Money aside, why would you prefer to live in Colombia as opposed to the US. - Canada- Europe

Bill Turley says on Oct 29, 2007, 10:59:

I made the choice because even though I didn't speak the language I found the people very friendly and open. The country is beautiful. I am trained as a Biologist and Geologist. Colombia is the land of Biodiversity and Emeralds. There are no major storms, no temperatue extremes. No snow unless you want it. You can find the temperature range you want.: Hot -Coast or Cali, Warm -Medellin, Manizales or Somondoco, Cool- Bogota Cold- Paramo or Nevados.
I lived 28 years in the Snow Belt of the Great Lakes, I lived almost that long in Hurricane Alley, now I don't worry about the weather. I like to have flowers blooming every day of the year: I like to wake up to a chorus of Bird Calls from 15 or more different voices every morning.
The fact the Colombian women are among the world's most beautiful is just icing on the cake.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

Lowell says on Oct 29, 2007, 11:21:

THE CHEESE

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

poco says on Oct 29, 2007, 11:28:

Quote: The fact the Colombian women are among the world's most beautiful is just icing on the cake.

They are the cake, icing is simply something you lick off.



Should have added

THE CHEESE CAKE:

"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov

Grateful Dead says on Oct 29, 2007, 11:37:

Thanks Bill

b bruce says on Oct 29, 2007, 12:14:

Mr Bill was right on! I don't live there yet. Certainly moving within twelve months. I have lived my entire life in the good 'ol USA. I have been throughout Mexico, Central America, Thailand, China and Laos. The people of Colombia win the "Best of" prize hands down. The Santa Marta area is like no other for my tastes. White sand beaches of the Caribbean and snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. No place like it on earth! You can always head home to the USA for a visit. But for me, Colombia is paradise found!

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 29, 2007, 15:55:

I like the rough edges of it all, and the "carpe diem" attitude of the people. There's a lot to be said for living with a constant dose of uncertainty and danger. It makes one appreciate the most basic facts of being alive.

MitchAlvarez says on Oct 29, 2007, 16:45:

If my Salary in Medellin would be the same as it is here in NY, I'd leave tomorrow. Easy choice.

expatriate says on Oct 29, 2007, 16:51:

Actually, I would prefer to live in southern Italy or Croatia, but my wife is from Cali, Colombia.

eywed says on Oct 29, 2007, 19:51:

1. Family and the fact that in Colombia family does things together. I dont see my family to much here in the U.S. and when we do we do not do too much.
2. Life , People from Colombia seem to live life more full than folks in the U.S. . Maybe it's the Fact that each day could be your last.
3. Music, Ahhhh how I love my Valleanto music. (Shut up!!! this is my list not yours)
4. A change of view. I have seen the View from my porch in the U.S. and it will be nice to see the diffrent and wonderful things Colombia has to offer. Plus when you sit on your porch in Colombia you see people. In the U.S. I see a dead Street.
5.No gringos and some of there stupid ways. If I have to explain you might be one of them.
6.The food. I am ready for a change of diet.
7.Only work 4 days a week and there is always a holiday.
8.Even with no work or money people in Colombia seem to have fun.
9.You can have 3 or 4 girlfriends and your wife. Nice. (this my wife said to list)
10.Many places to go out day or night. So much to do.
11.the weather, Free A/C at night.
12. Ect,Ect,Ect

Ay Hombe!!!!!

chrispej says on Oct 29, 2007, 21:28:

I've been struggling with the answer to this question almost from the first day I set foot in Colombia two years ago. I think I got it now. Every day I spend in Colombia, she reminds me how happy I am to be alive. To each one of us, it means something different.

rocinante says on Oct 30, 2007, 06:10:

La calidad de vida, el clima, la tranquilidad, la comida, la rumba, el peligro, la música, el español, y lo más importante la gente porque sabe el secreto de la felicidad.

La gente en la calla todos los sábados, reindo, tomando, jugando futbol, comiendo helados con sus hijos. La gente en las tiendas, los bares, en todas las partes. Colombia es el orgullo y la alegría de los Colombianos.

