Hi @likedeeler! Long time no see :) (that's my fault). How are you?

Yes, we're starting off in Playa del Carmen, and then planning to slow travel our way through Mexico (and possibly other countries in Central America) before deciding on where to settle. Mexico is huge, so it'll be a while probably.
And yes, Mexico is one of the few places without much of the madness. Hopefully it'll stay that way. But it's a big country, so enough space to 'get away' if needed.
Weren't you looking at Uruguay or Paraguay at some stage?