Back Door to Ecuador

I was never a boy scout ( which is probably the root of my personality disorder). Yet, I do think there is a a great benefit to being prepared for all real and imagined future challenges.

You know, the potential of a total economic collapse and extinction caused by glacial melting, huge populations that go to bed hungry each night, environmental degradation, job layoffs, global interdependency, and wars everywhere.

Whew, there you have it, and if that hasn't caused you to fill your prescription bottle of Zoloft or Valium, your spiritual practice is indeed working.

It does appear at times, that we are sauntering down the same trail as the Maya, who grab blog space these day s as the "end times" rapidly approach.

No one seems to mention the fate of the Easter Islands inhabitants, or the Anazasi on Fox news these days, and then of course blame their demise on President Obama.

Go figure! We tend to ignore to the failures of our predecessors, who like us, were riding high on the hog, boasting monarchs and noble people, who continually vied to outdo each others' lavishness (think CEOs) before 'mysteriously" their whole kit and caboodle vanished.

Unless of course, you were a paleontologist lucky enough to find a crystal ball left by a pack rat in their mizzen and decipher history; and concluded those ancient societies also displayed short sighted tendencies.

That coupled with greed brought them to their knees. That's why my new book "Cannibal Stew" will be available in PDF form shortly. You can take it with you through your back door to a quiet third world paradise, just in case.

My present day back door escape route is to the equatorial paradise (depending on your viewpoint) of Ecuador. Here a gringo can snatch and carve up a piece land where the descendants of ancient Indian tribes have trod for millennia.

Just like Columbus did when he discovered 10 million Indians living quite nicely without the headache of the European Union. That was until Columbus decided he discovered the Americas and introduced deadly diseases and self-righteous diatribe.

Then land ownership changed hands, using the infamous slaughter exchange method, a very effective technology employed by the fat cats who created the "dog eat dog" world viewpoint.

Now there are offshoots of that "exchange rate" amongst the pale faces who slide-on-down the latitudinal ladder, and build their version of Boca Raton, changing the landscape because they can, and trampling around wearing high tech clothing.

Some of these modern conquistadores are totally oblivious to the soul of the indigenous folks, who themselves sometimes stray and become banditos in retaliation for the perceived inequalities... inciting fear in the helpless viejo gringos, driving them back to their respective police states.

So, why would anyone want to move down to a land where most of it is lacking all the phenomenal luxuries of the 21 century? Electricity can be absent on a daily basis.

Home phones are often non existent and Verizon's coverage map looks like some kid took an eraser to the black board and removed all the red within the outline! Like nada dude! Internet, well its there, but sometimes you have to travel by burro, bus or taxi to get it.

You know, you just can't shop at will with your MacBook Pro, buying all those mostly unnecessary items to satisfy the modern equivalent of hunting and gathering. The beauty of the place is its time quality.

Its the subtle sweetness of having nothing to do, but just be in a land that has been inhabited by an indigenous population for thousands of years. Its an inexpensive country with multiple ecosystems from ocean to jungle to high altiplano.

And, they use our money system, the greenback, so no exchange rate headaches. Just fill your pockets, the dough gets stretched a long way down yonder. So if you are consider retiring early, or just fed up with what it takes to operate in this world, consider Ecuador.

But, don't forget to bring your guitar, camera, Spanish language course, and a Kindle filled with thousands of books. You just might find yourself far from the maddening crowd with lots of time on your hands. And, did I tell you it boasts some of the most stunning vistas in the world?

By : Judah_Lyons