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The Little Thread Which Grew - the Apollo '73 to Everything But

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lkwdblds

lkwdblds

Crusader
Re: retirement on the cheap

CarmeloOrchards said:
If an affordable cost of living is your priority in choosing where to retire, take a look at Cuenca, Ecuador. This city is one of the world's best places to retire overseas on a budget.

Cuenca is a beautiful colonial city in an interesting and diverse country. The health care is high quality, honest, and inexpensive. The climate is spring-like and pleasant 12 months of the year. And Cuenca's large and growing expat community is one of Latin America's most diverse and well-blended.

There are other colonial cities in Ecuador, but Cuenca is the cultural heart of the country. In this center of art and literature, you can attend the orchestra, a play, a tango show, or an art opening, and these activities are usually free.

Cuenca is also a popular destination for international tourists and language students, offering many super-affordable options to study Spanish. The tourists and students bring vitality to the city and help support Cuenca's developed infrastructure for amenities and services.

However, perhaps the biggest draw to Cuenca is its cost of living, which is extremely low, especially considering the quality of life that you find here. The falling dollar has caused prices to go up sharply for overseas retirees whose retirement incomes are denominated in U.S. dollars, but who are living in places where goods are priced in the local currency. But this exchange-rate concern does not exist in Cuenca, because Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar.

The $1 fixed-price lunch is still alive and well in Cuenca (although $2.50 is more common), and the city is awash with fresh tropical fruits and vegetables for pennies on the dollar. Fresh fish and shrimp arrive daily from the coast, and much of the local poultry is free-range. A bus trip through the city is a quarter, taxis start at about $1.50, and gas is only $1.48 per gallon.

You could rent a furnished apartment for as little as $400 per month, an unfurnished apartment from $300 per month, or buy a small condo outright for less than $40,000. Thanks to the comfortable year-round climate in Cuenca, you won't have to worry about heat or air conditioning, which is another important reason why retirement in this city is as affordable as it is.

Cuenca is very walkable and boasts an excellent public transit system, as does all of Ecuador. You could live easily without a car, which shaves even more costs from your monthly budget.

All that said, Cuenca is not the most affordable place to live in Ecuador. In small towns like Cotacachi or Vilcabamba, you could retire on an even more modest budget of as little as $650 or $700 a month. But the cost of living isn't the only factor you should consider when choosing a retirement spot. You want to balance the cost of your retirement against the quality of retirement life you'll be able to enjoy. Part of the reason the overall cost of living in places like Cotacachi is so low is because there's simply not much to do, meaning there's not much to spend money on. You could live quite frugally in Cotacachi, but also very simply.

Cuenca, on the other hand, is a fully developed city, where you could enjoy a rich and full life. To be able to enjoy all that the city has to offer, plan on a budget of $1,500 a month per couple if you're renting and $1,100 per month if you own your home. You could certainly live here for less, but these estimates will allow you to make the most of your new life in Cuenca.

Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group. With more than 25 years experience covering this beat, Kathleen reports daily on current opportunities for living, retiring, and investing overseas in her free e-letter. Her book, How To Retire Overseas--Everything You Need To Know To Live Well Abroad For Less, was recently released by Penguin Books.
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Thanks for posting this Carmelo. I would be a good candidate to move to a place such as Cuenca. My friend Eddie, from Colombia who taught me Shiatsu massage in the 70's, recommends two Colombian cities where a person could retire very comfortably on their social security income from the USA, Medillin and Cartagena.

I wondered how Cuenco could have such a pleasant climate, being in Ecuador, right on the Equator. Here is a link to an article discussing living in Cuento as compared to Costa Rica and Medillin, Colombia:

http://www.liveincostarica.com/blog...instead-of-costa-rica-–-i-don’t-think-so.html

The secret to Cuento's cool climate, averaging 58 degrees Fahrenheit, year around, is its altitude, which is an astronomical 8,200 above sea level. We are talking nearly 1.6 miles above sea level here. That means thin air! I don't know how such a high altitude would effect senior types who are at retirement age. Probably it would be wise for any seniors who would want to consider retiring there to get an okay from their physician. My guess is that for most it would be okay to live at that altitude but for some, it would not be safe.

Ed was saying that one could live comfortably in Medillin for $1,500. If you had $2,000 a month coming in, you could live well, even having a housekeeper and a car. At $3,000 a month you would be considered well to do.
Lakey
 
lkwdblds

lkwdblds

Crusader
Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

FoTi said:
Health care and the elderly in Cuenca.

http://livingfrugalandhappy.blogspot.com/2012/04/should-you-bring-your-elderly-parents.html
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A video of Cuenca. They show 3 properties, a modern furnished apartment for a family goes for $300 a month and a villa type of estate which is landed and furnished luxuriously is $500 a month.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDgMlYEkvXQ

In the American quarter at the Eucalyptus Cafe, a luxury dinner with entertainment and dancing goes for $15 per person.

