Single Lady wanting to move to Ecuador

demoligest wrote:

Mam, I am the Demoligest from Houston Texas,
I did no mean to offend any one,the ONES I DID, I ask for forgiveness !
Thanks to every one. Barry

I forgive you Barry.  Best of luck in your future endeavors.

it was NOT offensive, just an innocent mistake. At our age, we just got used to saying what's on our minds. People might think we are a tad weird. I am 70 and I am now dating an extremely handsome Ecuadorian, quite a bit younger. I know, this is not supposed to be a dating site, but I have seen plenty of blogs, where peeps suggested a get-together. And like, what is wrong with that?  Newcomers should be made welcome. I was lucky to already have friends here, who I had visited last year. If you are planning on living in Cuenca, there is an InterNations meeting at least once a month. I am sure, you would like that.  Best of luck to you. I love it here, and I hope you will find everything to your liking as well. Besides, one can never have too many friends. Toodles, Amber

@frankdahl:   the best thing I ever did, was coming to Ecuador as a visitor for 10 days in August last year. I had "local" friends, who showed me around, and I started liking it pretty quickly. We looked at apartments and found one I wanted. The landlady kept it for me until I came back in November. I live just outside of Samborondon, in my eyes the best part of Guayaquil, a city of 4 million.  I taught English for 3 mos. and that helped me a lot in the beginning, with getting used to this place and the language.  This coming Tuesday, I am going to visit Machala, a city of about 300,000 peeps 4 hrs. by bus south of here.  If I like it better there, I might move next year.  I have new acquaintances among Ecuadorians and a few Ex-Pats and I started dating a very nice man, who was born in the lower mountain region around Bucay. Life is what you make it. I like the food, I like most of the people, I live within my means, and the things I don't like, are pretty much the same things I did not care for back in Canada. Such as having to deal with government employees   -   one of my pet peeves and always has been. So far, so good.  When there is more negative than positive, - time to move on. My Gypsy blood keeps me going.  Don't like it  -  leave. I'll let you know, how I liked Machala.    Toodles, the Canuck

AmberFenton wrote:

it was NOT offensive, just an innocent mistake. At our age, we just got used to saying what's on our minds. People might think we are a tad weird. I am 70 and I am now dating an extremely handsome Ecuadorian, quite a bit younger. I know, this is not supposed to be a dating site, but I have seen plenty of blogs, where peeps suggested a get-together. And like, what is wrong with that?  Newcomers should be made welcome. I was lucky to already have friends here, who I had visited last year. If you are planning on living in Cuenca, there is an InterNations meeting at least once a month. I am sure, you would like that.  Best of luck to you. I love it here, and I hope you will find everything to your liking as well. Besides, one can never have too many friends. Toodles, Amber

I completely agree, Amber. It is inevitable that some of the folks here will find that they have enough in common that they will choose to meet up (either with or without romance on the agenda).

InterNations has regular meetings in Quito as well, though I've never attended. South American Explorers is another good place to meet other expats in Quito.

Hi Canuk-
Thanks for your thoughtful and encouraging words. They have made me rethink all the positives I had started to overlook. My original plan had been to put my affairs in order and fly down with my documents, the dog, and two suitcases after the house was sold ,which finally happened in March.. Have read some of your old posts ( you have a very interesting story) and like yourself cannot afford to fly back and forth doing that. Last time I checked the airfare was about $1,100USD and with accomodations, meals, ground transportation etc it would be a very expensive vacation but of course the smartest way to voluntarily expatriate  is to go and have a look for one's self.  I would be free to do that in September . My French, Portuguese and some Russian are quite rusty but have been studying a Latin American Spanish book and it doesn't seem too difficult There are a lot of people to practice with here.I think knowing a bit of the language is such an important part of negotiating day to day life and becoming aculturated.. I had planned to start in Guayaquil and check out some of the areas along the coast. Your present situation sounds affordable and quite a bit beyond  just comfortable. I am also adaptable and wouldn't mind giving up some of the amenities I have here in exchange for all the wonderful things Ecuador has to offer .Was it difficult to obtain a job teaching English? I do not have any credentials to do that here but do have two university degrees for what that's worth. I have a prospective offer of employment near Bahia. From the people I have gotten to know on this Forum my present income is quite sufficient but it might be a way of getting to know people.
You are absolutely right about moving on if you don't like where you're at and now that I'm free to leave here I plan on doing that. We call it voting with your feet in the US.

