life on the chaingang

[oldbongwater]

yes i too have been to the area of tulum, 5 or 6 times and yes it is a paradise to be sure...except for the hurricanes. panama is out of the hurricane belt..never had one...besides all that there are a lot of great places in mexico too..i just seem to be drawn to the panamanian area

 

[oldbongwater]

other added benefits include a vast array of discounts on transportation ...food...doctors...and on and on...probobly the best retirement situation on earth at the moment..not to mention the cost of living is approximately 1/3 of here...the other eye opener in venezuela is gasoline at 17 cents a gallon..for premium ... if you live long enough to get there..just like here there are safe places and not safe places..there are areas where i live now that i would not recommend going into..gangs...gunfire..etc

 

[RudolfTheRed]

I guess we should delete everything other members don't agree with. Come on...

 

[MickeyBlue42]

I know this is a spanner in the works... but maybe consider somewhere like northern Mozambique or Zanzibar island ... Mozambique is great and very cheap still. If you can handle mosquitos and some damn humid summers!

 

[oldbongwater]

we are open to any and all possibilities at this point...who knows where we will all end up at?

 

[The_Leader]

you wanna hide in plain site go to alaska.

 

[oldbongwater]

anything is possible

 

[Colt122]

What about Chile' a freind lives there and seems to do alright growing, travelling,ect? I was thinking of the philipines... I wonder the same things you do, good thread.

 

[oldbongwater]

good to know you are there..and thanks for jumping in

 

[oldbongwater]

what worries me the most even with the money i have..which may sound like a lot..but in the near future i am afraid i cannot afford to live the way i want to in the states..not to mention the crummy weather..it sure looks appealing down in that area of the world

 

[Guest]

Crummy weather?Now thats funny!!Its a big country my friend and I rode my bike today in 75 degree sunny skies.Besides I hear the murder rate in Venezuela is murder..if you know what I mean.

 

[Rush Limbong]

Moving to Venezuela is insane. I have a friend that lives there and they're having a hard time leaving the country..paperwork,visa stuff....

Dont go there

 

[oldbongwater]

yup i know what you mean..but i live in a big midwestern city..and the murder rate here is not much better..the main difference is the cost of living, anywhere in the us is high..some places slightly less..but nothing comes close to the cost in central america=dirt cheap..i really wish i could find a decent place in the states, and i have been to a lot of places..except for alaska where they still may be a better leave me alone type of attitude..but i am afraid i have seen enough cold and snow for this lifetime. yes we all have different perceptions of paradise..and i doubt if anyplace is perfect..i am just looking for the closest thing to it

 

[NOKUY]

the main difference is the cost of living, anywhere in the us is high..some places slightly less..but nothing comes close to the cost in central america=dirt cheap

the cost of living will prolly be your life....but good luck.

your american...your not very well liked around the world....regardless what you think.

 

[NOKUY]

lots of people in the world have "nothing to lose"...your life means shit to them.

 

[FarmerJoe]

My friend and his cousin (Americans) got pistol whipped by a pimp who was selling them coke on the streets in Costa Rica.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[Guest]

I would consider anywhere other than Venezuela it it has the highest Murder & Kidnapping rate in the world. Even higher than Iraq which is engaged in a war.

 

[RudolfTheRed]

I'm telling you check out Belize or Costa Rica.

Lots of Americans live in both countries & its safer than Venezuela.

Belize in particular was under British rule for many years & is still under British commonwealth I believe, so you might not be as hated there & Belize is politically stable as is Costa Rica. However, the unemployment rates in Belize are very high, and most people live a subsistence lifestyle out in the jungle.

However, if you are still bent on Venezuela it is not on the United States list of countries Americans should avoid (Nepal is, however that hasn't stopped many of us here from going there and smoking hash), so its no so dangerous that you need to completely avoid it, but you need to be aware of where you are at all times, but that goes with anything. I wouldn't ever have anything that looks expensive on me. That shit will be gone in a blink of an eye. Crimes against tourist & Americans are frequent so make sure you look like you belong.

 

[oldbongwater]

chaingang...

chaingang...

i am checking into any and all possibilities..i never said i am definately moving to venezuela..just taking a hard..realistic look into all possibilities..so far panama seems really retirement friendly..actually anyone 18 or over who moves there and lives there..be it long or short term gets unbelieveable discounts on healthcare..food..energy bills..transportation and so on..not to mention if you get yourself in the right spot..rent can be really cheap, like a furnished apartment for $200 in a climate that wavers around 70 degrees everyday of the year..with low humidity too. so who knows where i will end up. all i am saying is it definitely will not be here. i have watched this country go to hell in the last 40 years..i am trying like hell to find a place i can just grow my shit..smoke my shit..enjoy what is left of my life without having the govt tell me what is good for me and what isn't..yes iam sure there is some sort of tradeoff...whether it is some nut in a bush with a machette..or some pimp on the corner with a gun..i was in the marines..yea they taught me how to kill somebody..yea i killed some people..although not necessarily proud of it. all i know is i made it through that..made it through prison..and made a living all by myself without working for anyone the hard way..and i guarantee you no matter where i go...just by using a little common sense and a little luck i will survive ...like i said i thank all contributors to this thread.whether you may agree with me or not i still value your opinion obH20

