La Serena, Valparaiso, Antofagasta. These cities were unheard of to me until the last few days. But, then I read this article: Moving To Chile, Part Two
That could totally be my list! Except I started my research by weather, much as I did when we moved to Idaho. I can’t take the heat, don’t mind winter, etc. So I would replace her no spiders/snakes requirement with a mild climate. My research began last week (though we have been talking about it for over a year) after I read one of the scariest articles ever: Making the Chicken Run – it did make me want to RUN!
So, I started looking at climates around the world. I can’t take high humidity + high heat. If it’s a bit humid and 60′s, that’s great. If it’s high humidity + 80, it’s a no go for me. Started out in the Eastern Block – Bulgaria to be exact. They are up and coming in their capitalism and freedom. Nice weather. But, after researching it, I decided it was TOO far and TOO foreign for me. New Zealand would be my 1st choice, but it’s almost impossible to move there. Switzerland=too expensive.
So I started looking at Canada. Too cold, too much rain. South America was next. Most of it is too hot and humid. Argentina, Ecuador, and Bolivia still seem too corrupt. Then, I found Chile. Patagonia might actually be too chilly year round (oh, but it’s so beautiful). But the central and near north regions? PERFECT. I’m ready to go. If there’s any time in our lives where we could pack up and go, it’s now. We don’t have many friends here because we have a bit of hermit in us. Olivia is young enough to adapt quickly and would not be leaving friends. Obviously employment is an issue, but I think we could find a job there relatively easily. They have casinos if nothing else…and pawn shops…and real estate.
photo credit: maps of the world
There is very low unemployment there. Little corruption. VERY stable economy. Real estate is not as expensive. Cost of living is way lower. It’s gorgeous there. The climate looks perfect (60′s and 70′s year round in the areas I am looking!-think Southern CA). I could go on. Low crime rate. I had 7 years of spanish, so I think I could pick it up again quickly. Good international schools… A Family Affair In Chile – In the Beginning Basically we could start over and, I think, be really happy.
The only thing I can think of that would hold us back is family. It’s pretty far away! But since we would be in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is in the summer! I bet we would get visitors for that 
. It would be hard to have NO ONE we know down there. I mean, moving from Indy to Vegas when I was 22 and knowing no one was one thing, but moving to a different country and HEMISPHERE is another! But really, that is the only con I can think of. It’s a biggie, for sure, but I just feel the need to get out of here.
“Chile to me is what the United States will never be again.” is a quote from this great article – Why Invest In Chile? A North American In Chile
When we moved to Idaho, it all started like this – looking at weather and climate. We knew that California was out because of the cost of living…Arizona is too hot…Oregon and Washington, too rainy. You get the picture. I really love it here. I really do. I love being an American, and out of every state across the US, I am SO glad I am in Idaho. If I didn’t think that our country was falling as fast as it is, I would stay here forever. We are moving down on the economic freedom index. Chile is moving up. Our dollar is falling. The Chilean peso is rising. Our inflation is about to go sky high. No inflation in Chile. Corruption is getting worse here. Opposite for Chile. The incarceration rate in the US is #1 IN THE WORLD. List of countries by incarceration rate For a country such as ours, that is outrageous!
Yes, it all sounds romantic and fun, but could we ACTUALLY do it? Actually leave our once great country and move to South America? Become expats? Sell most of our possessions? That is the question on my mind, and I think we could. We hope to visit within a year to see if it’s for us, then we may be saying Hola from Chile! I am reading blogs and forums from people actually living there. We are going to get Olivia’s passport application turned in. Are we dreaming? perhaps, but isn’t it exciting?!
Edited to add: Mike reads Lew Rockwell every day – this was on there today – Escape from America continues – interesting, huh, and it really proves that we are not alone!
I found one more thing to add to the con list – earthquakes. Chile is at the edge of a tectonic plate, so the whole country has lots, and I mean lots, of earthquakes! Scary. I have never been in, nor even felt, an earthquake. So, that’s 2 big cons now – family and earthquakes. But there are so many pros – what to do, what to do. On a side note, though, I have decided on the city – La Serena. I can’t wait to visit!!
