expat

As the clocked ticked its way from 2012 to 2013, we gathered around the bonfire and ceremoniously offered our human-size effigy to the flames. That's the Año Viejo (or "Old Year") tradition here in Ecuador, and one worth adopting no matter where you live.

My husband, Dan, and I will soon celebrate 11 years of living the expat life. We've lived in seven different locations (in Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Ecuador) and spent a considerable amount of time in many, many more - especially Belize and Costa Rica.

I first met Laura and Joel (not their real names) a decade ago on the shores of Mexico's Lake Chapala where they were vacationing. He was retired and she was happily working as a network television sales executive. He wanted her to quit her job and move to Mexico with him and she was having none of…

"I don't like being called an ex-patriot," my friend Jack said. He's a former elected official and about as red-white-and-blue as they come. His wife is a former trial judge. But now they're retired and living in Ecuador...for the adventure, the pleasurable lifestyle, and the lower cost of living.