Cheers,
SFD




Thanks again for your reply

Hi Bob-
Heard that you had to go back to States for health issues. Are you back in Quito?
Sue

[Moderated: Expat.com is not a dating website]

[Moderated: Off topic + Keep your political views for yourself]

demoligest wrote:

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[Moderated]
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USA won't miss you, hope you leave soon.  Good luck in finding a partner for your rooming house.

Right on Mugtech. Sooner or later the team will moderate him or just take down the posts. Politics are verboten on the EC forum whatever your opinion. I don't think rooming houses for single women would make the guy any money. I sure as s... wouldn't live in one. Is there a gringo red light district in Cuenca? Maybe he should look into that? Sorry to be sarcastic.

suefrankdahl wrote:

Right on Mugtech. Sooner or later the team will moderate him or just take down the posts. Politics are verboten on the EC forum whatever your opinion. I don't think rooming houses for single women would make the guy any money. I sure as s... wouldn't live in one. Is there a gringo red light district in Cuenca? Maybe he should look into that? Sorry to be sarcastic.

No need to apologize, it was more truth than sarcasm.

@suefrankdahl: good to hear from you, glad you have not given up on your plans to retire here. The best way of doing this,  is that you can do everything with your documents in the States, and for Americans it is slightly different than it is for Canadians. Best to check it all out first. There are web sites, which will tell you what all you need. The translation of all documents is preferred here, since the Spanish in every country varies  I know of a really nice young lady, working for a Notario down-town Guayaquil, and every set of documents was $11 to be notarized.  The translator was excellent, a much elderly dude, but ever so good. $20 a page, but done to perfection.  Your consulate and the Ecuadorian consulate near you, will also be able to give you a list of requirements for a Permanent Resident Visa.  Once you receive that Visa, you will have to go to another Office across town, to receive your I.D. card, and once you are over 65, there are a few advantages, like price reductions.  Make sure your passport is still good for at least a full year. Mine expired, while I was here, and it became one of the biggest hassles, spending much time and money. Mia culpa.There are several places for rent in a gated community called "Villa Club" , not far from where I live, and it is close to shopping and restaurants, which are located in a small strip mall. Very convenient. The rents vary from $350 to $500 a mo. depending on the number of bedrooms [these are actual houses].  Their condo fees are less than $50 a mo.
There are "seguro" taxis available and Samborondon is about 15 min. [$4.00] taxi ride away, where there is a large
Mall. Prices for furniture and household items are high, as they are for cars and applicances. I made do without a TV for 5 mos. and then I went with an Ecuadorian friend to the Bahia, which is a fantastic open market for just about everything. We were able to get a 42inch TV for $600 and a DVD for $55. That was my largest expense so far, but it adds up after buying a fridge [$500], washing machine[$300], large fan [$110], etc. My landlady let me borrow a stove and a few other items, thank goodness. 
I am not too sure about towns along the coast. I have only seen Salinas so far, and I was not at all impressed. But then again, I am not a beach type.  I love it in the lower mountain range near Bucay.    The part-time teaching job was sort of a fluke. I had walked into a private elementary school next to where I live, to ask about someone, who might be able to teach me Spanish after school. I was hired immediately as an English teacher for their high-school in Samborondon.. Now, apparently, they are getting a tad stricter with the qualifications. I only did this this for about 3 mos. At my age [close to 70], working was really not on my agenda. But I did it, because I still love teaching and it was a lot of fun.   Let me know, what you decide to do.  September is not really that far off.   Kind regards, Amber

suefrankdahl wrote:

Hi Bob-
Heard that you had to go back to States for health issues. Are you back in Quito?
Sue

Sue:

Thanks for asking. I replied on the "A Brief Personal Note" thread because I didn't want to take this one off-topic.

LOL -- looks like that was a waste of time.

Bob

Hi all,

We have done some clean up here.
By the way guys don't forget to hit "report" when something / someone goes wrong.
It will make it easier for us act promptly.

Regards
Armand
Expat.com Team

Thanks Armand. I can't figure out how to report since you updated the website.

Hi Sue,

On top of every post there is a little gray "Report" button with a hazard sign

Armand