$900,000.00 Question

[Ricky]

I would like some opinions from you guys who know South Aemrica pretty well. Not just Colombia. I've been to Cali at least 5 times and the rest of Colombia is second nature. My novia was approved for a fiancee visa and we will be marrying shortly. We've discussed living in SA and she is completely supportive and in agreement with any future dreams/desires I have.

I really have become accustomed to South America and have been visiting a different local every month (for 1week) for the past year. I'm planning on selling my company within the next year and am considering living in South America full time.

I estimate that I have 900,000 to live on. At
$ 2,000 per month I can live for approximately 40 years anywhere in South America without having to work. I'm 40 now and obviously would invest in some sort of business venture so as to keep occupied.

WHERE WOULD YOU GUYS WHO KNOW SOUUTH AMERICA WANT TO LIVE IF YOU HAD THESE OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITY?

Thank for the replies in advance.

[puckster]

... in response to $900,000.00 Question, posted by Ricky on Oct 26, 2002

Why not Rio, The wheather is great, Not a lot of silly laws,the people freindly, extemely beauful place, lots of activites, indoor and out.With that kind of money you can live like a king.

[Jeff S]

... in response to $900,000.00 Question, posted by Ricky on Oct 26, 2002

... have you considered Mexico? It's safer, more gringo friendly, and has a far better business climate than many of the other LA countries. Many places in central Mexico, like Veracruz, Queretero, etc. are clean, nice, have great weather, good medical care, great recreation potential, etc.

If it were me, I'd buy tax free muinicipal bonds, so without ever touching the principal, I could live like a king on the $4000 plus take-home per month interest, in Mexico. Then I'd set up in Veracruz with a sport fishing business to cater to American and European tourists, or maybe bring a dozen computers down and set up a computer school & internet cafe, or some other small, fun business that could be run by someone else, once established and you get associated with a trustworthy employee.

Just my 2 cents.

-- Jeff S.

[burbuja2]

... in response to $900,000.00 Question, posted by Ricky on Oct 26, 2002

Take a look at Panama.  A lot of people speak English, good infrastructure, and an expanding economy.  Also, the place is relatively safe with the added advantage of Central American prices for services and nearly US prices for manufactured goods.  The place has spectacular scenery and I think it is just a matter of time before it replaces Costa Rica as America's number 1 eco-tourist location.

[lswote]

... in response to Re: $900,000.00 Answer, posted by burbuja2 on Oct 27, 2002

You can't be serious.  Panama City is a smelly backwards city that can't decide if it is modern or third world.  Panamanian women are unattractive and from my experience not particularly good lovers.  I was in Panama City for 2 days back in July and it was 1 day too long.  And if you aren't going to live in Panama City, I don't know where you would live in Panama that has any infrastructure.  Maybe when they dredge Panama City's harbor so that it isn't smelly mud flats when the tide is out (which is about 22 hours a day) and get rid of all the shanties and the corrupt cops who blantantly ask for bribes when they stop you (we were stopped 4 times in 2 days), then maybe Panama City will be a decent place to live, but right now it isn't even a decent place to visit.

[burbuja2]

... in response to Not even a $9 Answer, posted by lswote on Oct 28, 2002

[This message has been edited by burbuja2]

You remind me of the guy who's in a drunken stupor for 48 hours on Bourbon Street and then a few months later tries to pass himself off as an expert on the business climate in New Orleans.  Once again, and I can't seem to emphasize this point enough,  Ricky was looking for a place to retire to with his wife.  Please explain the relevance of your comment then, based on your vast 48 hour experience, that Panamanian women are not particularly good lovers.  Don't you think that a reliable court system, a modern highway network or nearly universal literacy may be of more interest to him?  Yes, Panama City does have its poor areas.  Do you know any large city that doesn't?  I'll take your word for the assertion that the harbor is smelly.  I guess the solution to that is not to live in the harbor.  Given Rickey's financial situation, I think he may have other options.  Just my $9.00.

[lswote]

... in response to Iswote Missed the Boat, posted by burbuja2 on Oct 28, 2002

My comments are relevant because the main business and tourist district is by the the harbor and just walking down the street when the tide is out (which is most of the time because the harbor is extremely shallow) has a putrid smell.  The comment about the women is relevant because most of us here are looking for Latin wives so I assumed Ricky might be in that boat.  If he already has someone, then the point IS irrelevant.  I am not talking about the poor part of the city when I talk about shanties, I am talking about the main part of the city.  I visited a modern, contemporary looking Christian bookstore that was right next to a little shack of a building.  I have been all over Bogota and not seen this kind of shanties and yet I was in the main part of Panama City and saw them.  You didn't say whether you had been to Panama City yourself, but I found it a HUGE disappointment.  For a city colonized by Americans or people heavily influenced by Americans I was shocked at how third world it looked.

