The YouTube lists of negatives.

 Before moving to - well anywhere - but certainly to a country in South America, of course you want to explore the negatives, and make sure there are no deal breakers.

There are plenty of youtube videos of things like "Top ten reasons NOT to move to x (including Ecuador)" and "Reasons ex-pats end up leaving and going back home (or sometimes to another country).

We watched as many as we could.  Some of the reasons DO pertain to us - and are why we are not planning of leaving permanently, forever.  Like missing your kids/grandkids (if we get any).  Right now, our young adult children are busy pursuing their life goals, but when things even out for them in a few years, of course we want to be able to see them more.  And our health may reach a point where it is not sustainable to live here, although if we end up needing long term care, it will be MUCH MORE affordable here than it would be back in the States.  We could hire 24 hour caregivers for a fraction of the cost of a nursing home in the States.

But this is going to focus on reasons people are miserable in their day to day lives.

Exploratory trips are essential, y'all.  We only got 2 weeks, not including travel time, and it was tempting to spend a lot of time sight seeing, etc.  But instead, we practiced LIVING.  And that paid off.

#1 complaint - NOISE.

From every list, and from every person we talked to who has been unhappy.  It can be noisy - music, played very, very loudly, at all hours, roosters, car alarms, honking, etc.  It doesn't sound like a deal breaker, but when you feel like the night club is actually inside your bedroom at 2 am, it certainly can be.  We talked to one couple who could not drink tea on their balcony at 5 in the evening and hear each other talk.  There are actually relatively pricey condo buildings a ways away where the noise is a huge issue, and neither the police or city will address it.  When we searched for a place to live there was an entire area, highly favored by ex-pats that we avoided because we wanted something more peaceful.

But for us, in our daily lives, it has not been a problem, at least not yet.  We face the ocean, which does help a ton, as the beach closes at night.  On the other side of the apartment, Brian's office and the guest room overlook the city, but Brian has noise cancelling head phones, and the guest room is usually tolerable if I close the window.  This problem was abated by being very careful about where we decided to live, but I suppose that could change.  For example the apartment that is level with ours in the neighboring building is a Penthouse Suite - currently there is no one living there, but I supposed someone could move in that likes parties.  I guess we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.

#2 - learning Spanish - and difficulty communicating.

I admit, I am learning Spanish a lot slower than I'd like and I wish I had better listening comprehension - even when I know the words, I can't translate in my head fast enough to keep up.  That being said, I can communicate basic needs, the translator ap is helpful, and when anything is complicated, a translator will go with us anywhere we need to go and help set up anything for $10/hour.  Spanish class has been a fun way to meet people.  Even with minimal Spanish, I can order at a restraunt, explain where I need to go to the taxi, and check out at the supermarket.   There is a nice sized ex-pat community to speak in English to, although I have to be careful not to spend too much time there.

#3 - stray dogs - yes this is a thing.

This is brought up a lot, along with no one cleaning up after them, or their own pets.

Sadly, this is not an issue for us where we live -and for not a good reason.  We heard there were many more strays, and the population was "culled".  However, when we do venture outside of our bubble, we do notice them.  Most are friendly.  At a gathering, or restraunt, they will come and lay next to you.  Animal lovers are chronically heartbroken with all the sick homeless dogs and cats.  People we know spent hundreds of dollars trying to save a stray kitten that was very, very sick.  Not sure how, cause vet bills are not that expensive here, but that's what they said.  It sadly passed away.

#4 - power outages -

This has indeed happened a few times.  This is a deal breaker, due to Brian's work - but thankfully, the building has a back up generator.  The power generally does not stay out for long.

#5 Price gouging for white people, AKA "getting Gringo'd".  

