Partnerships & Testimonials

Doquin Family from Buffalo, New York
We start our “new adventure” in just a couple of days. We are leaving Buffalo, New York for our new home in Ajijic, Mexico.  Our house in the suburbs is almost emptied out and the remaining stuff is being organized to be packed in our trailer. We wanted to say thank you for your blog. We are the adventurous type and have traveled a good bit, but with three kids we were concerned about so many things when the idea of moving to Mexico just wouldn’t go away–especially how the kids would “survive” and if they could thrive. Your blog gave us courage to push forward and see for ourselves that there is a different way of life–a healthier, family-centered, slower, more thoughtful and aware way of living. We found it on our trips to Ajijic–in the community, the church and the school where the kids are going, at the market and on our family hikes in the mountains and along the lake. The preparations have brought us together as a family after we spent years being pulled apart by the pace of life and the need to succeed in the suburban, country club, private school culture we lived in. We are confident that the life we set up in Ajijic will continue to bring a new sense of peace. We wish you and your family all the best on your adventure and ask that you say a prayer for us as we start our travels.

Kathryn Ferguson

G
I want to take a moment before I forget to just say thank you.  I really appreciate the fact that you make yourself available to people like myself who would otherwise get lost in the sea of information and varying (sometimes biased) opinions.  So, in short, I’m just ecstatic and super thankful that I found your site and a reliable source for real life in Mexico.

Bertoni
I love following Los O’Gradys! They give me so much insight on expat living in Mexico and are so exemplary to those of us hoping to do the same in the future. I will definitely be in touch with Katie when the time comes for our own family to make our move.

MJ
Not only have you touched many folks around the globe by your brilliant heartfelt posts AND shared the growth of the twins and your and Franks journey, please know what a gift you have offered all of us. I for one am extremely grateful and am so looking forward to meeting all The O’Grady’s in our future travel. I’m sure there have been times (especially around your recovering from your back surgery) that it would have been easy to say, I’m tired. And I’m not going to do this anymore. You had a right to be exhausted…but you forged ahead and keep all your followers in the loop of your present circumstances, and it made us all love you even more. You are a force to be reckoned with and you lift us up with your postings. You spread a light and love that is not easy to come by these days. AND thank you from the bottom of my heart (as I’m sure many feel this way). Bravo, Katie, Bravo!!!! Namaste

Jose
He seguido tus blogs desde hace buen tiempo, son inspiradores, tienes un gran sentido del humor y una especial percepción sobre tu entorno, es mi sueño también mudarme a la costa. me gustaría si pudieras regalarme unas palabras de motivación para poder dejar todo mi entorno, todo lo que conozco y poder mudarme a otro lugar a empezar de cero, si creo tener ese espíritu viajero pero hay circunstancias que me tienen atorado aquí, no temo a empezar de nuevo, temo al cambio, he leído tus blogs sobre tu mudanza a México, eres como una especie de héroe para mí, cómo encajaste tu y tu familia muy rápidamente en una cultura opuesta a la estadounidense. Sigue escribiendo esos posts, hacen por menos estar allí cuando los lees y soñar! Ya estoy en ese punto donde los bienes materiales ya no importan, he llegado a ese punto donde te das cuenta que la vida no se trata de acumulas cosas que de nada sirven más que para alimentar el ego, ya no más, quiero vivir, quiero sentirme libre, quiero poder despertar y ver qué aventura o anécdota me dejara ese día, es lo único que me llevaré conmigo ese día y en ese último respiro. Saludos Katie y muchas gracias de nuevo por tus palabras!

Steve
Los O’Gradys in Mexico is a wonderful blog written by a very good writer who’s discovered and conveyed very well the essence of not only life in Mexico, but of life itself. I’m looking forward to reading it on a regular basis. Your advice regarding how one should live in Mexico doesn’t just apply to Mexico. It’s more existential than specific to a particular place, although it is that, too. My wife and I hope to retire to Mexico sometime in 2019.

Paula
I love how you express what I have been thinking and hope to experience when I move this springtime. Thank you! You have been blessed with an awesome gift to put thoughts into words.

Trevor
You inspired so many of us that it brings tears to my eyes. Your strength–physically & mentally–is the touchstone for your family.

Diana
I love your words in your Blog. I have been going to Mexico for 17 years and plan on living there in two…hopefully! I feel at home…my body, soul, mind and spirit are at home in Mexico. The sense of community and family is what makes me feel that I am part of something and loved. The Mexicano family I met there 15 years ago through my Dad, who lived in Chapala, took me in as family and still does. I am ‘hermana’ ‘dianita’ ‘carina’ ‘tia’ and more. I have never felt so loved. I feel safe and part of something when I am there. And when I do move there, I will not be a rich ‘ex-pat’ but because of my family, I will be. We all help each other in hard times and share the joy in good times. I am so blessed my Dad moved there many years ago and I visited only 3 weeks after he did. Because I found where I belong. 

Albert
Katie, your story is truly inspiring. I am a former Military Vet (US Marine) who left my family many times to attend military objectives. Now that I am out of the military I now have a different appreciation for having them more on my side, each day. I am trying to line my ducks in a row, but there is always something that holds me up, could be a little bit of fear of the unknown, job, place to live and schools for kids, who knows maybe even start some sort of business out there. It seems I would have to be there in person, for a better view and transition. I keep telling my family life will be much different living by the beach, enjoying the cenotes of Yucatan, and living events, such as the ones you show in your pics. They are all supportive, which really helps. Your story, albeit the unknowns you and family personally faced, inspired me to have more courage to see, that life is short, and we need to accomplish our dreams…Thanks for sharing your story.