Well, I am happy to report that my memory is not completely gone afterall. I will start by saying, go out and buy the magazine. Again, it is one of my favorites. You can get a subscription for next to nothing (card inside is $24 for three years) and it's carried as well by valuemags so you can get UAL miles if youre so inclined. The articles don't have the sound of being written by someone who thinks good writing should include as many obsure words with as many syllables as possible and the photos are worth the price by themselves. They had an issue on Palau which was just absolutely gorgeous. But I digress.

The issue is july/august (they publish 8 times a year) and it's the lead story: The Five Best Islands To Live On. They are Isla Mujeres, Koh Samui (Thailand), Exuma (Bahamas), Hvar (Croatia), and Vanua Levu (Fiji).

For IdM, they give a real estate agent at http://www.caribbeanrealtytravel.com

A trust has to be set up at a local bank, but it doesn't seem too difficult. Average home price is US$199,000 with an example of a 4-br with view for $220k and a 5-br on Mar Turquesa for $699k.

It's 8 miles from Cancun and "is a throwback to Mexico's more innocent days" with "taquerias and family run hotels." It appears to be a cruise ship stop, "[b]ut after the ships have departed, the town slumbers under its coconut palms." There also appears to be a Mexican naval base on the island.

Cancun: 1/2 hour by ferry
Cozumel and Playa del Carmen: 1 hour by ferry

Last but not least, it's three square miles and has 14,500 residents.

Sounds like a nice place, to be honest. Good luck and happy hunting.