"Six Months From Now You Could Be Living In Paradise."

Ron and Kathrin Sagaert, Don Smith and Ann Hoffman. Ray Holt. Linda Koenig. Arthur from Ft. Myers. These are new friends that share a common interest with us: living and/or investing abroad. All of us attended and met at the 2011 International Living Ultimate Event in Quito, Ecuador.

IL's Ultimate Event spanned 4 days and included presentations, workshops, cocktail parties, networking halls and vendor sponsored luncheons. So many resources and so much practical material is provided it can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, attendees receive a hefty information pack and access to all audio and power point presentations to revisit will be available shortly. In fact, those same audio publications will soon be available for purchase for anyone exploring the expat lifestyle.

The people we came to know during the event were quite diverse: married and unmarried, employed and retired and the risk averse and as well as risk tolerant. All have expanded their sphere of future possibilities to include what is available beyond the borders of the good ole USA. Ray wants to take a closer look at Panama, the Sagaerts like Ecuador, Arthur is planning on a visit to Uruguay, Linda is pursuing investing and Ann is heading to Mexico sooner rather than later.

As I mentioned before, IL does a fantastic job providing plenty of options. We heard about beaches in Belize, mountains in Ecuador, highly populated hot spots in Brazil and villages in Nicaragua. No worries if Latin America and the Caribbean aren't for you, cherished France and Italy are options too.

About midway through the conference, Doug and I took the morning off to clarify our priorities for a part or full time overseas destination. We want personal and financial safety, political stability, internet access, moderate cost of living, liquidity and flexibility, proximity of an international airport and quality food. Secondary concerns include having access to arts and entertainment, healthy lifestyle (gyms and organic foods), education (language), services (legal, professional and shopping) and craftsmen.

With this as our criteria, Uruguay heads to top of our list. Based on discussions we had with others during the conference, it is agreed that Uruguay certainly has many attractive qualities for the expat. What most find unattractive about Uruguay is the distance from the US - 9 hour or so flights from Miami. While Mexico and Costa Rica are enjoying growth from the "late majority", Doug and I realize Uruguay is rich with potential for "early adopters". How cool - it isn't frequent one gets to be on the front of a curve!

We were excited to find the Sugar Loaf development, one we found prior to the conference, among the vendors in the networking hall. Doug and I enjoyed an instant affinity with their agent Alex Garcia, who also provides services with Uruguay Property Tours. Generously, she provided us leads for short term rentals and other professional services in her home country. Fischer & Schickendantz , a foreign investment consultancy among other things, peaked our interest about investment opportunities in Uruguay's farming industry. They also assist expats with living and residency needs.

After several presentations and meeting with F&S at their booth, we will be heading down to Uruguay to meet with J. Frederico Fischer and explore the country.

Uruguay has a fan in Lee Harrison, IL's Latin America Roving Editor and presenter. Living in Punta Del Este, Uy, he is also an authority on Ecuador (where he lived prior to Uy), Brazil (where he has a second home), Columbia and Argentina. And Lee has a fan is us. Lee's presentations helped all attendees with such pertinent information as timing your retirement, language, moving/utilities/insurance/finding craftsmen and more.

Lee presented profiles for Uruguay, Brazil, Columbia and Argentina. We realized part of determining where you want to go is to discover where you don't want to go. Brazil's Fortaleza is enticing, Columbia is frightening (to us) and Argentina is costly. Uruguay might be just right.

Lee Harrison was just one of the event's great speakers. Really, who would not want to live anywhere once you've heard Steenie Harvey describe it. Gregory Adams widened our eyes about financial risk and volatility. I actually understood JGAM's Peter Laub discussing multi-currency investing strategy. If Tuey Brady-Murdock doesn't impress upon you the need for title insurance in Latin America, nobody will. The Zimmermans make Cuenca sound so charming. Pathfinder International proves themselves to be a trusted source for real estate services and investments.

When we weren't meeting and talking all things expat, we managed to fit in some fun in Quito.



Gianduja Chocolate tour
www.giandujachocolate.com

Small world...Chocolatier Jeff Stern gave some valuable back story to the real estate market in Cotacachi, Ecuador.








Dinner out with the Sagaerts at Azucar on Plaza Foch.












Virgin of Quito aka Woman Of The Apolcalypse.











More excellent chocolate at Republica Del Cacao in the La Mariscal district.








Enjoy Living Internationally's Ann Hoffman.













Roses, a major Ecuadorian export - and Valentine's gift.





Heard at IL Ultimate Event VI


"Six months from now you could be living in paradise."

'The current administration wants to stop offshore investing."

"You can't wish it to happen. You have to take action."

"The only way you know if a place is good for you is to go there."

"Go when you can not when you're comfortable."

"When you move abroad, it is a lifestyle not a deadline."

"Spot markets not products."

"Uruguay is Latin America, with European first world comfort."

At the end of the conference, friendships were born, hugs were given and cards were exchanged. The event was great value for our money but the people we met were priceless.

Ecuador Countdown

In less than two weeks, we will board a plane bound for Quito, Ecuador. This is the first visit to South America for both of us. It will be our second International Living event.

