February 12

Post 740, Day 43 of 2013
 - and 774 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Or, maybe, Medellin.

The chief problem I have with Colombia, in general, is that the government does not have a good plan for residency for retirees at the moment.

I discount the chief argument I've heard against Colombia - that it is a dangerous place. I think this, like the ideas about Panama, is an outmoded concept, based on the cocaine cartel wars of the 1980s and '90s. Additional problems are actually only by comparison with neighboring Ecuador: currency fluctuations and cost of living.

But the appeal is great. Medellin is much more cosmopolitan and modern, much more first-world than any city in Ecuador. Right now it costs a bit more, but is still cheap compared to any other first-world city, especially the more attractive cities in the US.

It is, in many ways, comparable to Cuenca, Ecuador, currently residing at the top of my short list. It is a little larger, has very similar climate, a slightly lower altitude (that's a positive), and very similar accessibility to the US. It has a better infrastructure, more of a European flavor, and more access to modern conveniences, including more international-class medical facilities.

Cuenca has many advantages, though: It is cheaper to live there, period. The US dollar is the currency of Ecuador, meaning exchange rates and currency fluctuations will never be a problem. Ecuador has an easy retirement residency option, and will have many financial benefits for their senior citizens. As long as I'm in Cuenca, there is little to no meaningful disparity in the quality of healthcare available.

Why am I talking about this? I try to make this blog about me, my thoughts, and I'm really conflicted about where to spend my retirement. 

My list of potential retirement locations, which I've been keeping for about two years (while considering expatriating for almost twenty), has fluctuated dramatically as I get ideas and information about possibilites. 

In some cases, places I considered prime have fallen off as things changed there (Boquete, Panama), and in some cases, it has been because of new information (Malaysia). Some things have gotten pushed off because new information made other places more desirable (Spain), and some have moved around the list for the same reason (Chiang Mai, Cuenca).

Why write about this stuff? Because that conflict, which only arises when considering the unknowable future, sometimes preoccupies me. When that happens, I need to purge. I do this by externalizing my ideas. Sometimes, this brings me a little clarity. Minimally, it brings a little comfort.

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 Food and Diet Section

First-half year 2013 daily weight

Today's Weight:         205.6 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     204.6 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 1.0 lbs

Diet Comment

Yesterday's lunchtime cheat/fail and late-night snack at work? Maybe.

Food Log 

Breakfast
Cocoa-Kale-hemp protein shake (Almond milk, hemp seeds, kale, chia seeds, a large egg, cocoa, vanilla whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch

Tuna and egg salad on Spring Mix greens with baby spinach and cole slaw mix.

Snack
Pepperoni and celery with home-made mayonnaise.

Dinner

Chili (organic chopped beef, black beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, spices) with steamed broccoli with butter and spices. That's right, exactly the same as last night.

Liquid Intake   

   Coffee:  28 oz,  Water:  138+ oz, and a shot of Redbreast Irish Whiskey, thank you very much!

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!