José Soplanucas

Such a delightful thread @José Soplanucas.  I only just discovered it.  I’m going to Puerto Vallarta this Thanksgiving, but Medellin is definitely on the schedule for Thanksgiving 2027, thanks to your substack and a few recommendations from others.  I’ve been told that hotel - patio del mundo exhibits some of the nature/architecture blend that you previously described… I find that aesthetic truly fascinating.

There is no privacy. Anywhere. Accept it. It's 2026. Who needs privacy? Whatsapp is great. I use it mainly among friends. For escorts and various paid encounters I use insta.

Indeed. But I do not have complains about the service I am getting for even less than 200, and by guys not watching the clock. If I do not share reviews is because they do not publish (Grindr is very generous) an ad or because they asked me not to tell how much I paid, and I do not want to lie. 
This discussion always return, and it is always the same. I am all for escorts asking for 300 dollars and more, I used to pay that rate. I think it is great if paying 300 or more is good for you. 
I am also for bargaining if it fits the escort's business model.
But I am specially for traveling, and getting excellent sex and company for almost nothing.

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

Do not forget that US health care system is horrible. Many countries have a good to excellent public health care system. 
I have moved to Rio de Janeiro four months ago, and already have my legal residency. I am planning to depend mostly on the pubic health care system (absolutely free) and, in cases when I cannot afford waiting to get an appointment, pay full price to the professional/s. Prices without health insurance are often extremely competitive compared to the US. 
In the case I wanted to enroll in a health care private program, there are standard ones at about 250 bucks monthly, and premium ones at about 500.
Not only professional health care services are affordable, but also medication. Right now, I am taking two pills daily, one for my thyroid and one for my cholesterol. I can buy them in any pharmacy without a medical prescription, cheaper than what I was paying in the US, with a good medical insurance from my job. 
They give away the pills for PrEP and Doxy like candy. Every single boy I am meeting is on PrEP for free. If I wanted to get tested (I am about to have my first experience), all I have to do is to state my need to be tested for STDs. They have instant tests that give you the results in a few minutes. Again, all for free.
Next year I will be turning 65, and will have additionally the option to enroll in Medicare in the US. If I wanted/needed, flying from Rio to the US is easy.
I am meeting people in the expats community here, and often they take advantage of their trips back to the US to connect with family to use their Medicare in American soil.
And I think the same I am saying about Brazil, can be said about many Latin American countries. Sometimes at a higher price, like in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, but always with many high quality alternatives to take care of your health. 
Before making my decision to settle in Brazil, my plan was having Argentina as my base. I was paying the health plan of the Hospital Aleman, an excellent medical institution, at 450 bucks monthly. 

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

Do not forget that US health care system is horrible. Many countries have a good to excellent public health care system. 
I have moved to Rio de Janeiro four months ago, and already have my legal residency. I am planning to depend mostly on the pubic health care system (absolutely free) and, in cases when I cannot afford waiting to get an appointment, pay full price to the professional/s. Prices without health insurance are often extremely competitive compared to the US. 
In the case I wanted to enroll in a health care private program, there are standard ones at about 250 bucks monthly, and premium ones at about 500.
Not only professional health care services are affordable, but also medication. Right now, I am taking two pills daily, one for my thyroid and one for my cholesterol. I can buy them in any pharmacy without a medical prescription, cheaper than what I was paying in the US, with a good medical insurance from my job. 
They give away the pills for PrEP and Doxy like candy. Every single boy I am meeting is on PrEP for free. If I wanted to get tested (I am about to have my first experience), all I have to do is to state my need to be tested for STDs. They have instant tests that give you the results in a few minutes. Again, all for free.
Next year I will be turning 65, and will have additionally the option to enroll in Medicare in the US. If I wanted/needed, flying from Rio to the US is easy.
I am meeting people in the expats community here, and often they take advantage of their trips back to the US to connect with family to use their Medicare in American soil.
And I think the same I am saying about Brazil, can be said about many Latin American countries. Sometimes at a higher price, like in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, but always with many high quality alternatives to take care of your health. 
Before making my decision to settle in Brazil, my plan was having Argentina as my base. I was paying the health plan of the Hospital Aleman, an excellent medical institution, at 450 bucks monthly. 

Do not forget that US health care system is horrible. Many countries have a good to excellent public health care system. 
I have moved to Rio de Janeiro four months ago, and already have my legal residency. I am planning to depend mostly on the pubic health care system (absolutely free) and, in cases when I cannot afford waiting to get an appointment, pay full price to the professional/s. Prices without health insurance are often extremely competitive compared to the US. 
In the case I wanted to enroll in a health care private program, there are standard ones at about 250 bucks monthly, and premium ones at about 500.
Not only professional health care services are affordable, but also medication. Right now, I am taking two pills daily, one for my thyroid and one for my cholesterol. I can buy them in any pharmacy without a medical prescription, cheaper than what I was paying in the US, with a good medical insurance from my job. 
They give away the pills for PrEP and Doxy like candy. Every single boy I am meeting is on PrEP for free. If I wanted to get tested (I am about to have my first experience), all I have to do is to state my need to be tested for STDs. They have instant tests that give you the results in a few minutes. Again, all for free.
Next year I will be turning 65, and will have additionally the option to enroll in Medicare in the US. If I wanted/needed, flying from Rio to the US is easy.
I am meeting people in the expats community here, and often they take advantage of their trips back to the US to connect with family to use their Medicare in American soil.
And I think the same I am saying about Brazil, can be said about many Latin American countries. Sometimes at a higher price, like in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, but always with many high quality alternatives to take care of your health. 
Before making my decision to settle in Brazil, my plan was having Argentina as my base. I was paying the health plan of the Hospital Aleman, an excellent medical institution, at 450 bucks monthly. 

