Our names are John and Mary Macdonald. About seven years ago, Mary and I got married and I relocated to Ohio. We were both in our mid-fifties and started to make some plans for our retirement. We knew we wanted to live in a warm climate on or near the beach, but an honest appraisal of our financial situation (half a government pension with little or no savings) had us thinking that might not be possible.
At least not in the United States. Rent alone at the, “retirement havens” in the Carolinas and Georgia would eat up almost my entire pension check and the beach areas of Southern California had been priced out of our reach long ago. We found that if we retired near the beach in the South we would probably be strapped for living expenses and could not travel.
With our combined families, we have now twenty grandchildren spread from California to Pennsylvania and scattered through a half dozen states in between. We did not want to be in a position where we could not afford to ever travel to see the kids and grandchildren. I had worked in Federal Law Enforcement and now, after mandatory retirement, my earning potential was limited and it looked for a while like I would be working in the frozen tundra of Northern Ohio indefinitely.
So, we decided to look outside of the box. Mary started doing a great deal of research into retirement options outside of the United States. Mexico was getting more and more expensive and less safe than it had been, so Mary compiled a short list of five or six Central and South American countries that looked like possibilities. The country that kept coming to the top of that list was Ecuador.
(I want to be clear from the start that I have no intention of talking people into coming to Ecuador. We came here because the beach communities are warm all year long, Ecuador is not subject to hurricanes, uses US currency, has a strong infrastructure of roads, etc., has good quality medical care available, and fit our limited budget. Europe, Mexico, or Australia might be your preference and I have no desire to dissuade anyone from following their dream.)
We took an exploratory trip to Ecuador in 2009 and visited Quito, some mountain villages (Cotacachi and Otovalo), and beach communities from Manta to Bahia de Caraquez. We were attracted to a small fishing village called San Clemente midway between Manta and Bahia and met some Americans who were purchasing property there. It seemed like the perfect fit for us, so we went home to dream.
I had to get old enough to start drawing my pension without a substantial penalty and we had a number of other items to work out before we could take the plunge and move internationally. I had a health scare (prostate cancer, surgery, and chemotherapy) that made us both realize that life might not go on forever and we decided to move as soon as I reached sixty and could draw my pension.
In December of 2011 we hopped on a plane, flew to Quito and then drove down to San Clemente. We left a large family and many good friends in the United States and I started writing regular updates to keep them all apprised of our experiences which I sent to a list of about forty people via email. More friends requested to be included in the email mailings until the list grew to seventy or eighty people. A common request was for more pictures, but it was impossible to attach more than three or four pictures with most email service providers.
So – after much prodding from friends and a lot of assistance from others who post to blogs, we have finally set up a blog to keep our friends up to date on our activities and to show as much of our life here in San Clemente, Ecuador as possible. For the next few weeks I hope to simply post some of the information that I have shared in earlier emails with more pictures and then, after we get that up to date, I will try to post regularly so that all can experience the joy of our life here.
Good evening! We are visting Ecuador for the first time in August. We have so enjoyed your blog. How can we communicate with you directly. We would love to get together if possible and buy you a beer!
Rob
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I like your story, John, and your site. (I think I’ve posted here before but I’m not sure!)My husband and I are also exploring possibilities for retirements — we checked out Panama last year, and will be in Nicaragua at least until March this year, then who knows…Ecuador is definitely on our list too.
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Buenas Dias,
I just found your blog site and from looking at your photo
I believe I saw you having dinner at PalmAzul on Saturday evening??? We were the couple carrying many shopping bags up to our new apartment at PalmAzul. We love your blog and San Clemente. I discovered this gorgeous beach town when I signed up for a Spanish class at PalmAzul Nov 2011. Now it is part of our life! I am still studying Spanish and hopefully someday soon it will all sink in.
Saludos,
Glenda and Tim
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Hi John and Mary,
I believe I told you that I have been following Nan Levin’s blog also.
She hasn’t posted for 2 weeks and that is very unlike her. I understand that you may not be able to disclose any info about her, but I am concerned to know that she is ok. She is probably busy with some project. Could you please just let me know that she is alright. Thank you.
Christina Kull
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I passed this on to Nan [?]
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Hi John y Mary,
Carolyn and I are making our plans for our trip to Vistazul #303 on August 30.