Por eso es que me encanta ese pais.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

gringolondinense says on Oct 30, 2007, 06:11:

Oh dear. Canada again! here we go!....:))))

MitchAlvarez says on Oct 30, 2007, 07:10:

rocinante very beautiful what you wrote. se te nota la passion en tus palabras.

morphus says on Oct 30, 2007, 07:27:

"2. Life , People from Colombia seem to live life more full than folks in the U.S. . Maybe it's the Fact that each day could be your last"

Bullshit! Americans are dropping like flies from heart disease.

"9.You can have 3 or 4 girlfriends and your wife. Nice. (this my wife said to list)"

More bullshit! Not if you are with a Colombiana that really loves you.

morphus says on Oct 30, 2007, 07:35:

Money aside and you have NOTHING in Colombia. The whole idea about moving to Colombia is to get everything cheaper and better.

eywed says on Oct 30, 2007, 08:01:

And there is another Good point Morphus, I would rather drop dead doing something fun in Colombia than of heart disease in America. Hell yea everything is cheaper in Colombia but I was sticking to the post and not talking money. I would not say Everything is better in Colombia but we all have our opinions on that. AS for reply #9 I guess thats for me to find out. One of the more stupid things to come out your mouth Morphus is" Money aside and you have nothing in Colombia" , wow what a sad comment.

Ay Hombe!!!!!

morphus says on Oct 30, 2007, 08:07:

Why? Take all your money and set it on fire. You will be miserable and homeless in Colombia. Colombians will treat you like a rabid dog.

eywed says on Oct 30, 2007, 08:18:

Why is that ? Please explain to me all knowing all powerful Morphus! Enlighten us all.

Ay Hombe!!!!!

wjp0180 says on Oct 30, 2007, 08:52:

To get a different perspective on things. The experience.

WP

morphus says on Oct 30, 2007, 08:57:

How many gringos are in Colombia working hard? Most live in $100k apartments and do not work real jobs. Of course you'll love Colombia under those conditions.

dwmte7 says on Oct 30, 2007, 09:26:

weeeeelllllll....i can only comment on my own experience, and low!, morphus, behold!, i've known the end of monetary excess...living like i owned the town in poblado, having money, no worries, reasonable youth, spirit and good looks. it was more than feeling like a king, it was like being a king.

well times and finances changed...a lot. the rodney king riots, brought my partner and i to ruin. cost us everything that 20 years had built. after that fiasco, we ended up moving back to colombia...although separated and divorced, still both of us were in colombia. my wife with her family and me.....boy, i was up against the wall. i had no money, 8 1/2 tons of property and no place to stay. the net result was i ended up living under many circumstances in eastern antioquia and thereabouts. i traded for rent, food, clothes, etc. and for whatever else, i worked alongside friends...campesinos. did what they did, gardening, tending cows, chickens, horses...

things were so bleak at one point---just like the lives of my friends amongst whom i lived--me, my dogs and my two chickens lived two months on nothing but potatoes. i lost so much weight during those 2 1/2 years. from maybe 160 lbs down to about 93. looked like i just got out of auchwitz. but what i lost in weight, i gained in sharing and understanding the plight of colombia's poor and disinfranchized. i was on an level playing field with everyone else and discovered i've never had it better in my life. real people, real issues, real life. no first class flights, no servants, no outcall for fine cuisine....just life, living, on the basic human level. and i wasn't alone. but i wasn't treated like a stranger...not at all, i was one of them, with them and worked with them to a collective betterment whenever and however that was possible. soo, brother morphus. being down and out in colombia doesn't mean being cast out by colombians. not if one can address the harsh realities of life as they do.

dwmte

eywed says on Oct 30, 2007, 09:41:

dwmte7 - If you dont mind share with us where your at in life now and how did you get there.
The one thing I like about when I met my Colombian Wife was I had nothing. I was down but not out. I spent my last Few dollars to take her out on our first date. And darn if she did not take a liking to me even tho I had nothing.

Ay Hombe!!!!!

Grateful Dead says on Oct 30, 2007, 09:54:

well times and finances changed...a lot. the rodney king riots, brought my partner and i to ruin.

You had a business in Compton?

morphus says on Oct 30, 2007, 11:13:

"being down and out in colombia doesn't mean being cast out by colombians"

Thats good to know. How did you bounce back?

