Thoughts on Buenos Aires/Argentina and South America in General

So this is my second trip to Buenos Aires, and I've spent nearly 10 days total here.  If not for the fact it's located so far south, and the summers are too hot for my delicate constitution (not to mention said summers are "backwards" due to being in the Southern Hemisphere and thus messing with my concept of Christmas), this place would totally be at the top of my retirement list and here's why:

• It just has a cool "vibe." I know this is hard to describe, and for most folks it's different, of course, but almost immediately upon being out and about in the city, it just felt right/cool, and made me realize Quito was a bit lacking in that regard - again, at least for me. I think that "vibe" stems from the following:
• Tree-lined streets and awesome architecture. There's a reason Buenos Aires is called "the Paris of South America" and you see it in the boulevards, the architecture, the cafe culture, the tree-lined streets, all the bookstores, etc.
• Yeah, the bookstores. There are a TON here and I love it. Beyond its beautiful flagship store, El Ateneo has multiple locations, and even the small ones are beautfiul and cool places to browse/hang out. Tons of others, too.
• The metro serves the city well, and they also have an EXTENSIVE bus system. With Uber and tons of taxis available, the combo means you can easily survive w/o a car.
• The people are very, very pretty - and for reasons similar to all the attractive people you see in the states: the indigenous population has mixed with waves of immigrants from first the Spanish to the Italians to the Germans. Just a beautiful population in general (altho, from what I understand, most of them are too aware of it! lol) 

And while I wouldn't necessarily retire here, the fact that this awesome city is on the continent gives South America a boost in general as a place to consider for retirement since I could come visit periodically.  

As already mentioned, I may have to check out Cuenca in Ecuador as an option if Europe proves too expensive, AND I also need to spend some time in Medellin, Colombia.  My brief stay in Cartagena opened my eyes to that country, and while I initially still dismissed it due to weather (too hot/humid), I've read Medellin is MUCH more hospitable, climate wise, and is an increasingly popular option with expats - due partly to proximity to the states and the Caribbean.

Final Review on Ecuador as a Retirement Option & Where It Ranks For My Options Out of Every Country I've Lived In

Using the same criteria I did for Mexico, here's my "review" on Ecuador's suitability as a retirement option with grades for the major considerations:

Weather: A- The only thing keeping this from a solid A is a bit too much rain for my tastes. A big plus is the consistency/lack of extremes. Every. Single. Day. pretty much the low to mid 5os at night and low to mid 60s during the day. When it was rainy, it felt colder, when it was sunny, if felt warmer. The UV is high. My understanding is Cuenca is better than Quito (more on this below)

Safety: B+ It's this "low" only coz of anecdotal stuff I've heard, and even then more of an issue in coastal cities and not Quito. But lots of tourists (int'l and domestic) means there's petty crime if you're not careful (as DJ discovered when his phone got filched coz he didn't have it tucked away in his backpack)

Food: B+ Points off for lack of variety, and they REALLY like their meat. But man is it CHEAP. The two of us could eat out in lots of places for $6 total. The best fried rice I've ever had outside of China. A fair amount of American fast food and other chains if you miss that, and some nice high end places. Lots of pizza. Lots of sandwiches.

Infrastructure: B+ Our electricity never went out, even with storms. We had some internet issues, but not as much as I did with Cox in the states, and our landlord admmitted he needed to change providers so there are better ones out there. The airport is modern, although a good hike (hour by car) from central Quito. Not as many run down or abandoned buildings as in Mexico. Roads in good condition, but lots of traffic. Extensive bus system we never used coz we could use the (new and modern) Subway for anything we needed outside of the historic center.

Health Care: A Can't give this an A+ coz we didn't experience inpatient care, but I hear/read it's good. Click HERE where I give more detail on our experiences, and as a follow up, I would add I later had an "elective/cosmetic" procedure done to get rid of of some Keratosis things that would have set me back $500-$600 in the states (why I didn't do it there), and in Quito, it cost.........$22.  The cream to heal after was pricier: $30.

Costs: A  Our smallish apartment was around $500 a month (2 bedrooms, 1 bath, washer but no dryer) and included all utilities and internet. As mentioned, dining out was dirt cheap, movies were about $3 (at night!). Subway was 45 cents. On the whole, I would say our cost of living was LESS THAN HALF of what it was in Oklahoma.

Social/People: C There IS an expat community here, but not large (bigger in Cuenca), and the locals are friendy enough. I didn't make any real local friends, but didn't really try, either. DJ got lucky that there was a boy a little younger than him in our building, so they hung out some. We did find Ecuador folks to be friendly and helpful.

