Rick & Sarah Hepting
Status: Couple
Employed or Retired: Employed
Where did you live previously: We had a ranch and commercial nursery in Laytonville, California. I also trained and worked with race horses.
What part of town do you live in: Rio Cuale- Colonia Buenos Aires
Why did you decide to move to Vallarta: I thought this was a good place to live out the remainder of my life, a good place to die. I’ve worked hard all of my life, and I still work hard, but life here is very good, much better than it has been for me anywhere else I’ve lived. A quality life is inexpensive here. Another consideration was that Vallarta is gay friendly. I’m straight but many, many of my friends and family are gay.
What other places did you consider: Bangkok but my wife, Sarah, refused. It would have been too long of a flight to visit her kids and family. And the language would have been impossible for us. Spanish is difficult but not impossible.
What were the main reason(s) you moved here: I don’t know. The first time I stepped out of a plane at the PV airport I knew I was moving here. I visited a few more times as a tourist and then rented an apartment for a year while I commuted back and forth to California for my business. I spent a long time looking at real estate and then one day bought a house, went back to California, sold my house and business there and moved here in 2005. I’ve gone back only once, when my father died.
Since then I have set up a website design business and an expat forum. I helped run the Vallarta Mardi Gras parade for the last 2 years and now I am in the process of opening a small bar/restaurant. I have no formal retirement so I need to be employed and I see that Vallarta is a boom town of sorts. Even with limited income, my standard of living is very high here, compared to what it would have been in California.
What are the top (3) things you have learned that you think might help someone moving to Vallarta now:
I opted for a non-gringo lifestyle here and I know that is not for everyone. My neighbors are all working class Mexican. There are many options, of course, so try to pick the one(s) that you really are happy and comfortable with. Remember to treat life as an experiment and an experience and never close your eyes to your feelings. If you plan to live here, learn the language. My years here have been the best of my life.
