Retiring to Cuenca

I think it is dicey to base a major decision on a one week holiday.
Don't give up your foothold in the real estate market in Canada - chances are you will want to scamper back if health problems become an issue - as is virtually inevitable eventually.
But you say you have lots of money so go ahead and enjoy testing out different places to live while you are still relatively young and healthy and have an appetite for it.

Just don't liquidate your stake in Canada because you assume you will want to stay away from home forever.

Good advice, living. Not that we could liquidate in this economy if we wanted to.

Have you considered South Texas. There are many advantages:
1. Same language basically.
2. You can drive here with your car and bring along along all kinds of "stuff".
3. Close to Mexico. People go down daily to Progresso, Mexico for savings on all sort of things. Prescriptions are cheaper. You can get your teeth capped for $180 US rather than $600 plus Canadian. New pair of prescription eye glasses with all the bells and whistles cost only $180 US. Compare that with $600 Canadian.
4. Most people staying here are retired and very friendly.
5. Weather sure beats Canada during the winter. For example, its - 28 C. in Winnipeg today with a winter storm bad enough to prevent travel on Interstate 29. Here I am walking around in my shorts and running the A/C in the afternoon because of the heat. We sun tan anytime we want.
6. There are dozens of events going on almost daily. All sorts of concerts, parties with friendly folks, jam sessions, dancing classes, etc.

We have been here since Feb. 1 and will stay until April 3rd. Already we have booked for 4 months next winter. Its a great life.

Research, research, research.

Retiring in Mexico or Costa Rica or Panama is one thing. Ecuador is entirely another.

You need to really understand their legal system, their property laws, your finances. Could you risk losing all the money you put into a house if things went bad (politically, health-wise)?
What a PITA it would be to get back to Canada from Ecuador.

You really need to live in a country for a couple of years, in the worst season, as well as the best to get an idea of what you are getting into.

packerjohn, we don't like heat (Canadian summers can be very hot , as well, which is why we like the Andes) and don't want to live in the US. It's not for us, especially not now. My husband's family is predominantly American so we do know what we are missing.

kahua, could you tell me more about why Mexico is better than Ecuador? There is a direct flight from Vancouver to Quito for just under a $ 1000 return. Last trip, we were visiting relatives in San Diego and took series of American Airlines hops to Dallas, then Miami, then on to Quito. Nasty.

It wasn't a week long trip, btw. But we did spend only one week in Cuenca which is why we have planned five months next winter.

If you don't like heat be wary of a beach cabana - the Equator never gets cold!

I love Cuenca, we considered it when we looked at moving to Ecuador permanently, but that was based on living and working in the country for over a year. Consider the many downsides (forget the benefits, take it as read there are so many in this lovely country), in particular:

Poor travel infrastructure, inc cost of running/maintaining a car
Less than perfect medical facilities and healthcare
Rising cost of living/ changes in exchange rates
Natural drawbacks inc., volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, exotic diseases
Cost/time req to visit family
Nonavailability of "must-haves" in your shopping basket
Potential governmental U-turns on property ownership by foreigners/ residency rules for foreigners

These are just a few. Don't be put off unduly, we would still love to live there if our circumstances change.

Dave

A few years back Cuenca was the scene of the mysterious disappearances of more than a few foeign residents. Compared to Ecuador Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama are wealthy, healthy developed countries where one can obtain decent quality medical care from English proficient North American educated doctors and dentists.
In Ecuador there is still endemic cholera. Quayaquil is the worst slum hellhole I have seen in all Latin America and outside the old Spanish core Quito is not much better. Keep in mind that while the upper middle and upper classes in the Andean countries pay low taxes and low wages for domestic help crime is how wealth and income gets redistributed in all of South America.
About those big houses in Cuenca! The town has traditionally been the escape hatch for Ecuador's oligarchs. It has been a place to get away from the filth, crime, poverty, societal dysfunction, political instability, and misery that afflicts the rest of the country. I all suspect those big houses are sitting empty for a good reason (sounds like personal safety considerations to me). Investigate before you leap.
Ecuador is referred to as a banana republic literallly and figuratively for good reasons. If you want a mild climate and a more pleasant orderly Latin American counrty for retirement consider Chile. It has every climate you would find on the west coast of North America from southern Baja California to Kodiak Island.

I like your plan njoy and I think it will be exciting. In five months you'll know fantasy from reality and you'll weigh up the pros and cons of living there. You're in no rush and you'll make a good decision based on what you learn by being there. Although, my only advise is rent first don't buy right away and give it time to discover if this is right for you. Have a wonderful time.

Thanks, everyone. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out. We like the idea of Chile, too, and will check it out.