, where he managed to find another office job. But by that point, he recounts, 'I was tired of the monotony of the work and thought that moving to Guatemala, with its lower cost of living, would be the best solution.' The move After a two-week exploratory trip, the couple settled in San Marcos La Laguna, a picturesque village on the western shores of Lake Atitlán. The landscape was enchanting, with its colorful houses, small cafes nestled in the jungle, and a community of expatriates that seemed to share their desire for a simple and peaceful life. But behind that beauty were challenges that would test their determination. Their first accommodation, a house facing directly onto the street, was anything but stable. 'We didn't feel safe in that house. If there had been an earthquake, we wouldn't have survived,' Zimmerman recounts. Besides structural problems, the proximity to the road brought constant noise and the smell of exhaust fumes, making it difficult to relax. After some time, they moved to Panajachel, a larger town surrounded by volcanoes, where they hoped to find a more livable environment. Even there, despite the beauty of the lake and the lively atmosphere of the place, the challenges continued to present themselves. The language barrier isolated them, and their poor Spanish forced them to interact mainly with other expatriates. The local community, though welcoming, remained distant, and Zimmerman felt they would never truly integrate. More and more problems The days were marked by the sounds of fireworks, which went off at any hour, often disturbing their sleep. 'They were like small bombs,' Zimmerman recalls, and any attempt to complain was met with hostility. The deep religiosity of the place, with its rooted traditions and sermons broadcast through loudspeakers on the streets, made them feel like strangers in a world they couldn't fully understand. Despite the affordable prices and the ability to live on their pension, the infrastructural deficiencies were evident. The tap water was not drinkable; it came from a ditch that often emitted an unpleasant odor. They experienced food poisoning multiple times, and even though healthcare was cheap, they couldn't rely on modern care. COVID and return Eventually, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions led to the decision to return to the United States. Their dream of a simple and worry-free life had shattered against the harsh reality of life in a foreign country. 'We knew that returning would be more expensive, but we had no other choice,' says Zimmerman. After crossing Mexico with an old Jeep, the couple settled in Rockford, Illinois, where life is cheaper than in big cities. But even here, the challenges, especially work-related ones, have not disappeared. Robert is looking for a job to supplement his pension, but his attempts have not yet borne fruit. 'Most of the people I worked with in Seattle now have well-paid jobs in the tech sector,' Zimmerman reveals with a mix of regret and nostalgia. 'I, on the other hand, in this small town in Illinois, can't find any job similar to what I used to do.' © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This article is automatically translated

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