Not sure how much this happens to us.  The main grocery where we shop has written prices, but not all stores do.  Nor do street vendors.  Probably the most issue we had was buying furniture.  I did notice though that if you pay cash for things in places that do take credit (and some stores here do not) it does tend to be cheaper, so they give you 2 separate prices - one for cash, one if you are using a credit card.  I have also gotten things discounted at the register in the mall when I paid with cash.  But for most day to day purchase, either I am paying a listed price, or the item is so inexpensive it does not matter.  One place you can get caught is taxi rides.  Most around our area are just $2, but if going further, especially in the evening, they can overcharge.  The way around this is to just use an ap where you agree on the price ahead of time.

#6 "Manana"  AKA "Ecuadorian time"

meaning - you order a service, they say they'll be here tomorrow, but don't show up.

We have not really experienced that.  People mention it, over and over, but our experience has been almost immediate service for things like plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, internet install, medical care, etc for a very reasonable price.  The only exceptions are a) a person that asked for a job washing our windows, but doesn't show up and b) a key fob that Brian asked for to use on the elevator - the one we inherited is very large, and falling apart, so he had it replaced, and it took 2 weeks to arrive.  Other than that, so far things have been smooth.

#7 - crime - see my last post.  So far so good, but we just have not been here long enough to really know.

#8 - making assumptions - we have gotten caught here.  There are many, here is a taste.

Coming from the US, you just assume all kinds of things you have to actually ask about here.  For example, We assumed our apartment would come with hot water, but we needed to buy a water heater.  When we bought the water heater, we assumed hot water would then go to all of the places in the home - but it only serves that kitchen and 2 main bathrooms.  Hot water does not go to the washing machine, which is OK, because I wash most things in cold anyway, but still.  It also does not go to the half bath (called the "social bath", so I guess guests just have to wash their hands in cool water.  When we were looking at properties, we assumed oceanfront properties that showed a picture of a beach would have the beach, only to find out the beach disappeared for many hours a day during high tide (not the place we are in, thankfully).  We kind of assumed in a town of over 250,000, the grocery store would open before 10 am.  It does not.

One would assume, after moving to South America one might be safe from terrible American secular Christmas music at the mall like "Jinglebell Rock" "Wonderful Christmastime", etc, but one would be wrong again.  And while we are on "American music played in Ecuador", let me tell you, 80's music is still alive and well.  The other day, I was taking Maya for her moring walk on the beach, and we walked past beach arobics to "Come on everybody let's do the Conga, know ya can't control yourself any longa..." and I here other 80's hits a LOT.  I have also heard of Ecuadorian 80's parties since I've been here.  Well, at least it is a step up from Christmas music.

Sometimes, the assumptions work in our favor.  $5 lunch of chicken and rice, and I think that is all im getting, only to be brought lemonade, soup (homemade) chicken and rice dish and desert.  The food just keeps coming.  Same thing happened in Quito in January, except this time, when they said it costs "$5" they meant, $5 total, for me AND Brian.

On a side note - 

One American thing that is not so common here - bathtubs, for some reason, and dishwashers.  The dishwashers, at least, have been built into all of the newer real estate shown to ex-pats, but most Ecuadorians do not have them.   Yesterday, when we had guests, Paula, the wife, insisted on helping with the dishes.  As a side note, I noticed the same thing from another guest some weeks ago - Maya got into some trash, and broke a glass bottle, and our neighbor's SO found my broom and dustpan and was cleaning before I could say boo.  I have no idea how she figured out its location so quickly, lol.  Anyway, it was a sweet gesture, but of course I wanted her to just enjoy herself, so I said, "It's OK, we have a dishwasher, and she was examining it closely, looking at her husband with a gleam in her eye.  Her husband looked a little dismayed, like what are you showing her???  I did not know enough Spanish to explain to her that dishwashers are super common in the US, most people have them, but being able to pay your rent/mortage for the place with the dishwasher was getting a lot more complicated. (especially after student loan, child care, gas, food, utlilities, car payments, etc.).  That for all the wealth and advantages in the US, we are behind in many ways.