Why Nicaragua?

[Swanny]

I guess there are two questions. Why Nicaragua? Why leave my comforts at all for any third world country?


I guess the second one is best answered first. Every since my days in the navy I fell in love with the tropics. I love HOT weather. I remember visting the Philippines numerous times in the early 80's and fell in love with the place. Yeah, I was a young dumbass kid then and did some seriously stupid crap and probably did most of the things not recommended when visiting there... Still, I was very intrigued by the culture and the people. I worked with many Filipinos while in the navy also and became good friends with many and learned alot about their country from them. I used to talk about moving there when I retired but never really thought it would be possible or that I would. Just a dream. As years went by I hardly gave it a thought... Just too many other things going on in life took over the dream. I guess it was reality that took over. Or was it a bad marriage that took over? Are nightmares reality? Maybe I could say I was never married but I had a nightmare I was...


Fast forward after I retired from the navy. I just never found peace of mind in the civilian workforce. I won't bore with details, I just never felt comfortable or any kind of satisfaction with what I was doing. I started to think again about moving to somewhere in the tropics. I just never thought it feasible. I'd still have to work and it seemed like most places you needed work visas, or that places just didn't want foreigners to take thier jobs (which is understandable). I again put it off...


Last year around April I saw an article on Yahoo about the 5 cheapest to live off your retirement or social security. Yes it ended up being one of the International Living articles on the front of the Yahoo news page. Alot of those say you can live off $500 a month, blah blah blah. I didn't really buy that but if it was possible that someone could live off $500 abroad I'd be able to do that with no problem. So I at least looked into it. As I was doing my research on the internet as I'm sure alot of you all have done I started to see that while there was some hype to such articles it really could be done.

I remember seeing Granada as one of the top places but as many people think I thought it was too dangerous. Not knowing anything other than it being a worn torn country years ago I just made the common assumption. My friends and family often ask me about safety and this that and the other... The place that really jumped out at me was Cuenca, Ecuador. I thought that was the place and really looked long and hard at it. I then became certain that would be the place.


A friend of mine asked me why I don't go to the Philippines which I knew and loved. Doh! I had completely forgotten about it. I think mostly because of the fact that after they closed all the US military bases there I figured it was out of the question. So I started searching and was amazed how many expats are there. Now I'm really excited! Later Ecuador... Now I don't have to learn spanish because the I can get by with speaking english there. How cool is that? I had plans, etc... Even had the area I wanted to live (Carcar) and was ready to rock. But there were alot of drawbacks. Visa runs for example seemed like a major pain in the ass and no real option for residency. Airline fares are much more costly. If there was a family emergency, and round trip ticket would be tough from there. I was willing to deal with it though. Then my mother had issues with her heart earlier this year (since had a pacemaker put in), luckily not real serious but it put that seed in my mind that it may be too damn far so I thought I'd look closer to home.

Well here I am making plans for Nicaragua! Same timezone that I live in currently, cheap flights, and after reading these forums and many other sites I feel very comfortable that I'll fit in just perfectly there. I recently purchased Rocket Spanish to try to learn the language some before I get there. Very boring! I'll stick with it but it'll be easier doing the course when I am there and forced to listen and respond. I'll get by somehow...

I really am a bit off my rocker because I am really looking forward to this. I'm planning on early December... If can swing November that's even better. Time to just do it!

[drlemcor]

There is no place quite like Nicaragua. I'm excited for you.

[Jonh]

Sounds like you'll really enjoy Nicaragua! You'll be asking yourself, "Why didn't I do this sooner?"

[Just Plain John Wayne]

Sounds like you'll really enjoy Nicaragua! You'll be asking yourself, "Why didn't I do this sooner?"

DITTO.

[catahoula fan]

An early welcome to Nicaragua to ya', hon! You're definitely in for an adventure! Don't be afraid to ask for advice from folks who've been here awhile, there are alot of pitfalls that can be avoided if you just get some good info beforehand...and always keep a positive attitude...2 good phrases to keep in mind...Nicaragua ain't for pansies, and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[Swanny]

Thanks folks. Really looking forward to the adventure. I'm not even there yet and I have already been asking myself why I didn't do this before. That damn reality crap kept smudging up my thinking!

I'm a very independant learner and never liked to ask questions. Always wanted to find out for myself. On this though I have already come to the conclusion that if I don't ask questions I'd be a fool. I ain't moving from Chicago to Kansas...

[cookshow]

Good on you Swanny. Enjoy it.

[randude]

Hey Swanny, if I understand you are like me, another fellow sailor, I bet you enjoy the carnival of the third world as much at the crazy weather. Life is more interesting outside suburban America. I find hardly a day goes by that I do not find something that disgust me about living in the USA. Nice to have the option to hop back and forth to keep them both in check.

In the news in Seattle... They have to raise the car tabs (license plate fees) or reduce bus scheduling. That is the way the law was presented to the public... "Car Tabs must be increased or bus scheduling will have to be cut."

Now I don't know how these guys market these concepts, but I found it very odd that was the only way the bus schedules could not be cut. Pay cuts, increased user fees, or any other possibility was not even suggested. That is the way they force everything down our throats in this state.

Anyway, enjoy the ride, you only get one.

[kwah2249]

Great post Swanny. I hope the home hunting goes well and please post up your progress.

[renco]

Good Luck Swanny, keep us posted. Dont be shy to ask if you need some help. There are a lot of good people on this site who have learned the some times not so subtle traps of Nicaragua the hard way. Better to learn from our hard experience then pay the "gringo tax" when it is not needed.
That being said this is an exciting place to live.

[Bivwac]

Great post Swanny. I hope the home hunting goes well and please post up your progress.

Good luck to ya, take all the advice you can get, especially if there is a consensus because things are not always as they appear.....take time to live around and travel a bit....rent at first. I bought a small finca in Jinotega in 09', farmed a bit and had a very steep learning curve, worked out o.k., sold the finca and now am renting looking at other areas in the country. One constant here, are the people, in general. All in all, its harder and harder to imagine returning to the grind.....