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This is one of those long rambling posts that might bore you.So if you just want Colombia/US perspective go to the end.
I just got back from 5 weeks in the US.Since I live in Cali Colombia
that was my annual visit.I have said if I had all the money I would like I would live 3 months in the summer in the US and 9 months in Latin America.But I would not live 3 months in the US without my woman of choice,who I would never find there.Or would I even spend 5 weeks again without her.Or drive 6500 miles in 5 weeks alone.
I have this idea of ultimate freedom as just getting in a car and heading wherever I like.And I miss the Rocky mountains in the summer.
So I bought a car in Houston and headed out.I bought a cute little 2001 BMW 325i.Great car,got 29MPG at 75 MPH.I drove to Vail Colorado for the 4th of July,spent 2 days there.Its beautifull but just seeing it again by myself is not the same as sharing it with someone.
I treated myself to a dinner in an excellent restaurant.Then I noticed that in a vacation resort there was nobody else there by themselves.Still OK,but something missing in the anticipated fun department.
I triped back to Denver by way of Rocky Mountain National Park.Last time I passed the area I was heading north from Denver and looked west at the beautifull mountains and said next time I go up there.That time I was in a hurry.That was 16 years ago and seems much more recent.
I triped on down in to New Mexico and Arizona.I took a 3 hour side trip off the freeway to see the grand canyon,I never saw it before.Yup,big hole in the ground.Been there now.
I headed in to southern California and spent 2 nights with my friend Howard in Hemmet south of Palm Springs.Howard is a very interesting guy who has a good sized business he started in Medellin in the last 3 years.He goes there once a month but has only been to Cali once in 18 months.We agreed he will come to Cali or I will join him on a trip to Medellin.Howard and his beautifull Calena wife are expecting twins right now.
In the San Jose Area I also saw Cali James,who is doing very well with his Calena wife and step son and John B,a friend I met on my first trip to Colombia.He has a very cute 4 month old son who looks just like him.Big blue eyes,lots of smiles and giggles.His wife is looking very good,about 22 years younger than him.Go for it guys if you think you want that and its passing you by.Thats 3 guys I hooked up with with good marriages to women they met in agencies in Cali.It ain't all bad news guys.2 others I did not hook up with,also seemingly doing very well.
In San Jose  I spent 8 days staying with my son.Missing seeing him and my 8 year old grandaughter is a major problem with living in Colombia.He is a great guy and always helping me do something there.I am a lucky man to have a son like him.
I saw my ex wife,a Calena, and step son,and also my beloved golden retriever,Buddy.I posted here about my ex and took some heat for it.It is important for me to put that experience in a good place in my mind.I am glad she seems to be doing well.My step son is doing well,perhaps the most positive outcome of a relationship that did not work well at all for me.He is 14 now,a good smart kid.He has so much more opportunity in the US.It was not his fault the relation ship with his mother did not work.He has changed from a kid who was a bit of a whinner pain in the butt to a kid I wish I could be around and watch grow up.Sometimes there is a purpose in things even if it does not turn out as immagined.
I then triped north in  to Oregon and Washington.In Seattle I got together with 3 guys who post here.Bill,A commercial Pilot who has an Apartment and Girlfriend in Bogota.Paul,who has followed along time,speaks good spanish and worked in the peace core in Costa Rica and will travel to Colombia soon.And Bueller,who just returned from 3 years in Brazil.Very interesting meeting all three.Bueller was instrumental in me not going to Brazil,even though he encouraged it when I moved to Colombia.I decided Colombia was better for me for a number of reasons and am glad I moved to Cali.I do intend to travel to Brazil this winter.
I then drove to where my sister lives north of Spokane.I had not seen her in 4 years.Her and her husband have a beautifull house on a golf course and also a Cabin Cruiser on nearby Lake Cour D' lane Idaho they spend a couple of days a week on.It was very serene and relaxing there and they are great hosts.Great dinners,my brother in law is a great cook and wine conosiour,lots of great wine.
I then Traveled south in to Idaho.I have 3 cousins that were more like brothers to me when I grew up.I spent 2 days with my cousin who owns a convemience store in Cascade Idaho.Its booming there,a new huge Vail like Ski resort being developed 10 miles away.Million dollar homes popping up.Thats a new one for Idaho,which has struggled in the past.
I moved on down to the Boise area where I saw 2 more cousins.One cousin is very interesting.Kind of an aw shucks cowboy type guy who has made a fortune dealing land.Very street savy.Every time it seems he buys some land way out some place the government decides to build a road through it or he finds out its already been carved up in to 160 lots and nobody knew about it.People who have made big money elsewhere are coming in from all over buying land now.He might split it and sell  it for 10-20 times what he paid for it.But he was there when it was cheap and had the vision to know it would go up.But even he didn't expect the extent of that.His son,who I hadn't seen in years had heard of Colombia,he knows a guy who married a Colombiana and got all exited when I told him about it.I expect him down here this winter.
In Boise I also attended the "Jaialdi" A Basque celebration they do every 5 years.My father was Basque.Its a unique heritage.I do not speak the extremely difficult language.The Basques live in Northern Spain and Southern France.Boise is the largest group outside the old country.Many Basques came there about 100 years ago,mostly starting in the sheep business,like my grandfather did.The mayor of Guernica,the Basque capital and sister city with Boise was there. Guernica was the Basque city bombed by the Germans during the Spanish civil war and immortallized in a painting of the bombing by Pablo Picasso,also a Basque.Lots of people travelled from Spain for the event including dance and singing groups.I knew the Basques were navigators and served as such on many of the Spannish expeditions to the new world.I did not know that the Navigator that came with Colombus who was Basque and also owned one of the ships.Another Basque navigator Completed Magellans first vouge around the World after Magellan was killed in the Philipeans.Bolivar was also a Basque name,as is Uribe.Basques in Colombia seem unaware of their heritage.They have just been here too long.
BUT,I had not lived in Boise in 41 years.I saw NO ONE I knew at the event.Just like California,I don't live there any more.
Heading back down through Idaho and Nevada and in to California,I passed  through the Sierra Nevada Mouintasins which I love.I passed through Sacramento,a city I alsways liked,particularly for its closeness to the Sierras.I considered moving there about 5 years ago.Property has gone crazy,up 100% -200% in 5 years.I could have made millions and lived in a place I liked.Coulda,shoulda,woulda.I didn't.I couldn't help but fantasise if my marriage was working and my ex thinking of us instead of her what we could have done.Its a place I could live.
Back to San Jose.Parking my little Charcoal BMW  and thinking I would not be driving it again was a little strange.We spent 5 weeks and 6500 miles together.I am a car guy.I used to own a business selling European cars.One thing I miss about Colombia.It makes little sense to own a car and anything decent costs a fortume.Wish I could have brought that little sucker back with me,but no used cars allowed in to Colombia.

