Yes, we made the decision to move after we experienced Ecuador for one full month, travelling around via plane and bus. We came home all excited. And then came to the realization that we had a really full house of stuff. Paring that all down has become the most difficult so far. Some things are really hard to part with. All those memories, all those "things" collected on our travels, special gifts from friends and family. We know we must make some hard decisions, but that does not make it any easier and then of course, we each have a MUCH different idea about what to do with each item in question. We know we can not take it all and less is better.
I think of useful items especially hand tools, kitchen items such as toaster, smoothie maker, coffee bean chopper and maker. All the small appliances we MUST have and will be so much more expensive in Ecuador. Clothes, lots, as our sizes will not be readily available. Shoes, hiking boots all will cost more in . Will it be worth the extra cost to take them?. OMG!!! where do we start--- where do we end???. Storage will have to be considered. What to do--- for how long--- how much will it cost to store those special things? WE will come back and we will need some things that we already have, so keep or sell and purchase when we return. OMG!!! not so easy after all.
Our visa will be ready in 6-8 weeks so we do have some time to make all these decisions, but we do need to do a little each day.
Our cats ( Yes they will go too. We can not bear to leave them) need certain documents and shots and notarized papers from the vet. Then there are the airline rules about taking them on the plane and how to make that all happen. How long are we willing to have them be cooped up in their required cages in the cargo hold? Perhaps making the trip in two legs,a stopover in Miami and continue the next day.This will double the cost of our luggage as we must pay twice instead once with a through connection directly to Cuenca. OMG!!!Will our move be worth all this anxiety?? MOST ASSUREDLY--- YES!!!
What kind of place do you expect to live in you might ask?
We where very fortunate to have met a nice couple in Cuenca who invited us to visit so we could see their apartment. They pay $300/month plus no more than another $70 for electricity, gas,water,cable TV. Then add internet and phone service. So up to $425. total.
If you rent an unfurnished house or apartment, you must provide a stove, refrigerator, water heater, and washer/dryer if you want them. Sometimes even the light bulbs. So this move will be a real adventure.
Fresh flowers all around the house every day
$2. for 2 dozen roses.
Then of course there are friends and family. Very hard to think about all the fun and events that we will miss. We have just recently branched out and have met several other families with whom we enjoy socializing. Then we plan to move. What is that all about.
Our family is growing up so we do not live close to most of them anyway. Ecuador is not that far away, maybe they will all visit and/or we plan to make return visits. With all the different electronic equipment around today, we can Skype, text, e-mail, Facebook, and blog.We hope to be able to make that adjustment as well. We shall see. We can always come back.
Stay tuned for more as we move along. Come back again---
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