 

[HuffAndPuff]

Oldbongwater- I appreciate the fact that you are comfortable dealing with life's tougher customers. You say you want to "enjoy what is left of your life, without having the gov't tell you whats good/bad for you." IMHO, these are two distinct, issues, and should not be in a causal relationship. STATEMENT 1: Enjoy the rest of your life STATEMENT 2: Don't have the gov't tell you what to do.

Statement 1: Easier said than done, but you are your only limitation. Happiness IS a state... of mind. Country? Not so much. Some people may be happier in a different, 'better' place, but some of the happiest people I've met were piss-poor farmers in Nepal. The thing about happiness is that it's relative, and totally subjective. So, maybe moving somewhere will fix things for you, but odds are, you'll find new shit to dislike about the next place.

Statement 2: bwahahahaha. Lemme know when you find a country in a state of anarchy that you would like to live in. I won't hold my breath. The 'problem' is that it is the government's job to govern. It's kind of their thing. At least in the good ole USof A we have a constitution that (theoretically) affords us some kind of protection. And whilst we do have crooked cops, they are in the minority. In Venezuela, you'd be hard pressed to find one that wasn't corrupt. It's tough to see yourself as free from gov't intervention, when a local cop or federale that's heard you're an american w/ money walks right in to your home, and takes you at gunpoint to an ATM.

Bottom Line? America doesn't suit you, feel free to check some other shit out. But how 'happy' are you going to be, if you're living in a place where you have to constantly be prepared to deal with death by torture? Seems more likely to induce PTSD, to me. That is the situation there, make no mistake. As an American, they hate you for everything we stand for, and you will have a HUGE sign on your head that not only says "do your worst", it also says "and no one will care or punish you". Do you think they will know and/or give a shit that you have 'defected'? Unless you want to be the Venezuelan John Walker Lindh. And if that's the case......

Either way, Venezuela is a dangerous, commie shithole, below are the facts. There's plenty of better places to go.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Violent crime in Venezuela is pervasive, both in the capital, Caracas, and in the interior. The country has one of the highest per-capita murder rates in the world. Armed robberies take place in broad daylight throughout the city, including areas generally presumed safe and frequented by tourists. A common technique is to choke the victim into unconsciousness and then rob them of all they are carrying. Well-armed criminal gangs operate with impunity, often setting up fake police checkpoints. Kidnapping is a particularly serious problem, with more than 1,000 reported during the past year alone. According to press reports at least 45 foreigners have been kidnapped in the first eight months of 2007. Investigation of all crime is haphazard and ineffective. In the case of high-profile killings, the authorities quickly round up suspects, but rarely produce evidence linking these individuals to the crime. Only a very small percentage of criminals are tried and convicted.

Maiquetía Airport, the international airport serving Caracas, is dangerous and corruption is rampant. Concerns include personal property theft, mugging, and “express kidnapping” in which individuals are taken to make purchases or to withdraw as much money as possible from ATMs, often at gunpoint. The Embassy has received multiple, credible reports that individuals with what appear to be official uniforms or other credentials are involved in facilitating or perpetrating these crimes. For this reason, American citizen travelers should be wary of all strangers, even those in official uniform or carrying official identification. There are also known drug trafficking groups working from the airport. Travelers should not accept packages from any persons and should keep their luggage with them at all times.

Because of the frequency of robberies at gunpoint, travelers are encouraged to arrive during daylight hours if at all possible. If not, travelers should use extra care both within and outside of the airport. The Embassy strongly advises that all arriving passengers make advance plans for transportation from the airport to their place of lodging. If possible, travelers should arrange to be picked up at the airport by someone who is known to them. The Embassy has received frequent reports recently of armed robberies in taxicabs going to and from the airport at Maiquetía. There is no foolproof method of knowing whether a taxi driver at the airport is reliable. The fact that a taxi driver presents a credential or drives an automobile with official taxi license plates marked “libre” is no longer an indication of reliability. Incidents of taxi drivers in Caracas overcharging, robbing, and injuring passengers are common. Travelers should take care to use radio-dispatched taxis or those from reputable hotels. Travelers should call a 24-hour radio-dispatched taxi service from a public phone lobby or ask hotel, restaurant, or airline representatives to contact a licensed cab company for them.

