I'm an Air Force veteran who moved to Mexico after living in the US for 42 years. I made the right choice.

• I moved to the US from Jamaica, believing hard work would ensure a good quality of life.
• I served four years in the Air Force and obtained my American citizenship.
• Eventually, I had to admit that the country I served no longer felt like home.

I never imagined I'd leave the country I served. I hoped the United States would be my forever home.

However, I eventually had to admit that the country I dedicated myself to no longer felt like a place I could thrive.

I followed in my father's footsteps hoping to make him proud

In junior high, I moved to the US from Jamaica to live with my biological father. He believed that hard work would ensure a good quality of life and I adopted that belief.

I adjusted to American culture and served four years in the Air Force during the Gulf War. After that, I proudly obtained my American citizenship.

After my military service, I immersed myself in America's hustle culture, always working and never resting.

I first worked as a computer programmer while teaching part-time as a college instructor. Later, I transitioned into marketing leadership, working as a marketing manager before launching my own small marketing company in Houston, TX. Along the way, I co-owned an online women's beauty store with a business partner and pursued other small ventures.

It wasn't until my father's death that I realized my sacrifice: I lived to work instead of working to live.

I had followed in my father's footsteps as a workaholic and realized I was doing all this to make him proud. His death in 2011 left me feeling aimless.

Then, I discovered I had a difficult-to-diagnose autoimmune condition

In October 2017, I developed sudden pain and fatigue that only worsened over time. I used to walk three to four miles a day but soon struggled just to reach my front door. Nearly every joint ached, my breathing became labored, and my larger muscles, especially my thighs and back, felt like I was constantly doing resistance training.

I spent seven years seeing specialists and undergoing countless tests before discovering I have a debilitating autoimmune condition that requires medication.

I often had trouble booking specialist appointments. For example, my first rheumatology appointment alone required an eight-month wait, all while I suffered from debilitating pain and fatigue.

Between my medications, specialist visits, and health insurance costs, I was stretching my budget so thin I had to take funds from retirement accounts.

I realized that, for me, a better life would mean somewhere I could afford to focus less on work while also getting the healthcare I needed. I found that life in Mexico City.

Moving to Mexico after living in the US for 42 years was the right choice for me

My stress disappeared. Healthcare is easier to access, including for mental health.

In the US, getting the proper care for myself felt like a privilege. In Mexico, the medications I need are available without insurance and at prices that don't require financial sacrifice. For example, one of my medications costs a fifth of what it did in the US.

And it's not just the healthcare that has made me fall in love with Mexico in the year I've now lived there.

In my experience, people are kinder and more welcoming here. From Uber drivers helping me improve my Spanish to friendly neighbors, Mexico City has offered me a mix of grace and generosity.

Mexico's cost of living allows me to enjoy fresh foods and a comfortable apartment without financial stress. I eat, feel, and live better without sacrificing joy. I spend under $2,500 monthly for my living expenses — less than half of what I paid in the US.

While my condition makes it difficult for me to do more than minimal work, I'm hoping that with time I'll continue to heal and can, one day, take on more work again.

I can confidently say I made the right choice in moving. I miss some US conveniences like sidewalks that aren't obstacle courses and free, fast Amazon shipping. However, these trade-offs are small compared with the peace and quality of life I've embraced here.