When Ron Podmore decided to retire early after 32 years of teaching, he knew it wouldn’t come without sacrifices. At 58, he became eligible for only half of his pension, with the remaining amount available once he turns 65 or chooses to start collecting social security. Still, the longtime educator wasn’t willing to wait another seven years to begin enjoying life. “I’ve seen too many teachers hang on until 65, and six months later, they’re gone,” he said. “I didn’t want that to be me.”
So, in June 2023, Podmore made a bold decision: he officially retired and began transitioning to a new life in Guatemala. What started as curiosity inspired by his students years earlier became the foundation for an entirely new chapter of freedom and affordability.
Podmore spent decades practicing the principles of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. Every time he received a raise, he invested part of it. Those years of discipline paid off. “I spent the better part of 20 years building a financial safety net,” he said. “It gave me the flexibility to retire before 65.”
His decision to relocate wasn’t random. During his teaching career, Podmore had taught dozens of migrant students from Central America. “Around 2013, I started seeing more students from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador,” he recalled. “They’d tell me stories about their homes not just about poverty or crime, but about family, culture, and opportunity. They said, ‘You need to rethink what you think you know about Guatemala.’”
Intrigued, he traveled to Guatemala for the first time in 2013. The experience changed his perspective entirely. Over the next decade, he visited once or twice a year, gradually becoming familiar with the country and its communities.
By 2018, Podmore had made up his mind: Guatemala would be his retirement destination. That year, he purchased a two-bedroom, one-bath condominium in a working-class neighborhood of Guatemala City for around $125,000. The building offered underground parking, concierge services, and 24-hour security all luxuries that would have been far costlier in the U.S.
Financing international property can be tricky, so he took out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) against his house in Federal Way, Washington, to fund the purchase. “When you buy property overseas, most local banks won’t give you a mortgage,” he explained. “You have to use financing from your own country.”
He spent the next eight years diligently paying it off, often making extra payments toward the principal. By the time he retired in 2023, the condo was fully paid for. “That was my goal all along,” he said. “No mortgage, no debt complete freedom.”
Although the condo sat vacant for years as he gradually furnished it, each trip brought progress. “I’d fly down once or twice a year to buy furniture, appliances, and other essentials,” he said. “It took two or three years to finish it all.”
In August 2024, he finally began living there full-time, splitting his time between Guatemala and Washington as he worked through the country’s residency process a journey that typically takes three to five years. For now, he’s allowed to stay in Guatemala for up to six months at a time.
One of the biggest reasons Podmore’s early retirement works is healthcare. “The cost of medical care in Guatemala is dramatically lower,” he said. His private health insurance plan costs about $315 per month and includes hospital stays, medications, X-rays, MRIs, and even surgeries all with zero deductible or copay.
The quality of care, he adds, often surpasses what he experienced in the U.S. “The doctors here have incredible bedside manners,” he said. “You’re not shuffled between assistants and administrators. You walk into an office, and the second person you see is the doctor.”
Dental and vision services aren’t included in his plan, but they’re still affordable. “I get my teeth cleaned twice a year in Guatemala,” he said. “It costs about $65 per visit. Back in Washington, my cleanings were nearly $800 before insurance, and I still paid more than $200 out of pocket.”
Podmore compares his approach to that of “snowbirds” retirees who relocate to warmer, cheaper regions for part of the year. “A lot of people on the West Coast retire to southern Arizona or along the Texas border so they can cross into Mexico for affordable care,” he said. “I’ve just taken that one step further one country beyond Mexico.”
Between his half pension, investment income, and low living costs, Podmore has built a lifestyle that’s both comfortable and sustainable. “Guatemala allows me to live well on less,” he said. “I’m not rich, but I don’t have the same financial pressure I would in the U.S.”
He continues to maintain property in Washington, splitting his time between both countries. Over time, he plans to make Guatemala his primary residence once his permanent residency is approved.
Reflecting on his journey, Podmore says early retirement isn’t about escaping work it’s about escaping the trap of waiting too long to enjoy life. “I didn’t want to be that person who finally retires and then never gets to live the life they dreamed of,” he said. “Retiring early, even with half my pension, has given me time and that’s worth more than money.”
