It’s truly our retirement dream to move to Ecuador. We’d like to change our briefcases for suitcases. We’re ready to move to Ecuador full-time.

Why select us, you may wonder, here’s some info to peruse: We both have overseas experience to use. Preferring a challenge to what’s steady and dry; Fred worked in Paris and Pam in the U.S.V.I. We have writing and speaking skills (Just Google each of us to see); And while we take our work seriously; That’s not how we take ourselves to be. We invite you to follow us to Cuenca; Like the blind leading the blind. We’ll learn what we can; And share what we find. Please give us your vote; If you’d be so kind.

Aloha from Hawaii! We’re very excited to be selected as top 20 finalists. Why should you vote for us? In our youth, we took the leap and relocated abroad, and it was an experience that opened our minds and our hearts. Now much older and wiser, we’re ready to do it again. We’ve always loved immersing ourselves in other cultures, and we’ve strived to present ourselves as positive ambassadors of America wherever we go. We will love sharing our daily adventures in Ecuador with all of you, through articles, blogs, and photographs. We humbly ask for your vote!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” – Mark Twain. We’d like to win this dream test-drive contest because we are committed to finding an ideal retirement destination. Cuenca may well be the place to enjoy life to its fullest without running out of money or inspiration. Retirement is not merely our destination but an adventurous journey to be lived to its fullest.

We may not be the most glamorous couple entered in the contest, but with almost twenty years of living overseas, we can assure you we have the know-how to find out plenty about the places we live and visit. We are funny people who find a zest for life and will be able to report what to do and what not to do, and we can make you enjoy our faux pas along the way while educating you. You will laugh and learn about Cuenca along with us. Let us be your guides to YOUR possible dream retirement!

I’m certainly not wealthy – have to get by on Social Security – so I’ve been researching/considering moving to Ecuador; is it as good as it sounds? I really welcome this chance to examine exciting new environment and culture, adventure and opportunities, economical “good life” and health care – as well as procedural detail and potential drawbacks. I’m an accomplished writer and photographer, and I promise to paint an accurate picture of my experiences should I be the one chosen to make the International Living sponsored trip. I’m hoping for your support; I can’t wait to go!

We’ll share our experiences in Cuenca with you every step of the way; the city, countryside, food, entertainment, people and places to go. We’ll report on everything included in the logistics of relocating; residency, real estate, health, dental care, transportation and all the basic needs. We’ll convey the energy and atmosphere of Cuenca and Ecuador vividly and in an entertaining fashion. We’ll take you with us as we explore all the possibilities this retirement haven has to offer. So, if you’d like to see Cuenca through our eyes, please vote for us! Thank you, Colleen and Martin

Traveling to Ecuador was on our agenda for this summer. However, our daughter’s wedding in August blew the budget for that! Watching videos and reading about Ecuador, over this past year, has us excited about the potential for retirement there. Providing stories about our explorations in Cuenca and around Ecuador will be a natural. I have maintained a travel blog with stories and pictures for the past 3 years. Delivering insights for International Living readers is something that we look forward to doing. We promise to do a great job in sharing the inside track about Cuenca.

We want to be your eyes and ears in Ecuador. You should send us, because like you, we want to live the good life, but are concerned about affordability and distance from family. You wonder about adapting to a new culture or a new language, but can’t break away yet to try it yourselves. Let us “test drive” the adventure for you. Deborah is a historian and published author. Craig is an experienced photographer. We can help you see and feel the good life in Cuenca through our blogs, stories and photos. Please pick us, your adventure is waiting.

Foreign travel, like life, is an ongoing adventure. I bring unbridled curiosity, a willingness to ask questions, and laughter, always. I’ll research the basics of retired life in Cuenca; and because there’s a story worth telling around every corner, I’ll explore beyond. Your primary concerns will be included in my field reports, and I’ll deliver on my promise of intriguing video and written stories. Let’s share the reality of living and laughing in Cuenca, as well as discover a few of her secrets. Allow me to be your guide. Muchas Gracias!

We are experienced travelers and have already experimented with living in Latin America—when our sons were young and we wanted to learn Spanish, we packed up and moved to Costa Rica for a year and then Mexico for a year. We decided to retire to Latin America when they were grown, and now we’re ready to go. We have the research, writing, interviewing, and visual media skills to capture the true flavor of Cuenca. Vote for us, so we can share with you the excitement (and challenges) of establishing a new life in an exotic place!

The Lochows plan to retire to Cuenca with their two cats, well before their Social Security kicks in. On a limited income, they’ll be looking at home rental and purchase options. Robert’s retirement plan is to finally read all his books, so they’ll be shipping their library, but they’ll shop for everything else: furniture, appliances, computer, television and phone services.

As creative individuals, our passion is to explore and immerse ourselves in new experiences and cultures. If successful in our bid to win a trip to Cuenca, we will share our honest observations about the city and its’ people. While Cuenca boasts many tourist highlights, we will undoubtedly enjoy uncovering the “real” city, directly engaging with its people, learning about daily life from a local and ex-pat perspective.

Play this video to put a smile on Your Face; Then vote for this video to give us First Place. If Bob and Ellis can find fun in the Canadian Cold, You can be sure they’ll search Ecuador for Retirement Gold. They’ll seek out the answers to all your Confusions; Then share their experiences and Simple Solutions!

We fell in love with Cuenca (as tourists) during five days last December. When we touch down as test-drive residents, our first stop will be Carolina’s Bookstore — a favorite expat gathering place — to sign Joyce up for Spanish classes. We’ll stroll along the Rio Tomebamba (we’ve missed that!) and shop for fresh flowers, fruits and veggies. We’ll definitely buy more dulce de leche from nuns at the Carmelite convent (the coolest thing we did last visit). As we discover new things, we promise to take you along via posts, photos and videos. Thanks so much for your vote!

Why should I win a month-long “retirement” in Cuenca? I long to commune with the spirits of ancient Incas at Ingapirca, and hike through the scenic trails and peaceful lagoons at Cajas National Park. I’ll stroll beside the rushing Rio Tomebamba, sip a cerveza with my Cuencano amigos while people watching in Parque Calderon. Oh, let me gaze at the muy famoso murals by Eduardo Vega, ooh and ahh over orchids at the Orquideario, splurge on a custom-fit Panama hat, gorge on local cuisine… just not guinea pig! Cuenca is calling and I’m ready to go!

I’m a traveler, photographer, and work-at-home writer already spending two months a year in other places. If International Living readers vote for me, I’ll be your eyes and ears on the ground, taking you with me as I discover the wonders of Cuenca! Just how loud is the Tomebamba? How thin is the air at 8,500 feet? How are expats viewed and welcomed into the culture? What are the odd things about life in Ecuador that are not as convenient as Americans are used to?

Top Ten Reasons Why Linda Welling Should Win:

Why choose us? We’re curious by nature and love to explore new places and cultures. We’re confident we can identify what would be most helpful to the IL community to make accurate assessments about Cuenca, Ecuador and its relative fit as a potential retirement destination. Here’s some things we’ll be evaluating:

If you like a nice couple who really enjoy traveling and experiencing new adventures then vote for us. WAIT A MINUTE. THAT’S WHAT THE OTHER 19 FINALISTS SAID. Okay, how about this. I’m a semi-retired sportscaster. I will take my tape recorder and do play-by-play of everything that happens to us. Plus, my wife is the editor and I am the author of five children’s books, which means we can certainly write about our experiences and let all of you know how wonderful Cuenca and Ecuador is and why you should plan a visit, too.