[AlexG32]

... in response to $900,000.00 Question, posted by Ricky on Oct 26, 2002

NT

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: $900,000.00 Question....BOGOTA no do..., posted by AlexG32 on Oct 27, 2002

I would think if a person wanted to put up with the risks of Colombia they would at least want to go somewhere nice,like Santa Marta.Maybe its just my own preferences,but big cold cities are not high on my list for retirement destinations.Considering South or Central America would seem to indicate a preference for tropical climates.
I know,Bogota is fairly nice for a big city and not as risky as other places in Colombia,but cold big city.Sounds like retiring to NYC.If you ask a rich person in Bogota where they want to retire to they will probably say Miami.
Actually Santa Marta is the next place I want to visit in Colombia.I have heard it is very nice,but I would worry that a foriegner who seemed to have money would become a target.There is a reason those rich Colombianos are in Miami,and its not cost of living.
I think there is a big perception difference between the wealthy and the middle or lower class.My nephew is married to an upper class Colobiana who's family has money.She is afraid to travel back to Colombia.She still goes but  will not take her daughter with her.They have a different experience than people who basically are not candidates for kidnapping because of lack of money,which is most Colombianos.

Pete

[puckster]

... in response to Bogota???, posted by Pete E on Oct 27, 2002

I highly recomend Santa Marta, Stay in the rodedero,Don't miss Parke tyrone.

[AlexG32]

... in response to Bogota???, posted by Pete E on Oct 27, 2002

Big yes but cold?  I hardly think so Pete, and the reason I say Bogota is because he is interested in a business venture as well.  I have been to Santa Marta and while it is beautiful and HOT all year round like any vacation destination it is very seasonal.  Business ventures there would be risky at best plus there is only so much you can do in Santa Marta.  How many times can a person go to the Rodadero?

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Bogota???, posted by AlexG32 on Oct 28, 2002

Rodadero is pretty boring I agree. The one interesting attraction is a new aquarium (not the one with trained seals a launch ride away) that has good professional displays of the local sea creatures. You're even guided through by a real biologist. There's also a huge shark tank and it's fun to watch one of the employees feeding them by hand. If anyone goes I'd like to hear if he still has both.

[FredFresno]

... in response to Re: $900,000.00 Question....BOGOTA no do..., posted by AlexG32 on Oct 27, 2002

I also would have said "Bogota".  If you're living off of a US-based income stream and both have US passports (which his novia won't have for some time), then my perception is that the current risk in Bogota is "acceptable", and that you can bail on relatively short notice.  That having been said, El Tiempo is currently balancing the "Colombia positiva" thing with airing the country's dirty laundry.  They point out that, in the hemisphere, Colombia is second to Brazil in terms of the divide between rich and poor.  That makes the good life cheap for an independently wealthy foreigner, but also makes for an unstable society.  Would Venezuala have looked better a few years back?  How many places in Latin America are safe from significant social turmoil if you look several decades out?  Will you be comfortable living behind considerably more security precautions than is probably the case now?  Some gringos are comfortable with that.  The URL:

http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/naci/2002-10-27/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-182453.html

[colman]

... in response to $900,000.00 Question, posted by Ricky on Oct 26, 2002

In a nanosecond's time and without an iota of hesitation I would love to live and retire in Santa Martha.......some people mentioned Uruguay or Argentina--I bet Uruguay would be a great local but people emphasize "very European" as if that was euphemism for non--savage peoples.....again, if I wanted a blonde wife living in European colonial type homes why not go to Vienna or old city section of Prague? When I think of blondes I think of Scandanivian countries or the St.Paulie girl in Bavaria selling stiens of beer--lol--I mean I dont think of Colombian, Mexican, Argentine, Brazilian women!!! I mean that is why some guys are attractive to Latinas...becuase of thier big eyes, wavy,long dark hair, curvaceous bodies---I know thier is an infinite amount of physical differences among Latin countries but I just dont get it sometimes...--Colman

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: $900,000.00 Question, posted by colman on Oct 27, 2002

[This message has been edited by burbuja2]

You simply don't get it sometimes.  Ricky's post pertained to a place for retirement with his wife.  I doubt that "curvaceous bodies" really ranks high on his list of priorities in this selection process.  This is another curious attempt by you to impose your racial preferences on others.  Are you hostile to Europeans in general or only in South America?  Oh well, at least you didn't compare Uraguayan females to East German weight lifters this time.