I have a request about the chairs you blogged about 9/13/13 from a 2/20/12 email. Do you have an email address that we can communicate through more privately?
Gene Kelly
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Hi, I’m Scott. I found your site through Z. I look forward to seeing your posts from beautiful Ecuador and more art like that eagle! Peace and a good day to you
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Thank you Scott. We too have found many good things through Z. She is a good friend.
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I am awarding you the Very Inspiring Blogger Award for the quality of your work. I realize that it is a tremendous amount of work to accept this award and of course do understand if you do not have the time to do so! Jejeje, it’s taken me months to getting around to accepting this myself!
Congratulations! Keep up the good work. I enjoy your work immensely!
Please refer to the following for instructions:
http://locagringa.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
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Thank you for your kind words and the award. If we can find the time we’ll follow through on it. Crazy, we’re retired and still busy, busy 🙂
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Jajaja, yea for certain! I bet you wonder just how you got everything done while you were working 🙂
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Hi John&Mary, we are retirement planning and seeking haven in a tropical beach front that is affordable to Canadians on a pension. Can you tell me what your expected costs to move to Ecuador was or where i can find that information and what to expect in year 1? Given our age in the early 60s’, what is the coast of health insurance and re-occurring costs?
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Ecuador is quite affordable, after “start up” costs we lived comfortably on $1200 a month, before rent and internet. It all depends on what you rent. Prices range from $350 and upwards. We rented a furnished condo-type apartment but still needed linens, kitchen stuff etc. We haven’t checked into health insurance. You are able to get a lot of info through a wide range of groups on facebook. Some of the large “international” groups are not your best source of info. You cannot live here, especially on the coast, for $600 a month. One of the most important subjects to research is what paperwork you’ll need to bring with you for your visas. We did research for two years prior to visiting Ecuador in 2009. Fell in love with the people in our small fishing village and Ecuador seemed to meet our top requirements. So after returning Mary continued to do research while we waited for John to get old enough to collect his pension. We’ve been here two years and loving our life here in San Clemente. Good luck with your retirement plans!
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Hi John and Mary,
I’m in California, but I have a friend there — Nick, or Tio Nick. I was wondering if you know him. He lives in Sam Clemente, too. He just recently bought some property on a hill and, after doing some improvements on the building, has moved in.
The thing is, nobody has heard from him for nearly two weeks. I did hear from him right after he moved into his new place, so I know he had internet and electricity. But now, nothing. We’re starting to worry about him.
We, all his friends here in the States, would truly appreciate it if you could let us know if you know him.
Thanks so much!
Jane
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hello gringos, my name is jay and will be visiting san clemente in june for a month vacation. we intend to build a vacation home somewhere on the coast??? tell me your thoughts on san clemente, we arrive on the 6th of june so if you happen to see me wandering the beach say hello.
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We will look forward to meeting you. We are in the USA now for a visit, but will be back home in EC mid-May. See you in June.
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Hola John,
I follow your interesting blog and figured that you would know how to get Chirije by road from San Clemente. Am I right?
Regards, Steve
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HOLA MI AMIGO JOHN Y MARY SOY ROBERTH SU AMIGO
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Hola Amigo! Bienvenidos a nos blog!
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Dear John, Mary & Nancy:
Greetings from Holland!
My name is Andrea, I live in Holland together with my husband Willem. He is a professional musician, I am a visual artist and occasionally a musician too. We have been following your blogs “Living it up in Ecuador” and Nancy’s “Finding our Paradise in Ecuador” for a long time. For us it is of special interest because we plan to live in San Clemente in a few years, we have already bought a plot to build our house there!. Originally I come from Quito but I did my university studies in The Netherlands, I met Willem here and …. following my heart I stayed in this wonderful country that I consider my second home for almost 18 years.
The reason for this message is just to thank you and let you know how helpful your blogs are. I love your stories, they make me know my own country better, make me feel closer to it. Also, a different perspective than a local’s may be closer to mine now, after living abroad for such a long time. Your positive writings make us more sure of our decision and let us dream about the day we can live there and share with kind people like you under the pacific sun.
