Expat Advice: Dream vs. Reality of Expat Life in San Clemente, Ecuador
What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?
San Clemente
Describe how you "dreamed" expat life would be before you moved overseas. Please provide as much detail as possible.
We expected to live in paradise on a social security income. Beautiful weather, a clean uncrowded beach and nice people.
How has your expat experience met the expectations you dreamed about before you moved abroad?
We live in almost paradise. We have money left over each month from our social security budget which we save for travel back to the US to visit with our children and grandchildren. We have a maid once a week, a full time caretaker, someone who picks up our laundry and returns it clean, ironed, and folded for $5. No need for a washer-dryer or a car. We use taxis to go to "town" to shop. No car pmt., no car insurance, no gas, no car repairs...wow!
We love this small fishing village and the Ecuadorian people are amazing, warm and always anxious to help. We have learned to give up some of the expected conveniences from the States in exchange for our easy, laid back lifestyle
No car, no close by shopping, very little English spoken but we now speak Spanglish..lol. Periodic loss of electricity and water, water here is very bad quality but we have had a reverse osmosis system installed so now have excellent pure water right from the sink. Mainly we have learned to expect and accept tis way of life where mañana does not necessarily mean tomorrow but just not today.
Our health has improved, I have lost 35 pounds without dieting, just by being able to eat chemical and additive free foods and fresh air and walks on the beach
We love San Clemente
How has your expat experience NOT met the expectations you dreamed about before you moved abroad?
See above
More About Dream vs. Reality of Expat Life in Ecuador
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Comments about this Report
guestWe are coming back to Crucita, so we will be close to you. Would love to hear about the RO system since the water quality is a problem. We are on a cistern with water trucks. How do you get your water. We are coming back in August maybe we could meet for lunch at Palmazul.
lrdiver219Also would love to know about your water system. How and where did you get it?
EcuadorDeanThis is what life is about in Ecuador! Not International Living's version... Unfortunately some websites are doing their best to have Ecuador overrun and laid-back places like San Clemente turned into gated comunities!
guestthank you. That was very helpful. I will keep san clamente in mind when my wife and I come down. Would you mind sending me your private email address so I can converse more. I am 64 years of age. My wife is 61. We are coming down to see if we could move there. I think the answer is already yes, but we have to do our due diligence. My email address in Canada is kgcarter@shaw.ca
jeffro63Thank you for your post. I am planning a recon trip this spring. I think your post has made up my mind. I look forward to the fresh seafoods.
