[CHARLES E CARROLL]

Stephen,
Here is one more thing you should factor into your decision. If things get so bad that Social Security goes belly up, you can expect the government to come after IRAs and other savings/investment accounts just like they did in Cyprus. Desperate governments do desperate things. I think that it doesn’t make much difference where you are living if the US gets in that kind of situation. If the US economy tanks, the world economy is going to follow.
I live in Ecuador and am dependent on Social Security and an IRA in the US. I haven’t pulled the money out of the IRA because I’d have to pay income tax on it at almost 40 percent(ouch). I made my decision to come to Cuenca based on the idea that if the US economy goes south I will be in good company. Also, it wouldn’t make much difference where I am living.
I empathize with your tough decision. There is no universal right answer. It will be different for different folks.
Charlie Carroll

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

I would recommend you check out Club Correos and other mail forwarders. They give you a PO box in Miami or somewhere similar. Then you pay them a fairly high price, like five or six dollars a pound, to ship it to you and take care of customs issues. The trouble I have had is they require an invoice in each package, but for reasons beyond my understanding, they are often not able to handle the submitted invoice in their computer system. Then I have had to scramble to obtain copies and put then in a format acceptable to their computer. I would only use them for items you NEED but cannot find acceptable substitutes for in Ecuador.
Charlie

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

At the prices I have seen quoted for electricity in Ecuador, solar power would be much to expensive to make it worthwhile there. It is only viable in the US because the government subsidizes it.

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

Ed,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I was trying to get the social security person’s signature notarized. Not possible. The notaries won’t/can/t legally do it.

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

Ed,

How did you get the letter from Social Security notarized?

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

Dave,
I understand it is possible to borrow from your IRA to buy investment property. You need to talk to a financial advisor who can advise you about this. I hope this helps.

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

I have been told that, if you have an unlocked GSM phone, you can use it anywhere without a contract by inserting a simcard from a provider in the country you are in.
Charlie

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

Thank you Susan. I will investigate those options.

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

Once again, thanks for the info. You are very helpful.

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

Thanks for the info. This site is really helpful. It’s a great service.

[CHARLES E CARROLL]

Hi, I forgot to ask. I am vegan, but I only eat organic. What is the availability of organic produce and restaurants in Cuenca?

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