Unveiling Ecuador: Myths, Markets, and Community Insights

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Key Points for Easy Navigation: [00:00] Introduction to Ecuador Insider. [01:15] Discussion on wood prices and labor costs. [03:20] Comparing prices for furniture in Ecuador and the US. [05:01] Considerations when making purchases in Ecuador. [06:45] Building relationships with locals for better deals. [09:02] Importance of reliable delivery and quality products. [10:50] Overview of Ecuadorian towns and amenities. [13:05] Observations on health trends in Ecuador. [15:00] Demand for organic products in Vilcabamba. [17:20] Benefits of supporting local businesses. [19:30] Lifestyle businesses and passion projects in Ecuador. [21:45] Flexibility in event planning and cultural experiences. [24:15] Impressive production value of local events. [26:10] Conclusion and reflections on Ecuadorian lifestyle. [28:10] Further discussion on health trends and availability of products. [30:15] Benefits of supporting local businesses in Ecuador. [32:00] Lifestyle balance and fulfillment in Ecuadorian communities. [34:00] Transitioning to a more relaxed lifestyle in Ecuador. [36:00] Enjoying community events and cultural experiences. [38:00] Unexpected surprises and fun at local festivals. [40:00] High energy and good vibes at community gatherings. [42:00] Appreciation for the production value of small-town events. [44:00] Reflections on the vibrant and inclusive community spirit. [46:00] Discussion on the unique atmosphere and sense of belonging in Ecuadorian towns. [48:00] Importance of embracing cultural differences and adapting to local customs. [50:00] Experiencing the warmth and hospitality of Ecuadorian communities. [52:00] Reflections on the enriching experiences of living in Ecuador. [54:00] Final thoughts on the beauty and allure of Ecuador for expats. [56:00] Summarizing the overall benefits and challenges of expat life in Ecuador. [58:00] Discussion on the importance of community and support networks for expats. [1:00:00] Addressing misconceptions about expat life in Ecuador and highlighting the positives. [1:02:00] Final reflections on the rewarding aspects of living in Ecuador.

[@alejandromontalvo3423]

You are totally on the money regarding Ecuadorian culture. I was born in Guayaquil in 1949 to Ecuadorian parents going back many generations. Mother a Guayaquileña from the coast, father from Riobamamba/Guano in the Sierra/Andes. Dad was an an executive for the Railroad and we lived on the second floor of the railroad building where i was born via a midwife. It was in Duran. I returned to Ecuador in 2020 after retiring in the USA where i am a naturalized citizen. I live in Quito now at 74 and and enjoy youre channel. I guess i am a Repat!

[@alejandromontalvo3423]

Addendum...my dad won the lottery in Guayaquil in 1956 and made the decision to move our family to Los Angeles CA facilitated by my Auntie in LA who became our sponsor

[@alejandromontalvo3423]

Repat=Repatriating lol

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for sharing Alejandro! Love the Repat! 😂 We have a few fellow Repats down here in our region! We really appreciate your support! If you’re ever down this way, be sure to stop by and say hello! And if you’re up for sharing your perspective more broadly we’d love to talk with you more about it! Send us a note to [e-mail] 🙏 ❤️

[@Elaine-br4lw]

Feelin' the vibe with you today!

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

😃 ❤️ ☀️

[@carolkinne5437]

I absolutely can NOT wait to come home! And you are right, the retreat was wonderful! I have traveled all over looking for “home “….I knew I had found it on my second day of the retreat! Best money I ever spent!!!

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Wonderful! Love to hear it Carol! You’ll be back here before you know it!!! ❤️ 🙏

[@timmalin1968]

Hey Guys. I've been going to Ecuador since 2016. My wife is from Guayaquil and we have family that live there as well. You guy are spot on with the Ecuadorian culture, you get what you put in to it. For me Ecuador is like a place lost in time, and I love it for that. We recently Purchased a house on the Coast, and did a total remodel, and it was so cheap, that at some point I kind of felt bad for the price for the labor was put in. On the flip side feel good when you take the family out to eat and 25 bucks. Coming from NYC, living in GA now.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for the feedback and perspective sharing! Where on the coast did you purchase?