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

Do not forget that US health care system is horrible. Many countries have a good to excellent public health care system. 
I have moved to Rio de Janeiro four months ago, and already have my legal residency. I am planning to depend mostly on the pubic health care system (absolutely free) and, in cases when I cannot afford waiting to get an appointment, pay full price to the professional/s. Prices without health insurance are often extremely competitive compared to the US. 
In the case I wanted to enroll in a health care private program, there are standard ones at about 250 bucks monthly, and premium ones at about 500.
Not only professional health care services are affordable, but also medication. Right now, I am taking two pills daily, one for my thyroid and one for my cholesterol. I can buy them in any pharmacy without a medical prescription, cheaper than what I was paying in the US, with a good medical insurance from my job. 
They give away the pills for PrEP and Doxy like candy. Every single boy I am meeting is on PrEP for free. If I wanted to get tested (I am about to have my first experience), all I have to do is to state my need to be tested for STDs. They have instant tests that give you the results in a few minutes. Again, all for free.
Next year I will be turning 65, and will have additionally the option to enroll in Medicare in the US. If I wanted/needed, flying from Rio to the US is easy.
I am meeting people in the expats community here, and often they take advantage of their trips back to the US to connect with family to use their Medicare in American soil.
And I think the same I am saying about Brazil, can be said about many Latin American countries. Sometimes at a higher price, like in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, but always with many high quality alternatives to take care of your health. 
Before making my decision to settle in Brazil, my plan was having Argentina as my base. I was paying the health plan of the Hospital Aleman, an excellent medical institution, at 450 bucks monthly. 

I have always liked Brasil better than Argentina, more specifically Rio de Janeiro over any other Argentine destination. Being both countries part of the Mercosur, Argentines have a fast and simplified residence process. Brasil has a much more stable and reliable economy. I can access my money in the US more easily from Brasil. I am still working part time in the US, Rio de Janeiro is closer to the US. Rio is located closer to the center of South America, making it more convenient to travel around the subcontinent. Rio has GP saunas. The Carioca sexual culture is more enjoyable to me than their Argentine counterparts. Ultimately, Rio has been my happiest place the last 7 years, I wanted to live in my Happy Place. 

Whatever decisions you make, the key is to do your due diligence. Maybe rent a house or a villa or a room where you think you want to settle for a few months in the off season to see what life is like away from the summer sun and tourists.
We were based in Sydney Australia - and gave our retirement considerable thought.  We had holidayed in Bali for 25 years, and had considered living there.  Because we had gone to the same resort for those 25 years, we knew the staff, the local shop keepers, the local restaurants etc.  We spoke some of the language and if we lived there we would learn much more.
When we started talking to people who were living there full time the real story came out - the newly built flash looking medical centres and hospitals for the tourists - were next to useless - you had to go to Singapore 3 hrs flight or back to Australia 4 hrs to Perth 6 hours to Sydney or Melbourne for decent surgical care, the rental situation required a rent payment in advance of anything between 1 year to 10 years.  Non refundable if you did not last the distance.
While our money would go a long way, it started to get too hard.
After much research and a must have list we did what we call in Australia a sea change.  We moved to the coast.
We decided on a location, and then looked at real estate.  We discovered an over 50's resort which met all of our needs.  At the time we made serious enquiries, they were planning on building more houses, the resort going from 390 houses to 520, and currently the are building another 120, and that is it - no more land.
So we chose a house design and a block of land and bought off the plan.  We paid a $1000 deposit that was refundable, but locked in our land house design and price.
18 months later our dream house was ready.  In those 18 months we had renovated our Sydney home (during covid) and sold it at the top of the market before a slight decline.   
We got about $1Million AUD for it, and our purchase price was $525 000AUD.  So we made some major money on the transfer.
We then used that money to buy a luxury car, do some extensive international travel, including a world cruise of 121 nights, and decorate our home with all new items.
It is interesting to note here that timing is everything.  In the 18 months it took to build the property values increased by $200 000, and today we would sell for about $1 million - but we are leaving here in wooden boxes.
What did we get for our money, a beautiful 2 bedroom 2 bath home, with a large study area, a large open plan kitchen, butlers pantry, dinner and living area, and a big outside entertainment area, a small garden and a double garage.
we live in a street with great neighbours, the LGBTIQ ratio is about 1 % there is currently no other male couples, but 1 female couple.  Like any village with 850 people in it, not everyone likes us, and we certainly do not like everyone.  But living in the suburbs is not different.
We have found a group of people who we socialise with, an inner circle who we call family, and an outer circle of people we see on a regular basis.  We do pay just over $1000 AUD a month in fees, for the maintenance of the resort, and all the facilities, 4 pools, 1 indoor heated the hot tubs and sauna, gym, cinema, lawn bowls, ten pin bowling alley, craft rooms, woodwork shop , golf simulator 3 club houses and activities that range from yoga, pilates, exercise classes, art groups, knitting groups etc.
we are very happy, we can walk at night as its gated, we feel safe here, we can walk to the beach (and do) and its a great area to live in.
the town we live in is about 10 000 people, great beaches, and we have a town of 100 000 people about 15 km away, and have access to all the medical care we need, specialists, hospitals, etc.  There is some live theatre, art galleries and concerts etc to go to.
The only downfall is the 4 hour drive south to Brisbane,  expensive regional air fares and a lack of variety in restaurants, lots of places to eat, good food but not a lot of variety.
we knew that when we moved - but the key is your due diligence.
We had a great bunch of friends in Sydney, but many had either fallen by the wayside over the years, as friends can do, or moved away for their retirement dream.  when we finished work we knew we would need to start our social life from the start again, by getting involved in the community.  
Today after almost 4 years here, husband is 71 and still doing some part time work, not for the $$ but because he loves what he does, I 65 and fully retired, and we both do things outside the resort.  I play bridge a couple of times a week, and have joined the local orchid society who meet a couple of times a month, Husband is playing lawn bowls In a club in town, so we are both meeting different people and having interests outside the home.  We have met people who we now see socially and share in harvest dinners and special interest dinners at local foodie places, along with drives in the country to country pubs for lunch etc. 
Life is what you make of it, but you have to find strong foundations first.  It is all about community.  you can find that in the cities and you can find it in the smaller towns and countryside.  
 