Culture: B+/A- There's a shit ton of cool historic buildings to see in Quito and also a ton of museums. Large malls that are still heavily trafficked with lots of shopping, multiple screen movie theaters (altho sometimes hard to catch movies in English). Large parks and plazas with frequent festivals, carnivals, and parades, etc.

Flora/Fauna: A- Ecuador is a beautiful country that we barely scratched the surface of. The altitude and weather combine for virtually ZERO bugs/pests in our apartment. We never saw a roach, never had ants, saw 2 flies in 3 months, and only DJ claimed to see a spider. The city is ringed by mountains, which look very striking in certain parts of town. There wasn't too much flora within the city of Quito itself. Of course the Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador and if we weren't so poor, I would have done that.

Location: C I've found it's expensive to fly into/out of/around South America which is a negative for a travel whore like me.  It' not TOO far from the states, tho, which I GUESS is a plus. Quito is in the Eastern time zone which made it convenient in a lot of ways for keeping in touch with friends/family.

At the end of the day, Ecuador moves to the top of my current rankings for places I'd consider for retirement, ALTHOUGH I would definitely check out Cuenca and would probably choose it over Quito. From what I've heard, read, and talked about with other folks, although it's smaller, Cuenca has a much larger expat community, is more "charming" and less chaotic than central/tourist heavy Quito, the housing is even cheaper, the weather is even better (i.e., less rain) and it's not as high up.  That being said, if for some reason, Cuenca didn't do it for me, I'd be perfectly happy living in a modern apt, in the Inaquito area of Quito.  Click HERE for more deets on my previous ranking, just moving each country down one spot with Ecuador now #1.

Next up: Portugal - which I EXPECT to be my new #1, but we'll see!

Olio of Observations on Quito/Ecuador

 So as we enter our last two weeks here, he's a mix of observations that didn't fit into a "themed" post:

• It's very convenient that they use the U.S. dollar. They do actually mint their own coins, as well, equivalent to U.S., but it's still predominately U.S. currency being used. A ton of the Sacagewa dollars, and a fair mount of the U.S. Presidents series dollars. No trying to convert the cost to figure the "real" cost.
• Lots of places accept credit cards, but they are more likely to ask for your ID to confirm it's you - both locals and foreigners.
• There are a ton of public plazas.  There's the big/main one just down the street from us in the historic center - ALWAYS hoppin - and then just a few blocks over from that is the large San Francisco plaza, also very busy - esp. with the main Downtown Metro stop. There's a cute small one a few blocks from us where lots of older men gather to play cards. And tons of others scattered around town.
• The historic center is very hilly, very shades of San Francisco, but also very traffic crowded due to small one lane streets, you gotta know the one way directions, etc. As much as I like it here, I would not live here if I moved here. Too much traffic, too many tourists, etc.  Luckily, our place is quiet coz the chaos peters out just as you get up the next to last block to our place. I would live near Carolina park. Very modern, LOTS of amenities, beuatiful surroundings with the mountains, but a generally flat area.
• The altitude does mean you need to drink more water and you can get tired after long walks and need naps. Fine with me, lol.  But the UV is high and you need sunscreen or umbrellas like many locals use.
• One cool thing is that sales/VAT tax is included in all prices. Everywhere. It's nice to know that the price you see if the total price. Period.  And, as mentioned, it's insanely cheap here compared to the states. We pay $500 a month rent for a smallish 2-BR very well located, and includes all bills - including internet. We can both eat out for $6 total.  Fast food, ironically, is more expensive. But even nicer meals will set us back only $15-$20 total.  
• No "protruding" signage is allowed. Took me awhile to realize/process this, and it's nice from an aestehtic POV. It DOES mean you need to pay attention when looking for a new place as the signage will just be wording on the wall of the building near the entrance.
• Knowing Spanish will help you a lot, but a fair number of folks in larger stores, medical facilities, etc. speak English, and everyone has a phone/uses Google translate when necessary.
• While there are a SHIT. TON. of little mom & pop restaurants, you can't always be 100% certain they will be open during their listed/normal hours.  It's not SUPER annoying or often, but you should generally have a back up.
• Like the states, Black Friday is a big thing here - a lot of places actually do "Black Week" and have specials the whole week of Thanksgiving, that is not even celebrated here! Even medical clinics will offer discounts for appointments scheduled during Black Week.
• There's a ton of street vendors in the historic center, which is cool. Lots of women selling produce, nuts, little cevichoco stands, etc. Ice cream. Little mini kiosks with all kinds of convenience store type goods (and very few actual convenience stores). There's also a fair number of folks walking around selling totally random stuff like knobs for pot/pan lids, rubber gloves, telescoping window cleaners, etc.  Weird.
• A lot of bathrooms in public places have the toilet paper OUTSIDE of the stalls. That is, they have dispensers just inside the entrance. I'm guessing coz people will otherwise steal it? The malls have these fancy "auto dispensing" TP mahcines where you wave your hand under a sensor and it shits out toilet paper (huh huh huh). But all public restrooms we used were super clean.  They also have public restrooms around the historic center that charge you like 10-25 cents and have a person that takes your money and keeps it clean.

