Why We Moved - Episode Three

When we last saw our couple from the Saturday serial they were stuck in a cabin with the winter wind roaring outside.  As the big fish eye lens opens on this episode, we find them standing outside the cabin with the sun shining and the snow almost melted. All seems well until we see another buckboard coming up the muddy trail and stopping in front of the cabin. In the buckboard is an evil looking thin man, dressed all in black, and sporting a big handle bar mustache. He seems surprised to see our couple and, although there is no sound in our serial except for a tiny piano playing sound track,  it soon becomes evident that this is his cabin. As he strokes his mustache and leers at our heroine we can see that he wants money (or something else!) to let them stay there. Our hero brings out a very thin cloth wallet and begins counting out money. When he is finished there is not much left in the wallet. The evil landlord gives them a long look with special attention on our heroine and, with a last twist of his mustache, heads back down the trail. Our couple look at each other and at their thin wallet. It's obvious he will be back. What will they do?

(Photo is Pre-Covid)

Which brings us to the third reason we moved to Ecuador: The Cost of Living.


 Remember, with both Ken and Sharon not working, our monthly income was going to be reduced by 60%. As you can imagine, not an insignificant amount. All essential services had to be within our meager budget. (No more waiting until the next pay cheque). Daily expenses here in Loja are minimal.      There are markets, food stores, pharmacies, medical clinics, dentists, hospitals (we think six in Loja, both private and public) everywhere throughout the city. In fact, there are pharmacies practically on every corner since the Covid-19 pandemic began.                                                                               

                                                                                  And, veterinarians everywhere.  The cost for a check up at the vet is $5.00, with a blood test the cost skyrockets to $10.00, with the results in 24 hours. Dylan had an examination, ultrasound, then needed intravenous medication twice within two weeks and received oral medication for two weeks. The total cost ... wait for it!...$45.00! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           No more leaving the grocery store with 2 bags of food costing $50.00. There is an abundance of meats, seafood and fish, produce, legumes, pastas and fruits often with the choice of deciding the quantity too.


This photo shows one purchase at the local market  for Vegetales! Verduras! 

Lemons .50, 15 limes .25, 1 lb fresh peas .25, 4 peppers .25, celery .25, 6lbs tomatoes $1.00,
4lbs yams .50, 1lb acorn squash .50, broccoli .30, bananas .40, 4 zucchini .40, bread (buns) .80  The total? Wait for it ...............$5.40!   The flowers cost $1.50



Meals in restaurants or to take-out vary from $2.50 - $8.00. A typical mid-day meal (almuerzo) is $2.75 - $3.50. This would include a hearty soup, followed by a main meal of fish, prawns, meat or chicken with fresh vegetables, rice and salad and a choice of juice or coffee.
Snacks (bocadillos) - Sharon's favourite is a bag of fresh chifles with salsa which are fried plantano chips, or chicken or cheese tamales, or humitas, or an empanada all for .50 each!



Currently we are on private health insurance ($250.00 per month which covers both of us). We do not yet have the national health care insurance ($75.00 per month). But we can afford the basics without the coverage. Sharon recently had her teeth cleaned with x-rays taken and this visit cost .....wait for it......$60.00!

So there it is. The third reason we are here in this quiet friendly place and enjoying every minute.

And spare a thought for our intrepid couple from the buckboard. After pacing back and forth with much gesticulating and some tears we find them walking down the road into the sunset. As the camera zooms in we see a piece of paper drop out of the woman's handbag and flutter to the ground. The camera zooms in to reveal a poster advertising free land for homesteaders in California. We pan up to see the dust rising from their worn shoes as they disappear over the hill and the fish eye slowly closes. Will they make it? Tune in next week.