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Feeling My Way

I wonder if I know what I’m getting myself into?

I’ve been writing off and on for most of my adult life, in one form or another. I’ve written local columns for a small newspaper, ad copy for radio and TV (local only), flyers for realtors, course work and instructional materials, and even some stand-up comedy. I’ve been writing for International Living Magazine freelance for a couple of years, and now that I’ve retired from being a network/computer tech, I work for them as a retained writer, the new Ecuador Coast Correspondent.

I enjoy writing, and would like to do more of it. Everything I’ve read about working as a freelance writer said “you have to have a blog!”

So kicking and screaming, here I am. Another blogger, just what the world needs.

But first, I have to get the site working right.

I thought it would be easy, after all, I worked in the computer field since a portable computer was the size of a suitcase, and floppy drives (which most of you have probably never seen) were the size of 45rpm record. Which, come to think of it, most of you have also probably never seen.

Anyway, so far it has been a real bitch-kitty. I’ve spent most of this lovely Sunday afternoon here on the Pacific coast of Ecuador clicking back and forth, trying to figure this crap out.

Confession time – this first post is mostly just to see if the freakin’ thing is working right now.

Hopefully, things will get better, and I can settle down to the purpose of this blog. I will be expanding on some of the articles I’ve written for IL, and also sharing some observations of life in foreign lands. I plan to make it more than that, however.

I’ve found that the more you travel and the more you see, the more you start to understand that where you are sometimes does not matter as much as how you got there. Is the journey the thing, not the destination? Or is your destination determined by the journey?

Let’s see if we can find out.

Also, now let’s see if all these words actually make it online, or if I am going to go to the kitchen, watch the fishing boats, and drink a large quantity of rum.

About The Author

I am a freelance writer, currently in east Tennessee after 6 years living in Salinas, Ecuador on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. How I got there is a story in itself, and will someday be fully told over the pages of this blog. Currently I am a freelance writer (https://www.amazon.com/author/jimsantos) and voiceover artist, but prior to that I worked as a computer/network engineer assigned to support the US Senate. I am 62 years old and semi-retired. I was married to my first wife, Carolyn, for just 22 days short of 25 years. She died of complications arising from cancer in December of 2008. We had two children, a boy and a girl, now adults and married with children of their own. I was pretty much ready to run out the clock by myself, but much to my surprise, I met and fell in love with another wonderful woman, Rita. Even more surprising, she decided she would like to marry me. Still don’t completely understand that. With Carolyn I had travelled to France and Hawaii, and several other states. Once Rita and I were together, we indulged in a mutual love of travel to see more of the world. After a few years, we started hearing about Ecuador as a place where you could still get a place on the beach where the weather is warm and not spend a fortune. We came to see for ourselves in early 2013, and fell in love with the place. By March of 2013 we had purchased a 2,000 square-foot oceanfront condo, and made preparation to move there. We enjoyed a wonderful life on the southwest coast of Ecuador, and because of the move I was able to retire early and began writing. Actually, the move was transformative for me in many ways. We spent a lot of time there exploring Ecuador, and started to travel to other parts of South America as well. We even managed to train for and hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Now we find ourselves in a transitional phase, as we prepare to try a life of “roving retirement”. we plan to spend two to three months living in different parts of the world, stopping back in the States a few times a year to visit family and friends. Of course, life has not always been wonderful, and over time I hope in these pages to cover the good, the bad, and the ugly – as well as the adventure and excitement of living in a different country, and exploring new places. I hope you join me, and don’t be a stranger – use the Contact page to send me any questions or topics you would like me to cover. Saludos!

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