In a few weeks, I'll unveil my decision as to whether or not I would actually consider retiring here and where it ranks overall in my "preferred" list.  Next week, we're off to the Cloud Forest for a fun farewell overnight, and we also still need to get to to the top of the hill here to see the big statue.

Seriously, America, WTF?

So I try to shield DJ from all the horrors happening now in the states. He's a worrier, and would be particularly worried something bad might happen to his Grams, or other family members. But he plays Roblox and other games with kids in the states and I guess an older kid brought up Renee Good so he comes ino the living room and says:

"Dad, did ICE really shoot someone's mom in the head and kill her?"

(me, grimacing) "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because they're Nazi pigs and she wouldn't 'obey'"

"What was she doing?"

"Picking her kids up from school."

Then there's a long pause as he chews on this and then, suddenly, he starts to tear up. "What if that happened to Auntie Amanda?" (my sister in law) "Or Auntie Angel" (my sister) Or Auntie Angela? (another sister in law).  So now, *I* am imagining that and my brain starts warring between extreme anger, fear, and horror over the possibility of that happening to the 3 young/youngish suburban moms in my own family (I have another suburban mom sister in law but she's married to my Nazi brother, so yeah, fuck her).

Anyway, after he "makes" me hug him and comfort him and assure him (not falsely, I hope!) that his aunties and Grams are going to be okay, he asked me, "Why isn't anyone doing anything?" And I thought.......and thought.  And finally said, "Well, lots of people are trying. Your Grams is going to a protest tomorrow..." and here I get interrupted as he starts freaking out and saying, "Is she going to be okay? I don't want Grams to die!" and then more tears and more comforting and assurances before he goes back to his game and I sit and rage. And cry.

So, yeah, America, WTAF? What is it going to take? If this shit were happening in France, they'd burn that country down--hell, they burn shit to the ground when the legislature even considers adding one year to the retirement age. And yes, I fully admit it's "easier" for me to judge since I'm not there right now, BUT, as mentioned above, I have friends and family in the states and it ENRAGES me to think of them living under this shit. And don't EVEN get me started on how I'd feel if one of MY white suburban mom family members was shot in the head three times leaving my nieces/nephews without a mom.  

But it also enrages me that people aren't doing more.  Mostly, the spineless cowards in Congress, but it's time to STEP. UP. people.  EVERYONE. So, as a history major who's looked at this shit before, studied the endless, "What did the Germans (or others) do or not do and what worked and what didn't," I have some suggestions.  Some are easy. Some are definitely not, but I feel like it's time for people to stop complaining and DO more if you REALLY don't want to see this get worse. Because believe me, it WILL. It clearly has been already.

1) Protest/speak out. This is obvious, and lots of good folks I know are doing this. Go to a march/demonstartion. Organize one yourself. CALL your reps and Senators and ask what they're doing to stop this madness. Again, CALL. It is more effective. Even if you're in a ruby red state, call them. Tell them they also represent you, and you need to add your voice to drown out the propaganda-swallowing maga filth. Call each time you hear/read about something awful happening. This literally takes up 10-15 minutes of your day.  

2) If you haven't already (and I know most everyone I know already has), you have to COMPLETELY shun any MAGA filth from your circle. Don't care if it's a lifelong friend, your sibling, your parent, your fucking dog. This is psychology 101. People who adhere to vile beliefs feel justified when otherwise good people still validate them by not shunning them. While I personally would choose the route of shaming them forcefully, you can also just politely say, "I'm sorry, but my values and conscience don't allow me to associate any longer with people that support what's happening right now in this country." Stop making excuses for these filth. They are not "otherwise good people." They are monsters who should be treated as such. No excuses.

