Our Story: How It All Began
This story begins with art and photoghy. Years ago, Javi and Jessica’s paths first crossed when Javi, working as an event photographer, asked if he could take a picture of Jessica and her date. Interestingly, Jessica was on a date, and Javi just happened to be behind the lens. Instagram handles were exchanged, and although nothing unfolded immediately, fate clearly had other plans.
Life took them in different directions—Jessica moved to Massachusetts while Javi settled into a new home in a small Texas town. Years later, when Jessica returned to Texas after her northeast sabbatical, Instagram reconnected them. A reaction to one of Jessica’s Instagram Stories sparked a conversation that quickly grew into daily exchanges. Soon after, they met in person—and from that moment on, they’ve been inseparable.
Their first year together was filled with laughter, creativity, and big dreams of living differently. Both shared a deep desire for travel, exploration, and personal growth—dreams that bonded them even more. Life in a small Texas town, however, felt limiting. That all shifted after a spontaneous birthday trip to Mexico for Javi, where Jessica was struck by the beauty of the culture: the slower pace of life, the warm smiles, and the deep sense of community and family.
For Javi, a Mexican native, the trip awakened something even deeper. His childhood memories of Mexico were rooted in family visits to his grandmother’s ranch—a tradition that became less frequent as adult responsibilities took over. The trip planted a seed: What if we lived here? What if we traveled more freely? What if we truly followed this dream?
With those questions, their vision became clear. Over the next six months, they poured their energy into planning, researching, and preparing. Questions came quickly: What about the house? Our belongings? The pets? Immigration? What at first seemed overwhelming slowly became manageable as they broke it down into steps. They listed their home with a realtor, sold large items on Facebook Marketplace, stored what they couldn’t part with, and researched the immigration process. After months of waiting, an unexpected cash offer came in—and just three weeks later, they were Mexico-bound.
Their new chapter began in Santiago de Querétaro. They chose the city for its temperate climate, rich culture, ideal size, and resources to help with the immigration process. Querétaro became their “soft landing,” where they could take care of legal matters, settle into a short-term rental, and arrange transport for their pets.
With no rigid expectations—only curiosity and courage—Javi and Jessica began documenting their journey. Inspired by other travelers sharing their stories online, they decided to do the same: to create, to tell their story, and to invite others to dream bigger about life outside the U.S.
As their journey unfolds, Javi and Jessica will share the challenges, the rewards, and the beauty of chasing a different kind of life. Through video and written reflections, they invite you to follow along—two lovebirds spreading their wings, creating a life filled with adventure, creativity, and connection.
