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Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?


#1  2011-02-21 17:53:01

Chrisandra
New member
From: Los Angeles
Registered: 2011-02-21
Posts: 1

Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

My name is Chrisandra and I am a youthful, fit 60-year old woman thinking of retiring (alone) to Ecuador (Quito?) or Panama in maybe 2 years.  I will have about $1,400 a month to live on and am frugal with simple tastes.  I hope to rent a small place, live without a car and walk to shops and farmers markets.  I have quiet hobbies but like "a night out in the pub" once in a while. I have a working knowledge of Spanish and am working on improving.  I am a world traveler, have lived in Hispanic neighborhoods i Los Angeles most of my life and am comfortable being alone. Would appreciate anyone's thoughts on an older woman alone in Ecuador and suggestions for places to live and safety tips.  Would love to have a penpal or two to make the dream more real.




 
 
 
 

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#2  2011-02-22 05:04:37

OceanHideaway
Active member
OceanHideaway
From: Anconcito ~ Salinas
Registered: 2010-01-15
Posts: 91

Re: Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

The simple answer is Yes!

For the longer answer, subscribe to the blogs here and do a search for Ecuador expat on Yahoo and Google and join as many forums as you can handle.

Here on the coast in and around Salinas we have a growing and thriving expat population and I would say more than 50% are single females over 55 who have come here after the same search as you have made. There is another thriving community in the Cuenca area.

Do plan to come visit and see if Ecuador is really for you -- it is worth spending a month traveling and getting a feel of the different areas, life styles, and opportunities so you can find just what fits you best. And of course this will allow you time to visit with some of the attorneys who specialize in Visas to discuss the options available for you to live in this country.

Good luck with your plans and come visit soon!

Susan
TheOceanHideaway.com




 
 
 

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#3  2011-02-22 06:39:25

Christine
Administrator
Christine
From: grand baie
Registered: 2008-09-29
Posts: 23594

Re: Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

Hi Chrisandra,

Welcome to Expat-blog! smile




 
 
 
 

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#4  2011-02-22 15:04:51

quito0819
Active member
quito0819
From: Cuenca
Registered: 2010-03-25
Posts: 77

Re: Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

RE:  OceanHideaway.  Very little to be said but yes to the above, especially the part about visiting before moving.

I only know one single expat here in Cuenca.  He reports some difficulty with being single as a lot here are married, myself included.  I would think that an extended stay would give you a better idea if this is for you.

As to visas, you meet, under the present law, the qualification for a retired visa.  While a few have reported doing the visa without a lawyer, for me that would be like doing a root canal by myself with a drill from Home Depot.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#5  2011-02-22 17:20:07

klkimbler
New member
klkimbler
From: Cuenca
Registered: 2010-09-01
Posts: 6

Re: Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

HI,
I live in Cuenca, and know of several single women here who are integrating just fine. One is a massage therapist, and the other I just met the other nite. Both seem very happy and comfortable in their new lives here.

Please take the visitation advice to both countries. As you said you are comfortable with Spanish, so going to both will give you a sense of how you would "fit" with the culture and communities in both.

Good Luck. Hope to meet you if you visit.
Karen




 
 
 

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#6  2013-05-23 01:20:53

Nhall
New member
Nhall
From: Manta
Registered: 2013-05-23
Posts: 1

Re: Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

Chrisandra

I am 62, retired, female and happy. If you are coming, get in contact with me and I'll show you around Manta. I lived near Quito for 8 months but the elevation was giving me health problems so I moved to the beach. I can make some suggestions as to where you might stay. Very nice places and inexpensive. I am going to be giving up my apartment in August(2 bedrooms, 1 small room (I use for an office. 3 bathrooms (all with showers), large kitchen, large living room and dining room, 2 balconies, and a workroom (for tools and such). If windows are open (they stay open all year 24/7) I get a breeze through the spartment. I have a great view of ocean; the beach is about 400 feet away. Stores in walking distance, downtown (with a beautiful park, post office, electric company and many small stores)) is a 10 minute walk. I walk up to about 15 minutes and get everything I need. You might be interested in renting my apartment. I only rent because I like to be free to roam. My rent is $750 (which is very cheap for being near ocean) My expenses (Food, electric, water, gas, internet) is approximately
$225. Many restaurants around. Expats in Manta (about 70) get together at one restaurant on Thursday evenings and another on Saturday afternoons. Sometimes 15 show up and sometimes 60. Very nice people. Quite a few singles retirees.
I have a U.S. line on my computer. Call anytime 818-392-8003. Dont use Skype, just use your phone.

Last edited by Nhall (2013-05-23 01:23:08)

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#7  2013-05-23 02:38:16

Joseph K
Active member
From: Loja
Registered: 2010-12-19
Posts: 27

Re: Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

Why not Chrisandra? You will make your dream come true it that is your intention. I am male, but also older and single. I don't think that gender is an issue living Ecuador and being single is what you make of it. People here are so genuinely warm and happy; I love being around them. After running into some health issues, I was invited to live with a family, which has been a great blessing. I know people report many different experiences in Ecuador. Mine has been so delightful, I think sometimes I must be missing something. I don't feel unsafe, i don't experience prejudice from being a foreigner, no one has ever been rude to me, and I have never been shown anything other than respect.

If you want to find a partner here, you may find the average Ecuadorian male (if that is your preference) a bit behind the times in terms of female equality. But, that is not to say that the perfect person is not here waiting for you. It would be an adventure to find out.

Quito is a great city, but a bit cold for my tastes. Buildings in Ecuador do not have central heating and Quito gets pretty cold. You will need to invest in some wool clothing. All of what you listed would be easy to achieve in Quito. You wouldn't need a car; buses and taxis are cheap and plentiful. Perhaps a visit would help you decide. If you want a little warmer weather and an equally delightful city, you might want to check out Cuenca. Cuenca is, in every respect, able to provide what you wish. And, it has a thriving expat community, if that is what you would like. I do not recommend Guayaquil, but some people do like living there. My biggest complaint regarding Guayaquil is that I don't feel safe there.

Panama is quite different than Ecuador. I am not an expert on Panama, but I do believe that expats in Ecuador generally express greater satisfaction that those in Panama. It would be ideal to visit both countries, but if you had to choose only one, Ecuador might be your best bet. Say a little bit more about what makes you like living somewhere and I, or someone else, would be glad to provide greater insight into those specific issues.




 
 
 
 

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#8  2013-05-23 12:39:25

Christine
Administrator
Christine
From: grand baie
Registered: 2008-09-29
Posts: 23594

Re: Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

Hello > just to inform you that this is an old thread [2011].

Thank you.




 
 
 
 

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#9  2013-05-23 17:22:51

Joseph K
Active member
From: Loja
Registered: 2010-12-19
Posts: 27

Re: Is Ecuador a Good Place For a Single 60-Year Old Woman?

Thanks for the info.

So, what happend to Chrisanda? And, what do women who live hear really think?




 
 
 
 

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