South America... possibilities ??

I would certainly like to discuss the possibilities of a communal situation in South America... Bolivia, Peru, or Argentina. I have no set plan nor idea, but let's talk. I just returned from a 15 month driving trip in Central and South America. Life is different, a commune would be much more easily developed and accepted. Everything is cheaper... much cheaper... but so is compensation for goods and services. Let's chat OK ??

Jim

 

Sounds like a great idea. Would you plan on being self sufficient and growing your food and making your tools and shelter. Or are you gonna find some way to make money down there and buy everything?

Also how cheap is everything, like food, supplies, and land?

 

There was a big one down there, Jonestown, never mind....

 

so was jonestown successful?




JK

 

Sorry ,I forget that most of you wern't born yet when these events happened.
Yes Deadhead, these folks went down in history....Read a little about their story...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoples_Temple .....

 

I am certainly NOT talking about Jonestown !! Yes.. prducing food, and develop income. But no not making tools. But relatively self sufficent. Good farm land is about 10 to 20% the cost of equal land here in the states. Good luch in Peru... 1.25. Understand life is different, but really wonderful.

 

i know what happened in jonestown alaskan just messing around.

So headinsouth how much money do you think you would need to start this up? Also i read in another post about how the locals really dont like americans and they dont like it even more when your competing with them for money.

Also what is your plan to make money down there?

 

So how much is land down in Peru for example. Is the country stable, safe? Any area in particular?

 

The locals do not like the US government. They love Americans. I broke down in Peru, way up in the Andes.. people brought food, water, lot's of help and friendship. In the entire 15 month trip, and 15 countries, I had one guy try to pick my pocket. That is all... no other trouble ever anyplace. Ecuador.. very stable.. more expensive. Beautiful. Peru, very inexpensive, stable, very welcoming and friendly. The government is good, president a bit middle of the road. But stable. Lot's of land... lot's not usable. Good people. I like Peru.
Bolivia... stable. CHEAP !! Not cars but everything else. President very left wing, but sane. Americans welcomed, and loved. lot's and lot's of available land. Great place.
Brasil... a weird country. I will expand on that if you want. Brasil is now the largest food producing country in the world. Government is a mess.
Argentina. Economy back on track and growing fast. Lots of land and opportunities. Government stable, and supported. THE best people on the planet. Good food. Great wine. I have friends who just bought 130 acres, with house.. house needed lots of work, mature vines for wine grapes, walnut trees, and olive trees. Paid 43,000 usd. This is an established place. many opportunities.
Making money. Growing food. New types of plants etc. Building alternative housing. ie straw bale.. expanding adobe uses. All types of alternative energy. Tourism. Water systems. There are far less restrictions and a demand for housing. Energy is a huge concern in all of South America. Water is also. Many options.

 

More.... running english schools is a huge business. The people crave learning american english. I was hoping to open the door on your ideas as well.

 

Just wondering how did you feel about the situation in CHILE? Possibly (atleast a year in the future) might be making a move down there. Want to have an idea of the enviroment and personality of the area (Santiago possibly) from an outside pov. thanks.

 

Chile is good. The goverment is stable. Last year they elected a very dynamic woman as the president. She seems to be doing fine. Chile is MUCH more expensive than surrounding countries. It is relatively small, very long but very narrow. Where Argentina is on of the worlds few energy independent counties, Chile depends on Argentina for oil. I do not know Santiago. I am not a big city person. I made short trips across to Chile from Argentina. A really nice campground in Argentina was 2 to 3 dollars a night. Similar 4 miles away in Chile was 20 a night. I stayed in Argentina and explored that way. It is beautiful and wonderful people. The spanish is very different in Chile as well. Do keep n mind so much of nothern Chile is very harsh desert. But this is a beautiful country.

 

never been to brazil and ecuador or peru but have been to costa rica ,nicaragua,and panama .......costa rica is a sane place in an insane world but there too ,drugs crime etc is on the uprise .....think i'll stay here .....at east here i know what's going on ............and it's still relatively crime free here

 

I work with a guy from peru. He earned a bachelors degree in his own country. He was a journalist. Now, he works with me in a distribution center. I can certainly tell that he is well educated compared to other hispanics and latinos that I work with, but his heavy accent and slight struggle with english prevents him from holding a job in journalism in the US. Anyway, he told me that he came here for a better life. I told him that land seemed very cheap in Bolivia, and that I looked land on the internet, and was curious about safety. He said that hungry people would steal from farmers at night, unless the farmers were wealthy enough to pay a guard. He also told me that donkey meat is sometimes sold as "other" types of meat. I think that he has been here for about two years. I will talk to him again this weekend. Possibly, the problems that he witnessed were local in peru, and would not be spread throughout the country, or in Bolivia. My advice would be to form good relationships with the locals in towns neighboring the proposed commune. Cetainly, the cheap price of land, and the consistant temperatures or good reasons to move there. One could probably find much food my only foraging.

 

I think that if we moved somewhere relatively rural, and just kept to ourselves. . . and we actually had a good base of money to start out with, this really could work!

 

Dear Friends: Yes, it could work. And yes you need a good base of money to start off with. I know folks who have traveled extensively in third world countries. I also know a gal whose dad moved to Belize. It can be done. It is one thing though to be a traveler and another to move in. Attitudes can change. It also a big undertaking to go and settle in another country. Even in modern times. Not only the Jonestown episode. But remember the history of our country. Like Jamestown. Some who join will be slackers and looking for a free ride. They may seem alright at first. Some will be looking for utopia and others to escape whatever they are discontent with here in the USA. A commune is no matter where it is located is a perfect place. A commune is just that a community, a large family group of unrelated individuals. But who work together as one. But there will be squabbles and problems along the way and you need to have a plan of action and policies in place to deal with the inviteable before you even go. Check out existing communes and find out how they did it and what works. Its all about harmony and teamwork. But it is definitely something worth doing and where there is a will there is always a way. I think there are very definite possibilities there. I agree with Headin South.

Peace, Cricket