[@rosezaz6607]

Loved the extemporaneous conversation. Lots of gems. Also enjoyed the part about some ex-pats in Vilcabamba having “confirmation bias” about their experience which can be a pre-cursor to “manufacturing consent” which is the antithesis of “we create our own reality”. Mahalo for another fun and informative show.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks Rose! We appreciate the feedback and perspective you share! 🙏 ❤️

[@Hotdog_Water]

During my month long stay this past February there were a few things that struck me as different than during my retreat time in Mar 2023. It may or not be because of Western influence but I did notice a lot of the restaurants I frequented had a rudimentary “tip jar” at the cash register. I was curious if this indicative of what’s coming as Vilcabamba becomes even more popular with expats. As we are used to tipping generously here in North America I struggled with leaving just a dollar or the change for a tip but I wonder how long it will be before our generous tipping culture becomes the norm in Vilcabamba. I was also loathe to attempt to “negotiate” with vendors as the prices are ridiculously cheap compared to my home and I just didn’t want to play that game. The realization from the locals that they might scrape a few extra pennies from us for their goods could slowly jack up prices. It comes down to understanding and respecting the culture whilst integrating within the communities and not over tipping or overpaying for goods and services as at some point there may be resentment from the locals for us gringos unintentionally driving prices higher. I hope that doesn’t happen.

[@fredwyese]

I have been coming here 3 plus years now and living here 1 plus year. Yes tip jars have spread their wings and arieved here as well.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Yes tip jars are in some local restaurants. They’re also in some restaurants in Loja where there are even less gringos (on percentage basis). How do we explain that? Perhaps things change differently in today’s day and age of social media connectedness. Perhaps things change more quickly because of it too. Back in the day cultures didn’t have realtime, at their fingertips, unfiltered access to media from around the world. Cultures changed through migration back in those days. They still do today, however they are also significantly impacted by widespread social media… perhaps even more so. Technology is often a double edged sword. Particularly in a time of widespread propaganda, government control and corporate manipulation. Mass adoption is often a slippery slope. Considering all this, the Normalization of trends pushed through social media may have the largest undesired impact on our communities. At least from a resident’s perspective, they’re unintended consequences. Those with control and power may see it differently. It’s all a matter of perspective! Thanks for the great discussion! 🙏 ❤️

[@Hotdog_Water]

@@AbundantLivingEcuador Well said my friend!

[@dawnformisano1411]

Absolutely true❤

[@JimmyDew_]

Just came back from Ireland and coffee shops and food establishment had tipping jars. It's up to you if you don't want to tip. I tip a bit more if someone goes above and beyond and I feel obligated to tip. Tipping jars are not a big deal for me.❤

[@JimmyDew_]

I do want to visit Loja and see how much the expats changed this place for the better. I heard good things about it.❤

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Very few expats in Loja actually, any change is from years ago has much more to do with Ecuadorians than expats. It’s a cool city!

[@LyannLaRochelle]

Interesting topic about healthier personal care products, I already make all this myself here in Canada, toothpaste, lip balm, aftershave and all. Kinda hoping that I get the ingredients for them to make.

[@proyectonuevo7487]

Independiente de el valle is a football team that feeds players to the glorious Ecuadorian national football team, they have just sold a player to Borussia Dortmund of Germany, the best players in Ecuador currently came out of Independiente de el Valle, hopefully their children will one day play in the first team of the idv and who knows, to be sold to Europe.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for clearing that up! ❤️ 👊

[@proyectonuevo7487]

@@AbundantLivingEcuador I forgot to say it, Ecuador will be the next world soccer champion, we will win the Copa America and the World Cup

[@michelegill5626]

Hi guys! So, I have a question about your retreat…I already rented a place in Cotacachi, coming next month, but your podcasts REALLY make me want to visit Vilcabamba, but it seems like quite a bit of time on the retreat is spent seeing properties and learning about how to move to Ecuador, which I would already have done, so would it still be beneficial to come to the retreat? I think I would really love to tour the area, learn where things are and see what’s what in Vilcabamba.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for the question! Most of the retreat is not seeing properties at all actually. We’re editing content from our most recent retreat that will hopefully share a peak behind the curtain. Are you here in Ecuador permanently now? Send us a note to [e-mail] and we’re happy to chat more.

