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Page 5 of 8
The list began to grow and evolve over
a few months time. We wanted to live in a developed nation. That
narrowed down our choices to 29 countries. We immediately ruled out
European nations as they were too much like the States for our
liking. We wanted a year-round warm climate, preferably with the
ocean nearby. We did not want to have to worry about poisonous and
other dangerous creatures, so that eliminated Australia. Another
thing we considered was the educational system of the country and the
disparity between the wealthy and the poor. In other words, we were
looking for a country where there is a majority middle class. That
really narrowed down the choices. Chile was at the top of the list.
I was able to find a lot of information
about the country by looking at web sites from our own country's
web sites. In one, I was able to look at the trends and rankings of
all 29 nations on a variety of topics, such as life expectancy,
poverty rates, education, income, crime and from that extrapolate
conclusions. If the life expectancy is very high, then health must be
pretty good. Whether it is from good health care or a healthier life
style is not known, but either way--you can achieve it.
Once we decided that Chile was probably
the place we would choose for our new home, we began to look at
different cities for climate and cost of living.
As far as climate was concerned, we
wanted year-round warmth with little variation in the temperature
from season-to-season and little rain. Let me tell you--that really
narrowed down the choices! Arica was the only place that fit the
entire bill. The daytime temperatures, year-round, are mid 70's to
80's Fahrenheit, and night time lows from mid-60's to low 70's
Fahrenheit. No heaters and no air conditioners required. Also, there
has been only one inch of rainfall recorded in Arica in the last 30
years. It is, after all, simply an oasis in the Atacama Desert.
The climate seemed perfect, especially
given that both of us have a bit of arthritis that seemed to be
getting worse with each passing year. Now, to cost of living. The
first thing you should know is that the bulk of your living expense
will be housing. If you want to live in a home that resembles
American standard, you can expect to pay between $100 to $700,
depending on neighborhood and amenities. We have found a house with 4
bedrooms, 2 full baths, huge living and dining rooms, and a
reasonably sized kitchen, front and rear patios, and within short
walking distance (5 minute casual stroll) to the beach for about
$285.00 per month. Our immediate neighbors are a doctor, a lawyer, a
policeman, and store owner. It is not a luxurious neighborhood, but
it is very quiet, safe, and convenient.
If you want to live in a really snazzy
neighborhood with ocean front housing, come in March or April, where
the luxury homes are emptying out due to the end of tourist season,
and you can rent for about the same amount as what we are paying in
our little neighborhood. During the season, October to February, the
prices will be about $1600.00 per month for the same places.
If you love fresh fruits, vegetables,
seafood, and chicken then you will be in heaven here. We have
estimated our food bill to be about $1.50 per day--no, that was not a
typo--one dollar and fifty cents each day for very good meals.
Breakfast consists of coffee or tea, bread (I make this myself
because I am not crazy about the bread offerings locally), cheese,
such as Gouda, fontanel, or Gruyère, and fresh fruit. Lunch,
the biggest meal of the day here, is usually some sort of fish or
seafood, large salad, rice or pasta dish, cooked vegetables, and
fruit. Finally, there is dinner, which happens around 9 or 10 in the
evening and is usually very light, such as soup, salad, sandwiches,
or bread and cheese.
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Arica 
