‘Where’s Waldo’. I mean anyone heard from Bill?

[AriG]

So I think that we can all agree that Bill is the draw at PA- just look at the lack of energy in his absence here!

That said - has anyone actually spoken with him? Internet outages aside, has anyone in his inner sanctum checked on him? He said he has no cell phone and now no internet? And with this ****e going on in Venezuela with the US destroying everything from infrastructure to healthcare? Can’t help but be a bit concerned for him. I know he’s two large countries away, but word is there is a massive measles outbreak in Venezuela. Wouldn’t take long to reach Ecuador.

Just hoping one of the mods or someone here has made a call.

Sincerely

Nervous Nellie

[RunningDeer]

I noticed Bill was on a couple of threads today.

In case some missed Bill's post on January 30th:

A brief personal note. I'm in an internet cafe just for a quick moment -- 20 miles away from home, where I'm offline and might be for quite a few days. There was a lightning strike yesterday VERY close to the house, a huge flash and simultaneous explosion like a bomb blast. Mara the reacted like she'd been shot (and so did I ). My power crashed out, my circuit breakers and surge protectors did their job, but my relay internet pole is fried to a crisp.

In the same storm, about 300,000 people lost their power and water (4.25 inches of rain in 80 minutes, which is a LOT), so the technicians may not get to me out in the boondocks for a while.

The next time I'll be likely to check in is Saturday... my apologies once more to all those whose messages I've NOT yet been able to reply to. Meanwhile, the list in my post #94 of the main thread of the 24 folks very likely to be there, not including a bunch more 'possibles', does seem reliable.

AN UPDATE HERE (i.e. post continues with an update)

[AriG]

Paula,

That was five days ago.

[RunningDeer]

Posted by AriG (here)
Paula,

That was five days ago.

I saw his name on 2-3 threads today. Members names are found at the bottom. My guess is Bill was at the cafe 20 miles away from his home.

[AriG]

Well that’s good. He didn’t leave a footprint but I am glad you caught that. Poor guy- we need to start a go fund me and get him the hell out of Ecuador!

[PurpleLama]

Posted by AriG (here)
Well that’s good. He didn’t leave a footprint but I am glad you caught that. Poor guy- we need to start a go fund me and get him the hell out of Ecuador!

Nah, just donate to the forum, if you are so inclined.

[RunningDeer]

Posted by AriG (here)
Well that’s good. He didn’t leave a footprint but I am glad you caught that. Poor guy- we need to start a go fund me and get him the hell out of Ecuador!

Even if enough was raised to help Bill move, I suspect the cost of living elsewhere would be too high for his budget.

A snippet from "Bill Ryan's personal Question-and-Answer thread. Pile it on"

2. Why do you continue to stay in Ecuador?

I have nowhere else to [easily] go. If I had a million dollars (or maybe half that!), I'd return to Switzerland. (Or maybe go to Canada.) But it's crazy-expensive in Switzerland, and really pretty cheap here. Even a bunch of $$ wouldn't last that long there without a real income. There are actually many logistical advantages to this being my home.

[Denise/Dizi]

Pretty sure he has been replying here and there.. When he can, until everything is back up and running in his area... I wouldn't want to drive 20 miles each time I want to make a post..

[Sunny-side-up]

Hi AriG, Bill was last online :Yesterday 21:36

You can look at any members 'Profile' and see their last activity

Good for you to be thinking of him though.

[Rosemarie]

Posted by AriG (here)
Well that’s good. He didn’t leave a footprint but I am glad you caught that. Poor guy- we need to start a go fund me and get him the hell out of Ecuador!

Heyyy. AriG. I take offense ! Ecuador is a beautiful little country , with a huge expat community. Some people would consider it a dream to live here. I wish I knew how to download a photo album for all of you to see. Have you heard that saying ..... we live where you vacation ? We have a little of everything. The Galapagos Islands, the coast, the Andes Mountain area and the jungle. Come on down.

[conk]

Posted by Rosemarie (here)

Posted by AriG (here)
Well that’s good. He didn’t leave a footprint but I am glad you caught that. Poor guy- we need to start a go fund me and get him the hell out of Ecuador!

Heyyy. AriG. I take offense ! Ecuador is a beautiful little country , with a huge expat community. Some people would consider it a dream to live here. I wish I knew how to download a photo album for all of you to see. Have you heard that saying ..... we live where you vacation ? We have a little of everything. The Galapagos Islands, the coast, the Andes Mountain area and the jungle. Come on down.

Indeed. My daughter went to Ecuador for two weeks last year and found it to be an amazing country. She loved the people, the food, the culture. And yes, some of the pictures were amazing. Lush valleys, gorgeous scenery.

[Billy]

Just easing any concerns. Bill is absolutely fine. His internet was fixed yesterday so he does not have to drive to the internet cafe anymore, he has a lot of catching up to do.

[Star Tsar]

It will soon be his birthday!

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Billy (here)
Just easing any concerns. Bill is absolutely fine. His internet was fixed yesterday so he does not have to drive to the internet cafe anymore, he has a lot of catching up to do.

Yes, thanks! All good here. As Paula kindly re-posted above, my internet was fried a week ago by a dramatic, rather-too-close-for comfort lightning strike about 100 yds from the house. But the relay post has been repaired now, so normal service is resumed.

And yes, I have a ton of stuff to catch up on. My thanks to anyone who was a tad concerned. (Interestingly, there have been 4 medium-sized earthquakes in the last 5 days pretty close to here that made the house shake, the largest 5.8. But no damage done. Wild weather, indeed. But that's happening everywhere in the world.)

Rosemarie is right, of course... Ecuador's a beautiful country. As many reading this may know from my many past posts, I have fresh spring water piped straight from the hillside, I've never seen a chemtrail, raw milk straight from Jersey cows is right down the road, and organic fruit and veg is crazy-cheap at all the many markets. Two of the best restaurants I've ever been to anywhere in the world are in town, and my English-speaking local mechanic who keeps Pandora going (my ancient 1986 230,000 mile Isuzu Trooper) is the best I've ever known — and, moreover, charges about $8/hour for high quality, often ingenious work. And I've posted a zillion photos of my hikes in the remote, very unspoiled high mountains here.

And — where I am right here, there are NO MOSQUITOES. Not one. Absolutely nothing that bites. It's the most benign environment I've ever been in.

All in all — lightning strikes notwithstanding! — it's not a bad place to hang out.

[avid]

So so glad you’re back - some folk have been up to no good, and most of us have been very very good Phew - can chill out for awhile. Did notice on Dutchsinse’s reports, and RSOE you’d got rattled locally.
Hope weather keeps good for you there.

[Spellbound]

Glad to know you are alive and well, Bill. That being said...we'd love to have you in Canada.

Dave - Toronto

[janette]

So relieved your ok Bill 🙌 Ecuador does sound sublime..Big hug to you and Mara from me x

[Franny]

Good to hear you're doing well. Y'all have had an interesting time bouncing between quakes and wild weather. Take care!

[AriG]

sorry to offend any natives or expats with my comment about Ecuador- I was really referencing some of Bill’s recent posts about the climate in Vilcabamba etc. I am sure it’s amazing! And Galapagos is definitely on my short list of places to visit. Glad you’re well Bill. Your forum really tanks without you (kidding, well maybe a little)

[Justplain]

Posted by Spellbound (here)
Glad to know you are alive and well, Bill. That being said...we'd love to have you in Canada.

Dave - Toronto

Yes, Bill, you are always welcome in Canada!