If you would like to know more about us, you can check a blog I made for a music project we did in Ecuador in 2013. (http://the-flight-of-the-zamarrito.blogspot.nl/) We traveled around the country making music and meeting local musicians. We even had a spontaneous gig in Downtown San Clemente, in the blog you can find some pictures of that. We started from Brussels with a mixed group of musician friends (Japanese, Dutch, Curaçaoan and Ecuadorian), in Ecuador a friend from Sweden and another one, Palestinian/Ecuadorian, joined us. Great, what a mix! As the world should be! It was a wonderful project, we even had time to record a CD. (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-flight-of-the-zamarrito/id768129606).
Next December 2015 I’ll travel to Ecuador and I plan to visit San Clement for a couple of days with my parents, this time Willem will not come with me, he has many gigs here at home. Maybe if you have some free time we could drink a beer together? Many hugs and hopefully until soon!
Andrea Boada
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Thank you for you nice comment. We hope your plans to come visit and then live here in San Clemente work out. We will surely love to visit with you when you are in town.
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Great! I let you know when I arrive in San Clemente, till then! 😊
Andrea
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Sounds good. See you then.
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Hello John & Mary! How are you? As I mentioned before, tomorrow Monday 7, my parents & I will travel by car from Quito to San Clemente. We’ll be there till next Thursday in Hostería Dartagnan. I hope we can meet each other. Can I have a phone number or you prefer I email you? My mobiele number in Ecuador is: 0987036456 See you soon! Andrea 🌹
Sent from my iPhone
>
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During my two week trip in Ecuador in October 2014 I learned that life in San Clemente Ecuador is very nice… indeed!
Although I miss my Mom and step-dad immensely (and their grand-babies do too) I hold onto the fact that they are happy (and warm). Ohio weather is a killer and I would love to move to warmth when our own kids are all grown (10-15 years to go…lol).
Thank you to everyone in Ecuador who treated me like family during my stay… you will all share a special place in my heart. God bless!
P.S. Take care of my Mom, and John, for me ❤
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Love you sweetie, so glad you liked our home here in Ecuador. Hugs
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Hello John & Mary!
How are you? As I mentioned before, tomorrow Monday 7, my parents & I will travel by car from Quito to San Clemente. We’ll be there till next Thursday in Hostería Dartagnan. I hope we can meet each other. Can I have a phone number or you prefer I email you? My mobiele number in Ecuador is: 0987036456
See you soon!
Andrea 🌹
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Andrea – I went by De’Artagnan two or three times yesterday and did not see any guests. Perhaps we will be able to meet you today or tomorrow. Hope your trip went well.
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Hello John, My wife Janell and I met you in San Clemente last January and enjoyed several hours of conversation. We are concerned about you and Mary and would like to know if all is well after the earthquake.
Steve and Janell
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Steve and Janell – Thank you so much for your concern and best wishes. We are well, but feel so badly for our friends and neighbors who did not fare as well as we did.
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Hello John and Mary! I’m so glad to read that you both are ok. I’m Andrea, writing from Holland, I visited your place last December with my parents. We would like to know how San Clemente endured the earthquake. Have you heard anything from our neighbours Charlie & Sherri and Bart and his family?
Take care, I hope to hear from you.
Andrea & Willem 🌷
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Andrea, it is so good to hear from you. I am pretty sure that Charlie and Sherry were back in Texas when the quake occurred. Bart is reportedly well and has already started repairing the damage to his home.
Thanks for your concern and love. Ecuador needs loving people like you and your family to keep praying for the return to normalcy.
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Is there a way to receive or provide seed for comparison to the tallest corn in the photo with the bicycle? Indebted.
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I imagine I could find you some seed. The farmers grow what is called, “Choclo” and it grows to over three meters tall in a few months. The corn is not sweet like yellow or white corn in the USA, but it is good and does grow quickly. I will look into it when I get back from our vacation and will email you with info. JandM
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Hi John & Mary!
I didn’t find your email so I write you here 🙂
Just a quick note to let you know that I featured you in a recent article named:
Top 30 International Retirement Blogs in 2017.
Here’s a link to the article:
http://www.welovecostarica.com/top-30-international-retirement-blogs-2017/
I’ve also made a special badge for you here:
Feel free to download and use it anywhere you wish!
Once again, I hope your inclusion in the list drives some new readers to your blog and I look forward to staying connected!
You can reach me at maxwell@welovecostarica.com
Regards,
Maxwell Salo
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Thankyou! We are honored.
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Hi,
I have a question about one of the pictures in your peanut story. Can you contact me?
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