OK,so after 20 months in Colombia and 2 trips back home,how do I feel about living  here vs there?
First it has never been difficult to take.Any homesickness and second thought occured in the first 2 months,knowing this was a move,not a vacation.Nothing is hard about it,but then I got to retire when I moved here,so nothing difficult about that.
I have to admit being a little jealous of my friends who made alot of money in real estate in the last 2 years.I bailed a little early it seems.But with my tendency to spend it anyway I probably would have.I feel I can't afford the lifestyle I want in the US and I can in Cali,so thats major.I am not really at a disadvantage in lifestyle to some guys I know who made alot more money recently.Except for options.Its hard to go back,moneywise.
The US is very clean,organized and prosperous.You can go MOST anywhere you want with no concern for crime and safety.There is an infinite variety of foods available,seems like infinite choices of lifestyle if you have the money,which ALOT of people do now.I went to some of the most Beautifull places in the US.Vail Colorado.Cour D'lane Idado.Its very nice.
BUT,for me,overall,its boring compared to Cali.I get off the plane and head to my apartment.Things are not so clean,not so pretty,but its teeming with life.Interesting.I get here my girl friend has balloons and rose petals all over the bed and is VERY happy to see me.Do not underestimate the value of a woman who loves you.Its very important,at least for me to be happy,and the MAIN reason I am here in Cali.I talked to her on the phone.She asked about mujeres.Are you kidding baby?The first few days of my trip I hardly even talked to anyone that didn't work in a hotel or restaurant.There are NO women in the US I am interested in who would be interested in me.
So Idaho is no longer my home.California is no longer my home even though I am first and formost an American.Cali is my home because its where I choose to live right now.That seems strange sometimes when I am in the not so good parts of it.I live here?Yes I do.Its where I choose to live right now.Who knows about the future but for now its here and I don't see myself going anywhere anytime soon.Probably will be doing year 3 on the lease in February.
Its a little quite around the Pete's place right now.We have Soltero here who is finally meeting lots of new girls after too much time with one and my friend Jesse from California,doing real estate loans from here and meeting lots of women.We have another room open and could do with some more diversion and intertainment and will give our experience and help on anything here,so somebody come and see us.
ITS not bad at all.I cannot complain about how things have turned out, despite all the mistakes and missed opportunities.And life is temporary.On my road trip I discovered I was no longer waiting to achieve something after which I thought everything would be wonderfull,something I spent most of my life doing.Life is NOW.

Pete

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

Pete
I dont post much on your posts but I always read them.

Anytime you want to ramble about living in Colombia I am all ears. Even the little things interest me.

I know you and a lot of the guys that pass through your place are business minded. I am always thinking about opportunities in Peru. I cant believe that you guys havent come up with some ideas.
There is a growing middle and upper middle class in Peru as evidenced by the E Wong business model.