Bill Turley says on Oct 30, 2007, 12:02:

"9.You can have 3 or 4 girlfriends and your wife. Nice. (this my wife said to list)"
More bullshit! Not if you are with a Colombiana that really loves you.

Agreed I wouldn't get very far without a major war with my Colombiana. Even a private conversation produces noticible tension

Mr. Bill Somondoco

Lowell says on Oct 30, 2007, 12:16:

#9 impossible in my town. Everyone thinks its important to tell my wife where I am everytime I'm out alone. Actually my wife is getting tired of it. She knows that I don't go for strays. Take a pretty girl for a ride on my moto? Better be my wife. Go to a "Push" motel? Better be with my wife.

#4 Views. Fantactic from my upper patio (valley and mountains). Nice from front of houseTrees from my computer/play room. Clouds of all types every day. Cool lightning and thunderstorms, no smog, very little air traffic to clutter the sky, every month new flowers in bloom........ Full moon so bright you need a filter to look directly at the valleys and craters. Milky way. Shooting stars with tails.....

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

cali373 says on Oct 30, 2007, 12:45:

Well the disadvantage of Colombia is the crime, state and non-state sponsored terrorism. you can be poor and be happy (no pun intended) but the crime is definitely a deterrent.

Smile if you are a thinker!

dwmte7 says on Oct 30, 2007, 13:01:

eywed...well...what to say, we ended up getting back together, remarried, and continuing our life together. the later part of that long--duro--stay in the mountains, i rented a bar/restaurant in llano grande at the don diego end...bar flot. i filled it with tons of antiques and had the most interesting bar, anywhere--i don't care where--in all of colombia. it was great. but then we got the call from the folks to come look after them in daytona. they were very elderly and said if we took care of them, they'ld take care of us. they were in their mid eighties and not in the best of health/spirits... what with our youngest, lauraita, then seven, buzzing around them every day, my folks got seven more wonderful years.

well we were all prepared to return full time to our home in envigado and laura wins a scholarship to a very exclusive private catholic school....too, we never wanted her studying in colombia. so, with exception of weeks/time off when we can go home, we're in exile here in daytona.

g. dead--compton? COMPTON?? WHAT SAY YE? hell no, on the border of beverly hills and west hollywood, on melrose, one block east of la cienega. at the corner of melrose, melrose place and orlando. we had a license to print money there for nearly 20 years.

and again, eywed, what now. well since i'm tired, desire no more mtns to climb, no more businesses to start, i survive (if the word is applicable) on s.s. aint much of a survival. i was recently offered a job in panama by a friend who's well familiar with my qualifications and experience. sure could use the $$$ if it's possible to work out the host of details, maybe i'll recommission this old battleship and go back to war.

dwmte

Tinto (Moderator) says on Oct 30, 2007, 13:07:

Chin up, Man! I thought you're only in your early 60s? That's nothing. Look at Elmo, he's 95 and has the energy and sexual desires of a 50 year old (or a teenager, I'm not sure which).

;-)

dwmte7 says on Oct 30, 2007, 17:56:

i personally think GOD gave me good measure of humor and positivity...at least it seems like that. when 'shit happens' and our world turns brown, i don't get down...just wear it on my sleeve. and i keep a happy, teachable heart within and that buffers bummers from without.

so, all in all, i do alright with what GOD deals us. remember, i have many, long memories of having money....and i have experience living at the--shall we say--financial edge. trust me, having money beats the shit outta not having money. then again, not having it has shown me i'm not married to it nor brought down by it's absense. so both sides of the fence are just fine with me. but i wont turn down a first class seat....ever.

you brought elmo to mind, friend....that made me think, if 'ace' can get it up and usable at 95, what does that mean for those poooor, ooooollldd, burras? poor babies.

dwmte

panthdave says on Oct 31, 2007, 15:17:

Well have been going back and forth with GF in Medellin...I don't know if I could completely leave Miami or the States...I would definitely need both sides taking money thing out of this...too.. Have many friends in the Miami and enjoy myself but at one point I thought I could do a complete move to Medellin but having doubts for the complete move I like going back and forth...

I have been just noticing that...lately with myself that I could not completely leave the States would definitely would like to be back every month in the States...

panthdave Miami