I am a single, (very young) open minded, 46 year old Canadian woman, living on a pension, and need to find a country which will allow me to live on approx. $1000/month…for absolutely everything?! I definitely want to (eventually) buy a property, rather than rent. I live a simple and modest life. I do not own a car, and do not wish to require one….walking everywhere is my first choice. I am perfectly fine with furnishing my new home with ‘hand me downs’, or used items. I do not live a ‘designer-label’ kind of life. I am looking for a simpler ‘lifestyle’; one where family and community are more important than the media-barraged images, we receive in North America. I am looking for a country where being kind, smiling to one another, and helping your neighbors are standards methods of proceeding. As a single woman, (of course), I need to feel safe. That being said, I am a courageous and adventurous person, by nature. I have been a stand up comic in Los Angeles; I have recently returned from Havana, Cuba, where I was alone for 9 weeks. I paint, and am currently designing and making jewelry. I have done extensive research on the internet, have done my due diligence, and am still feeling rather lost and completely overwhelmed!
My intention is to study Spanish, immediately upon my arrival. I MUST live (within walking distance) to water- that is a huge priority for me. Going out for a café, or beer; and people watching, listening to live music, doing my daily ‘marketing’…are a few of my favorite pastimes. I am currently considering: URUGUAY/ARGENTINA …... It is not entirely necessary for me to live in a mega-huge metropolis; however, I do need to feed (and stimulate) my brain. Of course, I am basing my 2 choices, solely on the research I have done, (and some anecdotal) and my ‘perception’ of what those countries are, rather than basing it on any sort of personal experience. This, of course, opens the possibility of ‘misperception’ and ‘idealization”. I am fully open to information, (experiential information), which may clear up some of my misperceptions. If I am ‘way off’ in this ‘perceptions’, please feel free to set me straight.
It ‘seems’ that (either) Argentina or Uruguay will be able to offer a broad/rich and textured experience? My ‘sense’ is that people in Argentina are more concerned (and execute) beautifully, their appearance and dress; and that they are a step up from a casual dress style. My ‘sense’ with Uruguay is that it is (definitely) closer to a more casual dress style. My ‘style’ is somewhere in between….it will be easy enough for me to ‘dress up’, or ‘dress down’, a little. ******Question: What cities, (other than Buenos Aires and Montevideo), would you suggest as cosmopolitan and progressive?
I am interested in assimilating a Latin American culture, and having it ‘be’ my new way of living. It is my intention to apply for ‘pensionado/rentisa’ status, and (eventually) become a permanent resident.
I am not ‘well traveled’, and am asking for opinions from seasoned travelers…..such as yourselves. The little travel I have done has been; spending 9 weeks in Cuba, three weeks in Greece, and several months in Greece, a number of years ago.. I had not traveled for over 20 years: 1/I had gone to Cuba, simply because I have always wanted to, and 2/made the trip to Greece, ONLY because my sister lives in Athens. Even though I was offered a gorgeous apt. in Athens (rent-free--owned by my sister and her husband), I am not drawn to the life/culture there, as well as the EURO, making it completely prohibitive--even with no rent!!! Some may find this odd, but, I would move to Havana in a heartbeat – if I could figure out how to do so-(Legally-impossible, unless you marry a Cuban) – the day-to-day living for the Cubans – is extraordinarily difficult, to say the least. That being said; not having access to many ‘things’ (that we as North Americans take for granted)—I can handle. However, having to live there illegally, is something that I would have difficulty with, as I presume it would affect my not necessarily feeling like it is ’home’?
What I LOVED about HAVANA:
1/the people: they are very warm, good hearted and helpful people-this is the numbero uno reason
2/the ‘street life’ – the ability to be able to sit out at a café and have lots of ‘people watching’ opportunities
3/the music-the music-the music
4/the weather was absolutely perfect for me—hot, hot, (mid-high 80’s) with a good dose of humidity
5/being right on the water-access to the Malecon (sea-walk)
6/access to many well educated, articulate, interesting ‘foreigners’, usually in Havana to study language
What I DISLIKED about ATHENS:
(These are, of course huge general statements, there are always exceptions to the rule-but, it was my experience).
1/ their obsession with all things ‘designer labels’, shocking level of ‘showing off’—..”My $600 purse is better than your $400 purse”…attitude. (I am fairly certain that I would find this in any of the European mega-cities).
2/ the negative attitudes, constant complaining, mistrust/suspicion of anyone and everything (My sister has been married to a Greek for 25 years; I have witnessed this (firsthand), with her husband, her children and now-unfortunately-with her.)
(Sorry, if I am offending any Greeks, but, that was my experience in Athens--Please remember I am speaking of ATHENS, and not of “Island-life”).
3/ their inability to laugh at themselves. (I am a Canadian, and we go to great lengths to laugh at and (even) mock ourselves--always laughing about it!).
4/ the incredibly high cost of absolutely everything—the EURO is through the freekin roof.
I want to live (and respect) my new home’s culture and lifestyle and truly assimilate. I do not want to live in a ‘gated’ community. I am moving specifically to escape (my perceptions) of North American culture, that I no longer wish to be apart of.
HOWEVER--I feel as if I am missing something in the information that I have been researching?? Both Argentina and Uruguay (through my research), indicate Annual Average Incomes (approximately-give or take-of $CDN 4000-5000/annually). From my perspective, this means that I should be able to live very, very well on my pension of $CDN 12, 000/annually. Doesn’t that make sense? This is where I am getting very confused. However, I have seen so many blogs/articles, etc., indicating that it would take (more like) $1000-2000/monthly, in order to live? If a Uruguayan/Argentinian etc., is able to live on $4000-5000/annually, why would it appear that I would need $12, 000-24, 000/annually? (I would be applying for ‘a pensionado/rentista’ status, then, residency, where ever I do end up living). If an engineer in Argentina makes (approx.) $12, 000/annually…shouldn’t I be able to live as well as they do? I am not expecting it to be easy, or abundantly available, but, possible? My intention is to live (as close as possible) to the lifestyle of the country, of which I am living. Is it that the $1000-2000/monthly (that I have seen so many ex-pats refer to), reflects a ‘gated’ lifestyle with a maid/gardener/SUV/high end dinners out, etc.? I would really, really appreciate some insight/feedback on this misinformation, (or perhaps), my misperception?
How do working class Uruguayans/Panamanians live on these very low annual incomes? I understand that their ‘lifestyle’ is not as consumer-based, as us North Americans, and that many of these people (either) live with other family members, or properties inherited from family, but, not all? Presumably, if an engineer in Uruguay/Argentina has an annual income of $12000/Cdn..and DOES NOT LIVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, there must be affordable apts. in Argentina? To me, the information I have been researching, simply does not ‘add up’ with some of the projected required monthly budgets (of $1000-2000/Cdn), I have been seeing in dozens of blogs/forums.
An aside: I have seen on several posts/blogs that Argentineans are obsessed with cosmetic surgery and psychoanalysis? What’s that about? Very interesting. Just wondering.
I would appreciate any and all suggestions…corrections to any misperceptions that I have.
Sorry this post is so long, everyone should be awarded some sort of prize, for even having gotten through it!