I am right now starting this transition. I will work for sure one more year in the US, I just signed my new contract. This year, I will be teleworking from Argentina from mid November 2024 to mid January 2025. After June 2025, my future is blurred, but my goal is to switch to a full teleworking contract to work from South America all year long. Otherwise, I will be retiring earlier (I turn 62 this October) and moving back to Argentina. My home base would be in Corrientes (Argentine NE), and would be much closer to Brazil and Colombia to spend part of the year in those countries. 
 

Too many people make the mistake of falling in love with places they visit more or less often for a few days or weeks as tourists. This is why I strongly recommend to get to know a place better than that before making the decision to move in. 

One of the things I have learned is that there are not places better than others. There are places that are better than others for each one of us. Someone's heaven can be someone else's hell. 

Any migration plan is challenging, many people fail and return to their country of origin or remain unhappily surviving/thriving in their new country. If you plan the move for after retiring, I guess the challenge is even greater as you are old and less flexible and able/willing to learn. At any age, transitioning to a new culture is difficult and requires a special character and personality, imagine once you are older.
By the way, there is a resource for expatriate that I am not sur you all know:
Cost of Living Comparisons, 2024 data.
WWW.EXPATISTAN.COM Cost of Living comparisons for thousands of cities. Fully up-to-date cost of living comparisons, including prices of 52 products and services. I specially like their cities rank:
Cost of Living Index. Updated Jun 2024
WWW.EXPATISTAN.COM Jun 2024 Cost Of Living Index. What are the most expensive, and the cheapest, cities in the World?  

I am very suspicious.   The pictures do not fit the providers I recognize by name.  
 
@Kevin Slater is this a profile you built?
https://friendboy.pro/boys/KevinSlater

Here is Kevin’s confirmed profile: https://rentmen.eu/KevinSlater
 
i suspect the site is scraping from other sites and profiles are then modified. 

We need a new emoji for the reactions.

Prostitution is legal in Colombia for consenting adults.
Thank you for your concern.

I am finishing packing and killing time before going to the airport in Recife and start my move to Medellin. It is going to be a long flight with two stops, first in SP and then in Bogotá. I will be landing in Medellin (if everything goes well) tomorrow at 10 am.
I opened a thread here where I will post frequent reports and updates. 
I will be staying in a complex in Ciudad del Rio, when I booked it I had not researched the hood, I just liked it because it was one block away from the MOM and it was an area I enjoyed in a previous visit. Recently, I learned that it is a just developed new fancy neighborhood with lots of new upscale residencies, bars, coffee shops and restaurants. The area was cute when I walked through it a few years ago, but it was yet not as developed as I learned it is now.
It is very close to El Poblado, some reports frame it as "the gate" to Provenza and El Poblado. In my previous visit I stayed in less gentrified areas in Laureles, so I am very curious although I am certain I will miss the more authentic local experience provided by Laureles up to a few years ago.
If you have any suggestions about events or places to visit these next 40 days, please feel free to share in this thread. Just remember that I am not in a frenzy short trip trying to fuck every Colombian hottie available, but instead I am slow traveling on a very low budget, as my condo in DC is still in the market.
As I am aware some friends here do not like going to Gayguides and are not interested in international traveling, I will respond in this thread when anyone shows interest. 
I will stay in Medayork up to December 15th, when I will be returning to Argentina, to my family and Ancient friends.