Randy Lagman and his Spouse, Lisa Mouse Straus, moved to Colombia from the U.S. after spending four years as full-time RVers in the USA while traveling and teleworking. For several years prior to retirement, Randy and Mouse had visited many countries in the process of investigating where best to retire. After meeting a fellow RVing couple, one of whom was a Colombiana, they suggested investigating their country. 

Having had only seen the information that is in the media and Hollywood productions, Randy and Mouse were hesitant. But they visited Colombia in 2019, and absolutely loved the country. The aspect of Colombia that Randy and Mouse found the most compelling was the Colombian People. Colombianos are welcoming, patient, helpful, and genuine. Yes, the nature, the mountains, and the food were all compelling, as was the cost of living. But this one visit sealed the decision, and in 2021 they retired and moved to Manizales, in the Eje Cafetero region. Today, Randy and Mouse live in a rural area in a finca (sort of like a farm) just outside of the town of Palestina, Caldas. This is about an hour outside of Manizales. The climate is perfect year-round, and the Colombian people are so incredibly accepting and welcoming. 

Colombia offers an exciting mix of natural beauty and a welcoming community atmosphere. Randy and Mouse have learned so very much about becoming expats, and about many aspects of being Americans living in Colombia. Yes, the language was a challenge at first, as were some of the local customs. They have bought and sold a home, rented homes, gotten their Colombian driver licenses, bought a Colombian car, and they spend a great deal of time with their Colombian friends. These were all exciting new experiences for Randy and Mouse. They jumped into all things Colombiano head-first, and learned much along the way. They plan to stay in Colombia for a very long time, and are ready and willing to share their experiences.