San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (CNN) While politicians in Washington debate building a wall between the United States and Mexico, Americans who've moved south of the border have a different perspective on the country they've come to call home.

Walk the streets of San Miguel de Allende, a colonial town in central Mexico that's long been a mecca for American retirees, and you'll meet new arrivals who say they're grateful they've found a place to escape from mounting political tensions in the United States.

Some even have a catch phrase for the things they say brought them here. They call them "the three C's": climate, culture and cost of living.

What's the appeal of putting down roots here?

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