It looks very tempting. The city is the third largest city in Ecuador with 330,000 in the city limits and a little over 500,000 in the metro area.
Lakey
 
Smilla

Smilla

Ordinary Human
Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

lkwdblds said:
A video of Cuenca. They show 3 properties, a modern furnished apartment for a family goes for $300 a month and a villa type of estate which is landed and furnished luxuriously is $500 a month.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDgMlYEkvXQ

In the American quarter at the Eucalyptus Cafe, a luxury dinner with entertainment and dancing goes for $15 per person.

It looks very tempting. The city is the third largest city in Ecuador with 330,000 in the city limits and a little over 500,000 in the metro area.
Lakey
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Houses don't look very appealing to me, but I'm sure it's possible to find something nice. Do they have fast internet infrastructure?
 
Auditor's Toad

Auditor's Toad

Clear as Mud
Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Shit. Ya'll are skirting the important issues of that little city.

Is there an org there yet ?
 
FoTi

FoTi

Crusader
Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

lkwdblds said:
A video of Cuenca. They show 3 properties, a modern furnished apartment for a family goes for $300 a month and a villa type of estate which is landed and furnished luxuriously is $500 a month.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDgMlYEkvXQ

In the American quarter at the Eucalyptus Cafe, a luxury dinner with entertainment and dancing goes for $15 per person.

It looks very tempting. The city is the third largest city in Ecuador with 330,000 in the city limits and a little over 500,000 in the metro area.
Lakey
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This video is charming.....especially that house for $500 a month. I wonder how many of that type of rental are available. Several single people could share that house and split the rent.....and also afford maid service..... so much nicer than the apartments she showed.

It is kind of tempting. If I had the money (apart from Soc Sec...because I don't know how long Soc Sec will hold up and I'd hate to be in a foreign country and suddenly have no money), and a partner to travel with I might take a trip there to see what it's like in person.

This looks good...... http://www.captivatingcuenca.com/cuenca-health-care-services.html

Looks like it's a lot freer and less supressed with restricting laws, than the U.S. ... at this time.

If you live in a foreign country, like that, don't you have to return to the U.S. periodically?
 
Ted

Ted

Gold Meritorious Patron
Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Auditor's Toad said:
Shit. Ya'll are skirting the important issues of that little city.

Is there an org there yet ?
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Org, hell. What are the women like? They have women, right? Carmelo? Complete the Staff Work!
 
lkwdblds

lkwdblds

Crusader
Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

FoTi said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrmcb8qNt4o


This video is 15 things they like about Cuenca......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=aBvxsHJD0sA&NR=1
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Isn't part of the charm of traveling, visiting and living in foreign locations to experience things which are different than in your home local? Doesn't going off to live in Ecuador and then complaining about there being no Craig's List there miss the point.

Cuenca is recommended as optimum for retirement. All of the people in the video look to be in their 20's or early 30's. There is a major outpoint there! Someone young going there and expecting all the conveniences of the USA has nothing to do with how retirees view such a place (the cold weather may be the exception to this statement). A retiree is looking for a pleasant place to live at a budget price. They tend to be attracted to expansive and scenic locations which are off the beaten paths of the world. Cleanliness, safety and a friendly populace are required. Mexico, once a candidate for retirement is no longer safe because of the drug cartels which are now operating there.
Lakey
 
Smilla

Smilla

Ordinary Human
Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

lkwdblds said:
Isn't part of the charm of traveling, visiting and living in foreign locations to experience things which are different than in your home local? Doesn't going off to live in Ecuador and then complaining about there being no Craig's List there miss the point.

Cuenca is recommended as optimum for retirement. All of the people in the video look to be in their 20's or early 30's. There is a major outpoint there! Someone young going there and expecting all the conveniences of the USA has nothing to do with how retirees view such a place (the cold weather may be the exception to this statement). A retiree is looking for a pleasant place to live at a budget price. They tend to be attracted to expansive and scenic locations which are off the beaten paths of the world. Cleanliness, safety and a friendly populace are required. Mexico, once a candidate for retirement is no longer safe because of the drug cartels which are now operating there.
Lakey
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Yes, those drug cartels are terrible. Here is some footage of an actual drug cartel cart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz1xEu52UbM&feature
 
CarmeloOrchards

CarmeloOrchards

Crusader
last night on TV

I don't know if these links will work, but it's worth a try


On last night’s episode of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, the reunited Beach Boys dominated the show, performing not just new single “That’s Why God Made The Radio” but also two classics, 1966′s “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and 1963′s “In My Room.” Watch all three performances below.


