About Expatsooner

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Some Forum Posts:

Ecuador: Steal this thread:

Leaving Trump behind for a moment - and in the interests of "stealing the thread" - I wanted to talk about the other "big issue" of the day... ...That is, the inability of most people to use the words "lose" and "loose" in the correct context. For the slow ones, let me explain it: My pants are falling off me. They could be considered "loose". On the other hand... I need to "lose" some weight, so my pants will be "loose", (and thus fall off me). With me so far? Good. You aren't "loosing" something, unless you're letting it loose (or, indeed, "loosening" it, as in a knot). You don't "loose" weight; you "lose" it. (Or, if you're like me, you gain it, but that's a different story). For those who would say "But I stand to loose everything!" Would you also say "I need to losen my grip on ? No. It seems "loose" as a generic catch-all word meaning either something is "loose" or something is being "lost" is entering the general lexicon. I wouldn't mention it, except that this thread seemed to be the right place for it. I'll go back to quietly "losing" my religion now... /end thread with loose OT association.

Ecuador Welcome Forum: Ecuador DL/Auto Insurance:

Just to clarify, what is the actual education standard required to have something beyond "inicial" noted on the Visa/Cedula? I was under the impression that a High School Diploma (appropriately apostilled in one's home country) would suffice? Or is something beyond that level (i.e tertiary education) required? We're in the process of having our education records certified, ahead of getting them apostilled later in the year prior to moving...but it would be handy to know that we're either getting the right levels certified/apostilled - or are wasting our time - in advance.

Ecuador Welcome Forum: EU imports:

You'd hope it extends to products in addition to "mere" alcoholic beverages...(unless, of course, you're talking decent, premium German beers ;) Is there a link that gives a break-down of the items covered in the FTA?

Ecuador: 75% capital gains tax:

It's essentially "self-defeating". Why? Because it will put a (large) brake on property transactions. Better to "have and to hold", so to speak, rather than give most of the proceeds to Govt. What will be interesting to watch, however, is how this delayed - from 2015 - measure plays out in the election next year.

Ecuador Welcome Forum: Plz help with importing RHD car:

I get that you might be attached to the car, and that the "economics" might be compelling, but I have to ask...Why? Why bring an RHD car to an LHD country? (Irrespective of whether you can a permit to import/drive the thing on Ecuador's roads). Granted, I'm not in the situation where I can import such a vehicle tax/duty-free, but I AM asking from the perspective of someone who will also be coming to Ecuador from an RHD country...It is - from all accounts - not a country to take driving in "lightly". FWIW, I intend getting a license there, and buying (and getting used to) LHD vehicles driven on the right (wrong) side of the road... Definitely not trying to be confrontational, But I am curious as to why you'd go through the hassle. Gut feel is that the economic "benefit" might well be absorbed in/outweighed by the attendant, "other" hassles...

Ecuador Welcome Forum: Banos Ecuador:

Quote: "It's a spa town (banos means baths). People go there for the waters. Seriously. There are a few grizzled gringos on hand, though, often found at the park eating take-out guinea pig and monitoring volcanic activity. Pretty existential in its own way. " And here was me thinking we had plenty of them on these forums...Oh, wait, that was earthquakes, right?

Ecuador Welcome Forum: Best places to retire:

Personally, having read the linked article, the 5 places mentioned there all have their issues, whether it's cost of living (Costa Rica, Belize), drug-related activity (Mexico), increasing "anti-gringo" sentiment (areas of Panama), they all have their issues. Not sure where Peru "sits" in all of this, but suspect it's behind Ec. both in terms of development (and cost of living)? Despite the seemingly never-ending doom and gloom on this forum, I still reckon that Ec. is a reasonable place to settle down for a while, and still has a fair bit of upside, as people and the economy recover from the earthquake (helped by rising oil prices/increased tourism etc.) Some people, of course, won't be happy wherever they are...and will want everyone else to "share" in it...Don't need to look too far to find them, either.

Ecuador Welcome Forum: Volcanic eruptions & earthquakes:

Yes, it will no doubt be of interest, but it shouldn't be of any surprise. There will be those who hope it doesn't happen, and those who hope it does. And there'll be others who not only hope it does, but cheer when it does... We're very lucky not to have any of the latter type on this forum, right? Oh, and good to see you're getting your news from "Down Under".

Ecuador Welcome Forum: Las Olas:

You have to wonder about the business/finance model for some of these places...Sell the concept to a bunch of well-heeled gringoes, get (say) 50% up-front, "start" development, and everything looks great. The issue/s seem to arise when the planned total dwellings (i.e what the project was predicated/sold on) are under-subscribed - a seemingly common problem there - leading to the entire community eventually being only partially completed. No "critical mass" to form an HOA. No funds to provide infrastructure (or upkeep, or the 24/7 guards which are sold as "part of the deal"). You certainly don't have to look too far to see plenty of examples of "failed" gated communities floating around in Ec. Susan's (and others) advice about "buying built" would seem to be well-made. That, of course, doesn't apply to "just" the house, but also to the surrounding infrastructure...

Ecuador Welcome Forum: One thing we can all agree upon...:

...and here I was thinking the one thing we can all agree on is that Trump's election is fairly likely to increase interest in moving to Ecuador (and by extension, forums like this one). Guess not. Although, yes, I do agree that Susan does a pretty reasonable job of moderating what can at times become a fairly vitriolic place.

Date Joined:

6/26/2015

Total Posts:

42

Posts/Day:

0.06