#8 and #9 -- paper money and money paper

The little German, who lives in the back of my head, is constantly asking if my papers are in order. For the first time in my life, I am going to be able to answer yes.


Several of you have commented that I am making this move to Mexico a bigger deal than it needs to be -- that it sounds as if I am worrying myself to death. There may be some truth to the charge, but I certainly do not feel that way on this end. If anything, I suspect I may simply be twiddling my thumbs until I can jump in my truck and head south.


What I do know is that, for the first time in my life, I am actually giving some structured thought to both my finances and getting my travelling papers in order.


Retirement has a way of focusing the mind on finances. I have never seriously considering retiring. My family's notion of work is that it is simply what you do until you die. When we Cottons are born, laborare est orare is tattooed on our very souls.


I currently work at a job that has an extremely generous retirement plan. A plan so generous that people regularly retire at 58. In a nation where people choose to work into their 70s, it is a nice plan. And a tempting one -- a temptation to which I have surrendered.


Somewhere last year, I decided to request an estimated benefits calculation. When it arrived, I was surprised at how much I would receive if I retired right now. When I added that amount with my federal service pension that begins this month, I realized I could comfortably retire at any time.


And then the deaths began. Tim Russert. A friend in the Department of Justice. Another friend's father. All of them in their 50s. For about a year, I have found myself turning to the obituary column in our state bar association magazine. At least half of the listed attorneys are younger than I am. I knew it was time to go. Rather, it was time for me to leave work before it was time "to go."


As you know from one small step, I submitted my retirement application at the beginning of last week, with an effective retirement date of 1 April. I then start my life in Mexico on 1 May.


I wanted to be certain that both pension checks were making their way into my account before I left. Because it takes up to 90 days for my current job's retirement check to jump its bureaucratic hurdles, I will be in Mexico before I know what is happening with that payment.


I am not worried about that process. After all, that is why we have computer connections.


I have one concern about my bank, though. I rely on a credit union that does not regularly allow its credit or debit cards to be used in Mexico. I have never been able to get my debit card to work properly there. The credit union is willing to let me use that card on a regular basis by overriding the ban. But its security system may override that override. When Kim of Boston and I discussed this, he convinced me that I need to deal with a bank.


And this is where Michael Dickson rode in on his white horse. One of the first sites I ran across with financial tips in Mexico was his La Vida Bougainvillea. He provides excellent advice on how to move to Mexico. The piece that caught my eye was opening an account with Citibank and Banamex for ease of access to funds with a debit card. As soon as my federal pension begins in a week, I will start that process rolling, and let all of you know how well it goes.


I then have to decide what to do with my deferred compensation. Michael has advice in this area -- and I intend to follow it. I will follow it because it was what I had intended to do for several years. Nothing like having one's own inclinations confirmed by someone else.


Once I get those papers in order, I need to tend to my travel documents. When I started this list, I was convinced that I would apply for my FM3 at the consulate in Portland before I left. However, I have received some very kind offers from people in the Melaque area to assist me in getting an FM3 after I enter Mexico on an FMT. The odds are very good that I will take that option.


But in the process of gathering documents I thought I would need for my FM3, I happened to open up my passport and discovered that I have less than a year remaining on it. That is something I can resolve before I leave, but I need to hop on it right now. Have any of you used the new passport card? It appears to have a rather limited utility. But I might get one, as well.


I am as excited about this adventure as I was during my last few months in England -- knowing that I was returning the States to enter law school. I almost feel as as I were 27 again. Looking forward to a great new adventure.