Living in Playa del Carmen?  Retiring in Mexico?
Fantastic.  For the both questions above.  As an American this is a great place to live and to enjoy nice warm winter days.  In the summer much hotter, but with all the A/C around, in stores, restaurants, homes, cars…. very very pleasant.  What I enjoy a great amount, and also notice from other friends recently arriving and installing, is that this is a great base for exploring.  There are so many activities for water sports and passtimes.  Everything is walking distance.  If you dont live right on the beach, you pack up a light lunch, and stroll down 2 or 3 blocks.   Want to explore a cenote or some Mayan ruins to discover what the heck is going to happen in 2012??!!  jump in the car and drive 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes  there are ruins all over the place down here.  Great hobby. Speak spanish??  No need to worry as there is a large ex pat community, plus so many schools and individual people here willing to help you learn it is also just enjoyable hobby.   As Bea says below,  I work in the Mexico real estate industry looking for great investments and even for perfect life style atmosphere for us Americans and Canadians and non-Mexicans.

Its a great adventure down here.  You feel alive with the natural beauty of the waters, the jungles, the history, the food, culture, and meeting interesting  people from all parts of the world down here on the Yucatan peninsula!  PLUS HAVING 70 DEGREE WEATHER IN JANUARY SURE BEATS A COLD CHILL FACTOR BELOW ZERO.