3) This one's trickier and I know more difficult for some folks - but not as diffcult as you'd like to believe or rationalize: If you work for an entity that is providing material support for this regime, or even if they support them on any level, really, then quit. And make sure they know why. If, by your labor, you allow a filthy Nazi idealogue to continue supporting this shit, then you are flat out enabling it. Look for a job in an NGO/non-profit. Take early retirement if you're 62 - and if you can't afford to live in the states on it, move abroad. Will your standard of living take a hit? Maybe/probably, but you can mitigate it by the following:

4) Stop consuming at the level that you are--this is an obscenely corrupt capitalist oligarchy. All they understand is money/profit. One of the things I learned from moving abroad is you really REALLY don't need so much STUFF. It was painful for me to sell everything I owned. I even tossed years worth of scrapbooks, memorabilia, trinkets I've collected for years, and more. Clothes. Books. Media. On and on. You'd be amazed at how little you actually NEED to live a good life if you shift your priorities. Stop shopping at large businesses that support this filth. Tell them why. Stop eating at chains that are taking your money and using it to actively suppress your rights and kill you--or the rights of your loved ones. Shop/dine out only at mom & pop businesses that aren't playing Fox news on their screens.  If you go to a place and they are playing Fox, or Newsmax, or OAN, turn around and walk out, and go give them a one star review and state why.  

5) Shut. The. Country. Down. Again, using France and other countries as an example, they just stop working. They stop spending. They go full COVID peak time and grind the country to a halt until the "powers that be" stop their BS. Or they cut off their fucking heads. lol  This is no doubt the hardest because you really need mass participation and leaders driving it. So become one of those leaders.  Remember Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 

Finally, let me end with the words from a meme I recently shared, in case you missed it:

It's fucking 2026. Stop being afraid to speak out about Trump and ICE. Stop being afraid, you're going to lose friends, business, family. You should want NOTHING to do with anyone that supports this. This is not normal. They are murdering innocent people in broad daylight on the street and telling us we don't see what we see. Be brave already. 

Health and Medical Care in Ecuador

So I put off by a few months my latest teeth cleaning as I wanted to see what it was like in Ecuador. By luck of timing, I also needed a specialist follow up with an opthalmologist, DJ needed a Pediatrician and an Optometrist/glasses, and I also needed a dermatologist.  We also ended up needing multiple prescriptions.  

Luckily, all went well. I got a suggestion from an expat group here for a "pricier" dentist highly recommended so I forked over a whopping $25 to get an exam and cleaning. Their office was in a modern high rise near Carolina Park. I arrived 5 mins before my appointment and was immediately whisked in to a super moden, super clean exam room with a view of the park while she did the cleaning. And yes, using the modern water blasting tools and not those horrid needle like diggers/scrapers.  Of course she did try to sell me some teeth whitening sessions, but I played off the "no habla espanol" and got in and out within a half hour.  Score.

For the specialists/medical, again relying on the advice of other expats, we chose Veris, which is a medical org here with multiple locations. They had one a couple blocks off a metro stop just one past our usual stop at Carolina park for eating out, movies, and shopping.  The appointments for the dermatologist, the pediatrician, and the opthalmologist were between $35 - $40 each. Every time, we got in right at our scheduled appointment time, with the exception of waiting 5 mins. for DJ's pediatrician appointment due to the previous patient being late for their appointment.

The Veris offices are also super modern, super clean, all the latest technology, etc.  We each got multiple prescriptions that were between $2 - $10 each. None of the doctors spoke fluent English (altho my opthalmologist was close), so we used Google translate. Finally, the optometrist was the most pricey, but even then it was just under $180 for the exam, frames, and lenses with UV and blue light protection/coating. We could have paid about $20 less for different frames, but I let him "splurge" a bit for the holidays. lol  Obviously, these costs would be lower/disappear if I elected to move here and got insurance.

I really have nothing negative to say about our experiences, and in fact I was VERY happy about the lack of wait time. Whenever I scheduled an appointment, we could get in within a few days, and as mentioned above, ZERO wait time beyond our scheduled appointment times - it drove me INSANE to get to my doctor's appt. in the states at the appointed time and then wait. And wait. And wait. More than once, I left doctor's offices in a huff, telling them my time was just as important as theirs and I would need to reschedule.

In other health news, I've lost nearly 20 pounds since leaving the states not quite 8 months ago. This wasn't necessarily by design, it's just a result of eating less junk, drinking less soda, and walking more.  I did a little research and from a UN site found the following interesting comparisons--Ecuador is on the left and the US on the right:

Skill and competency of medical staff		Very High 81.17		High 72.22
Speed in completing examinations and reports		High 78.44		High 69.85
Equipment for modern diagnosis and treatment		High 79.10		Very High 84.27
Accuracy and completeness in filling out reports		High 77.71		High 72.72
Friendliness and courtesy of the staff		Very High 81.08		High 73.42
Responsiveness (waitings) in medical institutions		High 72.80		Moderate 58.66
Satisfaction with Cost to you		High 73.28		Moderate 46.60
Convenience of location for you		Very High 82.67		High 78.49
In terms of the overall health care index, when comparing the U.S., UK, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, China, and Russia, Ecuador was tied with Japan for highest score (the US only beat Russia and Italy).