[@1rstjames]

Unions monopolize entropy, giving employees long term glass ceilings for long term blanket securitys.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Well said James! 👊

[@pamelastorer8570]

There is an aspect of the culture here that is not mentioned much, but it is pretty pervasive and influential. It is that, for most Ecuadorians, what others think of you matters. Hugely. it's not so strong among the better educated and more intelligent, but is is among the older indigenous, and the more "local" or working, less educated. I have had a nightmare of renting since I adopted an abandoned dog, which, being a Samoyed, sometimes makes the same Northern Howl, as Huskies, rather than bark. There is a superstition, that to hear the dog howl means someone will die. And I think, because I am clearly a gringa, this brings out a prejudice. I have had, on three occasions now, a landlord tell me I have to go, because the locals complain if the dog howls, and the landlord wants to be approved of by the locals. He wont talk to me about what we might do, have a discussion with the complainer - I just get kicked out, and in this spite of paying rent on time, caring for property. I have asked my Ecuadorian friends "does it matter to you, what others think of you, is it important that others all approve of you, in general?" and they answer with a nod, "Yes, pretty much, yes". And this is not easy to adjust to coming from a society where in general, no one cares if you are approved of or not. In Australia, such people would be told "Look, she's a good tenant, pays rent on time and cares for my property. I'm not throwing her out just because you dont like her dog". But that is not the case here. So be warned, either stick to being among other gringos, or find out what the locals around you approve of, and make sure you keep them pleased.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for sharing your perspective and experience Pamela! ❤️ 🙏 Where in Ecuador do you live?

[@pamelastorer8570]

@@AbundantLivingEcuador Cuenca, but have also spent time in Yunguilla and Vilcabamba.

[@helllooopeepsk3024]

Husky type dogs seem pretty popular or fashionable. I'm sure with time people will be more familiar with the howling. Being asked to move doesn't sound terrible. Could have easily had your dog poisoned

[@pamelastorer8570]

@@helllooopeepsk3024 When you are alone, with no help, and have been unwell, having to go through the hassle and expense of searching for a place, having to find another deposit, because they almost never return it, and go through the exhaustion of packing up, and uproot so exhausted it takes weeks to get past is --- IS terrible. Poisoning isnt physically and financially horrible, but it would be heartbreaking and inexcusable. I wont say what I would do to anyone who did that to my dogs.

[@helllooopeepsk3024]

@@pamelastorer8570 for sure terrible. Hope you've found a good spot

[@fredwyese]

Although I have only been here a short time, I see some of the bad things from western cultures being assimilated here as well. My fear is the gentrification that we bring. Progress will happen regardless of culture to avoid stagnation, but I see too many wine tastings springing up. The working people here are focused on living their lives and I can see why there is gringo pricing that makes the assumption that gringos are wealthy. I fall into looking for what is the norm back home at times, Simple red wood mulch for landscaping that you can buy at any gas station in the US is a big deal to find here, and I get the gringo look when I ask for it, lol and I am far from wealthy by US standards yet doing ok by local standards. So, seeing Starbucks opening now is a little disheartening, and nothing against the $5 natural smoothies, but is this wonderful country really in need of this? Are we speeding up the consumerism we escaped? This is from a right leaning person who has found a place that is as close to perfect that I think I will find, warts and all.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for sharing Fred! I posted this in response to another comment, but it appears relevant to our discussion as well. Yes tip jars are in some local restaurants. They're also in some restaurants in Loja where there are even less gringos (on percentage basis). How do we explain that? Perhaps things change differently in today's day and age of social media connectedness. Perhaps things change more quickly because of it too. Back in the day cultures didn't have realtime, at their fingertips, unfiltered access to media from around the world. Cultures changed through migration back in those days. They still do today, however they are also significantly impacted by widespread social media... perhaps even more so. Technology is often a double edged sword. Particularly in a time of widespread propaganda, government control and corporate manipulation. Mass adoption is often a slippery slope. Considering all this, the Normalization of trends pushed through social media may have the largest undesired impact on our communities. At least from a resident's perspective, they're unintended consequences. Those with control and power may see it differently. It's all a matter of perspective! Where in Ecuador do you live Fred? Thanks for the great discussion! ❤️ 🙏

[@glenbirbeck4098]

Excellent observations guys. As usual. So sad about basic community activities here that would be difficult or dangerous in the States. Here the shared pride and respect is strong and events are safe for all. Such a simple thing. So much less stress. So little that gringos smuggle stress into Ecuador in their heads. And like that chia pet they nurcher and tend the stress so they'll not run out. You needn't ask, they'll give you a cutting, a sprig of stress, that you can grow in your head. How about this favorite, "an evil cabal of evil people doing evil". Ya, you can't go wrong attributing everything that happens to evil malivilant forces. Rain, I think that was China. and power cuts and cloud seeding. Why do I hang out with gringos?

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

🤣… that last line killed me Glen! Thanks for adding more color! 🙏