Very well said sir.  I am an American living in the mountains of Ecuador about 30 miles from Quito.  I have viseted 5 times since 2002 to resolve my culture shock, but now I''m older and can not afford to live in America so I am here to stay, and Love it and the freedom here!   The people are nice, and now accept me since I have been here for several years and am the only gringo in this small mountain town.  The weather is fantastic!  While I will always Love my home country of the U.S.A.  I had no freedom there,  all I did was work, go home sleep, get up and work again and had nothing to show for it.  Here there are free festivals, parades, all tipe of events,  cheap organic fruits and veggies, affordable quality health care,  cheap rent and utilities,  very cheap public transportation,  The Great South American Dream !!!!!   My Beautiful wife Hilda is from Quito,  and it was my good fortune to have met her and come here!!!   God is Great and has a plan for ALL of us !!!!!!!

Ecuadorian here, thanks for sharing your perspective. You don't need to fit in, you already fit being yourself, people here learn from the ones who make this place their home and sometimes they also learn few things from us. Just hope my fellow citizens can learn from the good things and mistakes of other parts of the world and try to make this a better place. Excellent video tho.

As an Ecuadorian who lived there for more than 20 years and now a Canadian citizen for more than 8 years, I could not have explained the differences between Ecuador and Canada any better. Thank you so much, Warren, for this video.

Beautiful  video. As an Ecuadorian I appreciate  and applaud  you for speaking  so kind about my country and for understanding that different ways of living doesn't  means  right  or wrong.  Just different

Hi Warren. First and foremost, congratulations my friend on finding the freedom you deserve 👏. Living in the U.S., I can relate to that feeling of increasing pressure and structure, but also the expectation of personal responsibility. The way you described freedom as “space” really resonated with me.

Being from Ecuador, every time I visit I feel that freedom you’re talking about—more relaxed, present, and at peace. It’s hard to describe, but it truly feels like a different way of living. Coming back to the U.S. always feels like a shift in pace and mindset 😆. I’m already counting down to September to experience it again… and maybe one day stay longer or even for good.

Like always my friend, great video. Until next time—be good and stay safe.

Wow, Warren! Truly a deep and fantastically well expressed description. I can certainly relate, as a Canadian, born and bred, now 65 years of age and having lived the "freedom of youth" as well as the adult life. So many elements resonate with me and our life in Canada. We have managed to create (easier now that I am retired) a life with a similar flavour to Ecuador in Canada, but find it mostly limited to the confines of our home "refuge" that we have created over the years, our full-time home away from the city. Once we enter "civilization" we can clearly see what you are describing, especially poignant when reading what people complain about in the editorial pages of a newspaper, arguing about how long a construction is taking, complaining about dogs defecating on a walking path, the price of this or that.
When we were raising our daughters, one of them would ask, "What is the rule on this?" - Our answer would be that we don't need a rule if you do the right thing! They got it. Live and let live, be kind, respectful, thoughtful. Take personal responsibility instead of blaming others.
I love how you said that rules are made for the lowest common denominator. I laugh because it reminds me of the times that I purposefully drive in the "EXIT" instead of the "ENTER" side of a strip mall, just because I can (of course respectfully when there are no other cars).
Your videos are so well put together, once again enjoying the music, the ride, the scenery, while listening to the theme of the day. The transitions between scenes are looking great!
Also, love the tone of your analysis - calm, thoughtful, personal , non-judgemental, not looking for a fight or seeking approval. It helps one reflect on what you are saying and does not make me feel argumentative. There's a lot of that in our North American lifestyle, as you have mentioned, divisiveness and people arguing and taking sides for the most ridiculous reasons! That is why we moved out to the country 32 years ago! I wish I could share my morning view with you, overlooking our forest, pond and the spring flowers! That is our peace and our freedom. It was sunny and 18C all day yesterday and the day before!

What a beautifully spoken video!! As an American, I felt like that when I moved to Montana 5 years ago. Lots of space and freedom. But now I’m ready for more freedom and space and relocating to Ecuador sounds lovely. 😊

Beautiful video. Love the road trip and hike. Loved your narration too. Ecuador is just beautiful. 😍 thank you. Keep them coming.

Freedom is a state of simultaneous presence of choice and the ability to pay for it.