Quito



1. Swissotel
2. IL's Ultimate Event
3. Gianduja Chocolate Factory Tour and Mercado Centro for Ecuador's famous roses
4. La Mariscal or Gringoland district

Cotacachi


1. Tierra Del Sol Inn


Cuenca



1. Hotel Casa del Aguila
2. Cuenca Condos
3. Flower Market

We ended up making our arrangements ourselves. Despite the expertise of our agent, Betsy, we were looking for less vacation and more real world experience in the planning. We also canceled plans to be in Salinas, since it coincided with Carnival. We will cut the trip short and return the States from Cuenca.

Update

Due to distance, we previously eliminated Uruguay and replaced with Salinas. Then we learned about Carnival. Perhaps we are just supposed to see Cotacachi and Cuenca!

Betty Maclean Travel

Yesterday, I emailed our travel agent at Betty Maclean Travel with our Ecuador/Uruguay trip requests. Our agent, Betsy Patton, is a trusted resource for traveling abroad. While services are customarily for the luxury market, Betsy has been terrific at assisting us with trips of an economy nature as well.

Our first leg of the trip takes us to Quito. We will stay at the Swissotel, where the International Living conference we are attending is being held.

After Quito, we will head north to Cotacachi. My pick for a hotel is the expat owned Hotel Flores/Inn of the Sun. Gary Scott also does a host of living/investing seminars. I figure its a great way to mingle with like minded people.

At the previous Panama IL event, we booked 2 tours following the conference. While there were several benefits, it was exhausting. We plan on taking a more independent and leisurely pace. Pro-Ecuador is offering a post conference 3 day tour for those interested.

Next, we fly south to Cuenca, Ecuador's cultural city. Cuenca has a large active expat community, as evidenced by the blogroll at South Of Zero.

After Cuenca, it's on to Montevedeo in Uruguay. Uruguay is a rural country makes me think it resembles what Texas was like before JR Ewing, the oil bust and the Enron scandal. Here ALL the cattle are grass fed and roam vast estancias. I am looking forward to my first experience of the parrilla.

It is likely we are saving the best for last, Punta Del Este. Known as the St Tropez of South America, wealthy Brazilians and Argentinians as well as international celebrities flock here for the high season of Dec - Feb. Without having been there, it reminds me of what it was like living in Naples, FL.

Naples was where we met Betsy. Despite moves to Texas, Nevada and now back to Florida, we have relied on Betsy to help us arrange memorable experiences abroad. We are confident our South American trip will not be an exception.

International Living Bookstore Holiday Sale

A useful resource in our search for living abroad has been the publications of International Living. Visit their bookstore for their holiday bookstore sale.

We have been subscribing to IL magazine for about a year now. Each issue includes articles on great places to live and invest as well as features about expats already living abroad. Now on sale for $49.

Our first investment into IL owner's manuals was the one for Panama. We have found it to be the most comprehensive. Rolodex includes many resources for living, investing, legal and professional. The author also lists many places to eat, stay, visit and be entertained that the manual is serves as a guide book in addition.

Our second purchase was the owner's manual for Costa Rica. It is on our list..mayber 5th or so. we purchased the fast track package which includes the manual, audio of all CR presentations, slideshow copies and a special bonus report.

It is hard not to get excited about Uruguay after reading this manual written by Lee Harrison. He relocated from Ecuador to Urguguay after traveling and working in there for IL.

This book covers the nuts and bolts of Ecuador sufficiently enough. I couldn't help wishing the author was as thorough as the Panama manual's guide book section.

Other manuals are published for Mexico, Italy, France and Brazil. Recordings of the last IL conference in Vegas on living and investing abroad is also available. All these have savings of 20%.

The holiday sale extends to its memberships and all other publications and recordings.

International Living's Ultimate Event - Ecuador

About a year ago, my husband came to me with the idea of expatriating from the United States. This was different from the time when we walked around Perugia and dreamed about residing there so we could eat our weight in black truffles at La Falchetto. Doug's idea was more about removing ourselves from our nation's troublesome political situation, protecting our hard earned capital and improving our quality of life. Besides, we are always up for an adventure.

Doug proposed we attend International Living's Panama conference held April 2010. He liked the banking stability, pro business President and investing opportunities. We became educated about all things Panama, socialized with two great couples in attendance, met with banking and legal professionals, went on a preliminary job interview and endured real estate and city tours. When all was said and done, we felt Panama has a lot to offer but were concerned about the poverty and crime.














Dinner with the Van Wormers and Kerns

Several months and a long distance move later, things have certainly not got any better at home. The economy remains unstimulated, unemployment continues to creep up, foreclosures are at all time high and we can now look forward to gate rape before boarding airplanes.

We still think Panama's interior might hold some promise. We are looking into Costa Rica. We signed up for IL's next event in Ecuador...and we plan to explore Cotacachi and Cuenca. But, Uruguay has risen to the top as a second home and residence possibility.

So this February, we are packing up for 3-4 weeks. We will attend IL's Ultimate Event in Ecuador. The event boasts over 100 speakers, receptions and sponsors. We will investigate the opportunity to be a part of the prosperity of emerging markets overseas versus adapting to the austerity now warranted by higher taxes, government expansion, higher inflation, rocky housing market and more unemployed in the states.

There are just too many American expats that are living healthier and happier lives outside our borders not to be just a little envious that they have gotten there before me.

To join the movement of those living and investing internationally, you might want to start with the Ultimate Event 2011.