Cuenca Ecuador: Slower paced life, reduced costs for one expat couple

internationalliving.com/sandra dodge – When my husband Michael reached 57 he decided he wanted to retire by the age of 60. While he loved his job, being the sole IT person for an engineering firm with offices in various locations around the country was stressful. I couldn’t really argue with that, since after working as an executive secretary for the better part of 30 years I was already mostly retired.

We knew that we wanted to retire abroad and experience life in other countries. We began researching where we might want to live. We used online sources, the library, read retirement articles and publications, and began spending our vacations visiting possible retirement locales. We considered cities in Spain, France, Italy, and even Hungary. Europe seemed like a good choice, since the ease of traveling throughout the EU would provide many opportunities to visit various countries.

But then Ecuador appeared on our radar. In 2011 we made our first trip there. We spent time in Quito, Cotacachi, Otavalo, and Imbabura, and then went south to Cuenca where we were immediately enamored.

We loved the four rivers coursing through town, the majestic mountains that surround and protect the valley, the year-round spring like climate, and the vibrant murals painted on buildings and walls throughout the city.

We loved the rhythm and feel of the city, the parks, the centuries-old churches, cathedrals, and homes in the city center, and the endless offerings of symphony, theater, dance, music, and cultural festivals. Cuenca offers friendly, helpful people along with a slower pace of life combined with all the conveniences of a modern city.

THINKING OF MOVING TO ECUADOR – THIS IS ONE BOOK THAT IS A MUST READ

Living here has allowed us to retire within our means. We rent a modern house that has two separate units. My mom lives in one unit and Michael and I in the other. Each unit is fully furnished, and has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a modern kitchen with a refrigerator, gas range, and microwave. The rent is $575 per month. Read Entire Article