Great insights. Probably your best video yet!

A real pleasure to watch your videos! My wife and I are Canadian and we are visiting Ecuador for 15 days in December. We’re definitely after that Plan B for when my retirement time hits. Canada isn’t what it was even 30 to 40 years ago can’t wait to explore and who knows maybe we’ll run into each other. Cheers.😊

Hi Warren, really enjoyed this video. I liked how you turned your experience in Ecuador into something deeper without overcomplicating it. The contrast you described between structure, rules, and personal freedom was really interesting. The ending—just you looking out over the town from the mountain—felt like a really reflective moment.
Looking forward to more of your videos when you post.

Wow. Warren you are a natural story teller and you have great production value to your videos too. I am very impressed. Great job! I’m a septuagenarian, multi-national, originally from North America, have lived in Europe twice in my younger days; now having lived in Peru for the past 12 years and having driven extensively in both Peru and Ecuador. . .but have to admit, Ecuador is way easier to drive in (save for the cities, like Guayaquil which are similar to Lima, but not near as crazy). Are you from the Kootenays by any chance? We love that area too. Your perceptions of your new home are refreshing, I have yet to get to Loja and Cuenca, but one day hope to yet. Wishing you more joy in your new found freedom in the days to come.

Ive watched more than a few of your videos. I just now learned the meaning/origin of your channel name 😅. Bravo on a well written video.

As an Ecuadorian teenager living in USA since 2023 this video makes me feel nostalgic just bc seeing the freedom that i once had it was snatched from me by a town who failed my people.
I’m really happy that rn it’s more calm but i’m really destroyed bc i couldn’t enjoy the last moments in my homeland.

Hello Warren,

Loved your post.

Canada sure has changed. I was born here and never thought I would move out of the country but my soul is calling for change. Ecuador is my destination Loja or Valcabomba not sure of my landing spot yet.

Have you got your website up yet?
I am looking for assistance with so much.
Here is my take on freedom:

Real freedom isn’t just being unrestrained—it’s seeing the truth.

For a long time, people lived in a world that felt real but wasn’t. It was built from stories and beliefs handed down over generations—many of which weren’t true.

But now, something’s changing.

More people are waking up. They’re starting to see clearly. What used to look solid and unquestionable now appears as an illusion.

The truly awake aren’t the loudest. They don’t argue or insist. They live differently. They know that awakening isn’t a moment—it’s a process of remembering who we really are.

Freedom isn’t something you’re given. It’s something you remember. It’s about owning your life and choices.

Earth is changing. The energy is rising. More light, more truth. And those who feel it know it in their bodies—they feel restless, energized, or like they’re waking from a long sleep.

We’re not just watching change.
We are the change.

We have been programmed to do in every area of our lives.
Yet, to find our truth of whom we really are is found in the being, not the doing.

Just Be ~ You got it!

Chris

Great description of what your day to day life is in Ecuador. Your attitude and openness play a big deal in the adaptation process and not everybody is willing to go that way. I'm glad you are enjoying what Ecuador has to offer.On a side note, riding a motorcycle in Ecuador is a big plus when you are in pursuit of liberty/happiness!

Thank you so much for sharing and yes, with freedom comes responsibility!
And yes, I understand why many chose the freedom and responsibility of Ecuador...planning the move there myself...counting days actually.
No country is perfect. It's up to us as humans, what kind of freedom fits best into our life and expectation!
What I truly love about Ecuador so far is,first and foremost, the Ecuadorian people, then the very similar to your feeling of freedom and third, the Ecuadorian climate...❤🤗❤️
Thank you so much for sharing your type of freedom....from I who look so much forward to lose my European chains ..or, so it feels in my European life in which it seems, the old colonial "laws" have re-entered...maybe things will change later.
It makes me happy to know, I have the choice to leave for the Ecuadorian freedom which seems to match my choice of freedom ❤
Ecuador is absolutely stunningly beautiful ❤❤❤

Sad... sad,  sad, sad. Youtube only allows for one "LIKE." Here ya go 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 fixed it 😁 Love the way you narrate your videos. Thanks for sharing.

Excellent video. U.S. citizen here. Been to Ecuador 12 times in the last 8 years. You describe it perfectly.