A list of transportation services used by members of the U.S. Embassy community is available on the U.S. Embassy web site at http://venezuela.usembassy.gov/. The Embassy does not vouch for the professional ability or integrity of any specific provider. The list is not meant to be an endorsement by the Department of State or the Embassy. Likewise, the absence of any individual or company does not imply lack of competence.

While visiting Venezuela, Americans are encouraged to carry as little U.S. currency on them as possible and to avoid wearing expensive or flashy watches and jewelry. Due to the poor security situation, the Embassy does not recommend changing money at the international airport. Visitors should bring a major credit card, but should be aware of widespread pilfering of credit card data to make unauthorized transactions. Travelers’ checks are not recommended as they are honored in only a few locations. It is possible to exchange U.S. currency at approved exchange offices near major hotel chains in Caracas (personal checks are not accepted) and at commercial banks with some restrictions. Due to currency regulations, hotels cannot provide accommodation exchange. There are ATM machines throughout Venezuela. Malfunctions are common, however, and travelers should be careful to use those only in well-lit public places. ATM data has also been hacked and used to make unauthorized withdrawals from user’s accounts.

Popular tourist attractions, such as the Avila National Park, are increasingly associated with violent crime. Americans planning to participate in outdoor activities in potentially isolated areas are strongly urged to travel in groups of five or more and to provide family or friends with their itineraries prior to departure.

Cross-border violence, kidnapping, drug trafficking, smuggling, and cattle-rustling occur frequently in areas along the 1,000-mile long border between Venezuela and Colombia. Some kidnap victims have been released after ransom payments, while others have been murdered. In many cases, Colombian terrorists are suspected. Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) has had a long history of kidnapping for ransom, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are active in the kidnapping trade. Common criminals are also increasingly involved in kidnappings, either dealing with victim's families directly or selling the victim to terrorist groups.
In-country travel by U.S. Embassy employees, both official and private, within a 50-mile area along the entire Venezuela/Colombia border, is prohibited. The State Department warns American citizens not to travel within a 50-mile area along the entire Venezuela/Colombia border. U.S. citizens who elect to visit areas along the border region with Colombia against this warning, apart from the Colombian terrorist threat, could encounter Venezuelan military-controlled areas and may be subject to search and arrest.

The U.S. Embassy must approve in advance the official travel to Venezuela of all U.S. Government personnel. Private travel by U.S. military personnel to Venezuela requires advance approval by the U.S. Embassy. Please consult the Department of Defense Foreign Clearance Guide (https://www.fcg.pentagon.mil/) for further information. Non-military employees of the U.S. Government do not need Embassy approval for private travel.

Political marches and demonstrations are frequent in Caracas and often pass without incident. Nevertheless, travelers should be aware that violence, including exchanges of gunfire, has occurred at political demonstrations in the past. Demonstrations tend to occur at or near university campuses, business centers, and gathering places such as public squares and plazas. Marches generally occur on busy thoroughfares, significantly impacting traffic. Most major tourist destinations, including coastal beach resorts and Margarita Island, have not in the past been generally affected by protest actions. However, the city of Merida, a major tourist destination in the Andes, has been the scene of frequent student demonstrations, some of them violent, including the use of firearms.

Travelers should keep informed of local developments by following the local press, radio and television. Visitors should also consult their local hosts, including U.S. and Venezuelan business contacts, hotels, tour guides, and travel organizers. As circumstances warrant, the Embassy sends out messages to U.S. citizens who have registered on-line. These messages are also posted on the U.S. Citizens page of the Embassy’s web site at http://venezuela.usembassy.gov. U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Venezuela are advised to take common-sense precautions and avoid large gatherings and demonstrations, no matter where they occur.

Harassment of U.S. citizens by pro-government groups, Venezuelan airport authorities, and some segments of the police occurs but is quite limited. Venezuela’s most senior leaders, including President Chavez, regularly express anti-American sentiment. The Venezuelan government’s rhetoric against the U.S. government, as well as American culture and institutions, is slowly affecting attitudes in what used to be one of the most pro-American countries in the hemisphere.

Venezuela is an earthquake-prone country and is occasionally subject to torrential rains, which can cause major disasters such as the one in Vargas State in 1999. Travelers who intend to rent or purchase long-term housing in Venezuela should exercise care to choose structures designed for earthquake resistance. Such individuals may wish to seek professional assistance from an architect or civil/structural engineer, as does the Embassy, when renting or purchasing a house or apartment in Venezuela. Americans already housed in such premises are also encouraged to seek a professional structural assessment of their housing.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1059.html

Either way, good luck. And consider what I said about point number 1, before you respond about number 2. I'm already questioning whether you are interested in hearing anything that goes against this pre-conceived pipe dream that Venezuela is some kind of mecca of freedom.

HuffAndPuff