By fnord12 | April 27, 2012, 2:15 PM | My stupid life | Link

Burn Down Your Home and Move to Cuenca!

I've found the place fnord12 and i are going to retire to. Cuenca, Ecuador.

Cuenca is a beautiful colonial city in an interesting and diverse country. The health care is high quality, honest, and inexpensive. The climate is spring-like and pleasant 12 months of the year. And Cuenca's large and growing expat community is one of Latin America's most diverse and well-blended.

There are other colonial cities in Ecuador, but Cuenca is the cultural heart of the country. In this center of art and literature, you can attend the orchestra, a play, a tango show, or an art opening, and these activities are usually free.

Cuenca is also a popular destination for international tourists and language students, offering many super-affordable options to study Spanish. The tourists and students bring vitality to the city and help support Cuenca's developed infrastructure for amenities and services.

However, perhaps the biggest draw to Cuenca is its cost of living, which is extremely low, especially considering the quality of life that you find here. The falling dollar has caused prices to go up sharply for overseas retirees whose retirement incomes are denominated in U.S. dollars, but who are living in places where goods are priced in the local currency. But this exchange-rate concern does not exist in Cuenca, because Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar.

...
To be able to enjoy all that the city has to offer, plan on a budget of $1,500 a month per couple if you're renting and $1,100 per month if you own your home. You could certainly live here for less, but these estimates will allow you to make the most of your new life in Cuenca.

I, ofc, immediately told fnord12 about this great find. He sent me a list of vegetarian/veg-friendly restaurants in the city.

But not before raining on my parade by bringing up a near coup in 2010.

Ecuador President Rafael Correa was holed up in Quito on Thursday afternoon after being attacked by police angered over changes to their job benefits.

In the aftermath of that attack, police across the country revolted, a state of emergency was declared, and flights into the country were canceled. While what exactly is going on in the Ecuadorian capital is still being sorted out, some fear the South American nation could be witnessing its second coup in a decade.

Also pointing out there was a military dictatorship as recently as 1979.

To which I respond - No Mosquitoes!!!!

By min | April 18, 2012, 10:48 AM | My stupid life | Link

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Squinky Pig Roast

JoJo came to work with me today, and naturally, the Squinkies decided to get up to a bit of mischief.

  

Now you know what i do at work.

By min | April 16, 2012, 3:30 PM | Cute Things & My stupid life | Link

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