I know that the development business is Peru (building) s booming. I also have some other ideas and I love to dream about them and work on them in my mind while driving.
My latest is the ceiling fan business (dont laugh).

Oh yea me and "red clay" are going to have beach houses next door to each other in Peru! ha ha ;)

TE AMO PERU!!!!

jim

... in response to tell us more, posted by JimmySTLOUIS on Aug 12, 2005

You can discuss general ideas, but don't divulge prices and locations.....:)

... in response to tell us more, posted by JimmySTLOUIS on Aug 12, 2005

Jimmy,
We have come up with alot of ideas,but only one we decided to put in action.My Colombian partner has a real estate web site of Cali.He found out nobody would pay to advertise so he is trying to sell web sites to realtors,a revised version of the one he has.He is doing an online magazine for a Real Estate development organization that will also get printed once a month.Actually his efforts there probably sidetracked some other ideas.

Pete

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

Great post Pete.  Remember when you were going through the divorce and talked about moving to Colombia?  A lot of people told you not to.  That you were running away, etc.  Looks like you were right in your decision though.

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

Well Professor, very eloquent and well stated. ws

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

Very interesting post, Pete. I liked your ending "Life is NOW." One thing about the Colombianas - they know how to live in the now.

... in response to Re: US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by utopiacowboy on Aug 11, 2005

Very True,
Colombianas and Colombians in general tend to think in the now.The downside can be  spending the money you need for the month today.One friend said if you offer a Colombian
20,000 pesos on Monday or 100,000 on Friday they will take the 20,000.Another downside can be partying untill dawn when they are supposed to go to work.Another friend tells his workers who didn't show up,whats the matter your  mother die again?
A big upside is they don't care much about age as in numbers,but what you look and seem like now.Seems no thought my god that guy will be 72 when I am 40.

Pete

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

once you got there, your life would change forever! All you need now is to find that special Colombiana and it looks like you have one right now. Maybe you should spend most of your time with her. There is nothing better in life than having a young Colombiana by your side who really wants to be with you - and you have one now that does!

Regards and thank you for the cross country report.

- Frank -

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

Nice thoughtful post. From someone who was single until my 40's, you're right about experiences/special places being better if shared with someone special. All that driving sure gives alot of time to think, doesn't it?

For those who haven't seen the Grand Canyon, don't let Pete's "big hole in the ground" description fool you. I was awe-struck and breathtaken, even the second time seeing it.

... in response to Re: US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Red Clay on Aug 11, 2005

I saw the south rim of the grand canyon.Not as awsome as photos I have seen.Kind of less rocky sheer cliffs and more wide sloping canyon.Also,I was in a hurry,took a quick look.Its probably better enjoyed when your not thinking about how far you need to drive yet that day.
Rafting through probably the real experience.

Pete

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

Hi Pete

   I am envious because I am still stuck in the US  with estate problems. You may notice that there is a suitcase in your closet. I will come to pick it up as soon as I get back to Cartagena. I think your "rambling" post was more reflective than rambling. The saying you can never go home is on point. Home is where you live, not where you were in the past.

    Colombia has an energy I have not found elsewhere and the way you live with interesting and strange people passing thru keeps the boredom away. Having a relationship is important. It is very zen.  Does the falling tree make a sound in the forest if there is no one there to hear it. Is something beautiful or funny if there is no one there to share it with?  Having a partner is  not only about sex or beauty I would rather be with a woman who makes me laugh than Ms Colombia although if Ms Colombia could keep me laughing she could qualify.  Having friends is just as important. I keep hearing over and over how much fun the bull sessions at the palace were Talk about group therapy! Welcome Home,I will visit soon

jimc
The Cartagena Hooker

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

n/t

... in response to US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by Pete E on Aug 11, 2005

Thanks Pete for taking the time to write such an informative post.  Myself and several of my friends are all considering pulling up stakes here and moving to Colombia. So many of the things that you said are very helpful to so many guys.  Please don't worry about the economic loss you incurred by missing the real estate bust here - if you are happy there thats what counts most.  Like you I find life here is boring even tho I have met all of my economic goals and have a good lifestyle.  Like you I find that there is something magical about life in Colombia and I have always enjoyed my visits there BUT moving there is another story as it takes guts.  I am currently studying Spanish and hope to have a working knowledge of the language soon. If you can e-mail me contact info I will look you up in Cali and treat you to some drinks and interesting conversations.  Again thanks for a great post.  

Jim@latinlifemates.com

... in response to Re: US/ Colombia after 20 months in Cali, posted by BogotaJim on Aug 11, 2005

Jim,
You can mail me at peiguren@aol.com.I would like to meet you if you come to Cali.I will give you my vonage number or give me your number,I can call you free with it.You might be a good guy to brainstorm business ideas with.

Pete