Note that Fallon referred to “That’s Why God Made The Radio” as the title track from the Beach Boys’ upcoming album, the title of which had not been previously announced. Fallon also debuted the colorful cover art for the album, which drops June 5 on Capitol.

http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0...MDMyMw==/?pageURL=unknown&referrerURL=unknown

http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0...MDMxMA==/?pageURL=unknown&referrerURL=unknown

http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0...MDMyMg==/?pageURL=unknown&referrerURL=unknown

Lead Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Mike Love also sat down for an interview with Fallon, in which they taught the Late Night host the harmonization for “Barbara Ann.” Love remained very complimentary of Wilson’s legendary harmonization skills, while Fallon seemed in awe of both musicians.

Discussing the title of their new single and album, Love showed his love for the radio format, even revealing, “I’m always listening to see if they’ll play a Beach Boys song.” Wilson, meanwhile, shared his story about meeting Elvis, in which he inexplicably karate-chopped the music legend. Watch the interview in two parts below.

http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0...MDM0Mw==/?pageURL=unknown&referrerURL=unknown

http://SWFURL

The Beach Boys’ reunion tour – in honor of their 50th anniversary as a band – rolls on with two shows in NYC tonight and tomorrow.

–Jillian Mapes, CBS Local



Read more: The Beach Boys Take Over Late Night: Watch “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” & Two More Performances http://kearth101.radio.com/2012/05/...-late-night-watch-wouldnt-it-be-nice-two-more performances/#ixzz1uK5uB68C
 
Antony A Phillips

Antony A Phillips

Commoner
Re: Ken Ogger, The Pilot speaks from the dead

Antony A Phillips said:
Pilot'sPosts Z2

[[ I have decided also to send the weekly excerpts from The Pilot's fortnightly postings here every week. But if you would like them sent weekly to your inbox You will still need to go to: http://lists.worldtrans.org/mailman/listinfo/superscio and sign in there. Then you will get them in your inbox in the middle of every week without you having to raise a finger further. So here is the next one., Ant]]
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Pilot'sPosts Z3


Clear OT -- ceasing to compulsively create a time track


(From post 18 - Dec 97)

The major target of the entire L series (L12, L11, and then L10 which
are generally run in that order) was the state of Clear OT.

The Clear OT state is best described as ceasing to compulsively
create a time track. This is not the official definition, which
is simply "no track" but it is a better working definition because
one can still mockup a track or find incidents and one does not
loose one's time sequence. But a certain compulsion to hold onto
one's history and mock it up compulsively seems to disappear when
this state is achieved.

L10 worked towards this state by addressing early track overts,
looking for the critical one which apparently caused the
individual to keep this track mocked up. Note that an individual
will try to reverse the time sequence of events so as to move an
unjustified overt which was followed by a motivator to a later
time so that the motivator will be first so as to justify the overt.

For example, he burns down the school. Then he has trouble with
schools. Then he misremembers and says that the trouble happened
first and then he burnt the school down to get even. If the
overt is serious enough, he doesn't just pretend to do this but
may actually misremember. This alteration causes his time track
to become very solid and he holds it there compulsively so as
to assure himself that his big overt came later rather than
before the motivator.

When this is relieved, he no longer has to hold this time track
in place compulsively because he no longer needs to force the
events to remain out of sequence.

But L10 was too difficult, so they introduced L11 and then L12
as a gradient up to this. There are freezone reconstructions
of these available on the net.

I do not like the Ls style approach. The entire rundown seems
to be too forcing and evaluative and there have been rumors of
instability.

I achieved the Clear OT state with good awareness, certainty,
stability, and, I feel, much more understanding of how it
happened, by getting run on expanded grade 2 after clear.
It occurred on running a very far backtrack unjustified overt
of great magnitude which had been forced out of sequence
as I described above. When the overt went, it seemed like
the entire timetrack went with it.

I believe that this is the best way to approach this area.
Namely, by making deeper and deeper reruns of grade 2, working
to earlier and heavier overts. One would have to run other
things in between so as not to invalidate the first release
point and so as to have more ability to go earlier.

Grade 2 was the best thing that we ever had on the subject
of overts. All the other handlings (HRD, Ls, and Sec Checks)
are evaluative and tend to force the PC. Grade 2 (and similar
processes on grade 4) raise the PCs responsibility on a gradient
without evaluation and therefore result in the maximum ability
to think clearly and operate in an ethical manner.

Grade 2 is easy to run and can be done solo (not according
to the CofS of course). The Ls on the other hand require the
maximum skill level (Class 12) that the CofS has and might
well just make a mess if done solo.

I would tend to expect that many people would get the Clear OT
state on a thorough second pass through the self clearing
book (doing the sections that deal with overts). But I
probably should have included a bit more of the above
theory concerning the effect of overts on the time track.

Happy New Year,

The Pilot
 
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