Ecuador out, Belize and Roatan in

Since I was 10 I've always known that I wanted to be retired.  "Sounds" funny to put into writing but it is true none the less.  Now into my 40's it seems desperately long ago.  I remember when my maternal grandparents retired when I was about 9yrs old.  At that time I thought, heck a swimming pool, playing golf everyday, that's not so bad.  I can do that.  Roll forward a few decades and here we are today "finally".

I started getting serious over the last year as finances have started lining up and the plan is starting to pull together.  There is still much to be done however and that is where this blog is coming into the picture.  Lots of sales of goods and financial planning still to take place.

I have travelled some over the years and have been to a few places that are widely considered to be retirement Mecca's and some that are less "mecca".  Ecuador(EC) being the former has been a frequent destination.  I first travelled there about 10yrs ago and have been back several times since.  I have a special place in my heart for EC, but I do not think at this current time that it is the retirement location for me.  That's not to say it won't be, but currently it is not the primary destination.  I really desire and want to live in a tropical beach/island location.  While there are some areas that fit that bill in EC, I have not found any that meet all of my requirements.  Perhaps this is a good place to list some of those "requirements".  In no particular order...

• Safety
• Commerce (read: grocery store, electronics, services, etc)
• Business opportunities
• Quality of life
• Cost of living 
• Cost of housing (I separated this from living as I see them loosely connected)
• Internet connectivity/speed
• Ease of commute back to States
• Ease of Visa/Residency

Now, to be fair with EC, I have not been everywhere in the country.  I have been to the places that I thought would be possible for me to live.  I have been to Guayaquil, Quito, Manta and Bahia de Caraquez.  Of all of them Bahia has the most hits for the most value on the list above.  So I guess the question is, If not there, then where?  Well that's a damn good question.  Now comes the candidates.  Belize (specifically Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker) and Roatan, Hondouras.  I have a trip planned to go to both in the next 2 months.  This "planning" trip should be quite educational.  I have read so much and done so much digging about the two that I am chomping at the bit to go now.  I am busy with work currently so it can wait the 8weeks or so before I leave, I suppose.

I can't say that I am a patient person and when I get this close to something I will sometimes move forward with it at all costs.  I think the left brain is winning out on this adventure however as it has a little more grave of implications if I do it wrong.  I could lose loads of money and cause myself a whole lot of aggravation.  There's a part of me that just feels that the more that I delay, the more I am just putting the rest of my life on hold.  I suppose it's the story of my life where there is an internal debate going on inside of me.  The endless caricature of the devil on one shoulder and a angel on the other.  I'm not so sure I ever had an angel on my shoulder however.

My next blog will be about some of the reasons why Ecuador didn't suit me and what I think about my research on Roatan and Belize.