I’m a Creep & a Weirdo

For what it´s worth, I have always enjoyed Colin´s writings ever since I began traveling to Latin America. So probably around 2013 to 2014. I never found them cringe. And honestly while his much earlier posts included more crazy stories that helped the blog become popular, some of his insights these days are quite spot on and quite frankly the quality of the insights and writing is much better than way back when given the maturity and experience living here.

Articles like these are more insightful and true to life in Latin America than what most gringos can put out regarding life here because most aren´t as reflective, don´t have as much experience and many are just trying to sell a fantasy of life abroad at the cost of honesty: https://expat-chronicles.com/2023/04/16/re-marrying-up-in-latin-america/

With all due respect, I do think Colin is selling himself short here as it pertains to his writing ability and insights into Latin America. He could lean into it harder and offer insights better than many. Sure, many such articles wouldn´t always get the clicks because few read blogs these days and topics that stray away from gringo favorite topics don´t get as many clicks because most gringos don´t care to dig beyond the superficial of life here.

And I have had my fair share of feeling cringe with my own writings. Primarily because I was 12 shots of vodka deep into writing so much. I´m still editing little by little my own pieces so that they are more mature lol. But I also think, vices aside, the self criticism is more of a reflection of growing maturity where one ages and has different perspectives (perfectly normal) and also just a natural self doubt many have about ourselves (similar to hating the sound of our own voice in a recording even if it sounds fine).

Putting that aside, what I will say regarding this post is just from an outside perspective.

I obviously have no idea if Colin would really be happier in Peru. That´s where I differ from you a little bit.

I´ve read his writings for years on the blog and email. But I´ve never met him personally and there´s details to his life that I don´t have experience with.

For example, even if Colin was happier abroad, would his family be?

I have no idea

I remember reading way long ago that his wife didnt enjoy very much her very first time living in the US before his current relocation to the USA. Maybe she has changed and likes it there more? I don´t know. But before moving abroad, I would be giving thought obviously to what the others want.

As for the kids, you know I haven´t had any myself. But if I did have kids, I´d personally want them to be embracing both the American and Latin American side of their heritage. I think Colin kinda cares for that also based on his past writings. A trip abroad to Peru for a year or so would help in that.

As for Colin himself, only he knows really if he would like Peru more or if Peru would be a better place to live than his current location. I remember an article he wrote time ago on visiting Peru and not liking the customer service in the airport. And the impression I got from the end of the article was that he seemed doubtful that he could enjoy living there again. Time is more valuable than money and anyone who knows Latin America well knows that time is often wasted on things like crap customer service.

I also remember an article where he admits to being ready to leave Peru finally. That he felt more contempt by them to foreigners and he was ready to leave.

But that was all a year or more some of those articles.

Even on the detail of life being more exciting here in Latin America as you bring up, I dont know if I agree 100% with that. You might be right. Well, you are right when talking about gringos who move to Latin America for the very first time ever and get all excited about how different everything is. But over time life does become more routine I think. Or at least the honeymoon is over and not every day is a Rio Carnival in Brazil. You end up going to the same restaurants, same bars, same parks, etc. No longer as much of a novelty.

Even for gringos who travel a lot, so called digital nomads, they find it not so exciting after a while despite going from country to country. Because one beach resembles the last beach. One castle resembles the last castle. One pyramid resembles the last pyramid. Etc.

But does any of that, even with just living abroad in only one country, continue to be more exciting than living in a standard US city? Maybe, I guess it just depends on which city you like more

Plenty of US cities can be exciting too (if you have the money)

But personally I dont think this article is about living in Peru or living in the US. I could be wrong and again this is just my impression from reading it and from reading his other writings without even having met Colin in person ever.

My impression of this article is it feels more like a tension surrounding the topics of aging and simply asking ¨what have you done with your life that is memorable?¨

Especially as you get older

Are you satisified with your life and have any big achievements to smile back upon?

I remember previous writings by Colin, perhaps in a email to subscribers or whatever it was, where he discussed previously the need to have a big bag of money. Feeling like he hadn´t done that yet. That you cant be the athlete, businessman and artist at the same time. You got to pick

I remember prior to that where seemingly part of Colins decision to relocate to the US was due to financial concerns. Concerns about school costs for the kids, house, job concerns, etc

But, at least with this article, it doesnt seem like he is very happy with his work or not excited about it anyhow. Plenty of people arent anyhow. And for years I have known Colin wanted to post more articles here, do the podcast, etc.

That the big achievement in life seemed to shift from being a content producer to having the bag of cash to wanting again to be that artist or writier or podcaster or content producer or whatever

Even prior to his relocation back to the US, he clearly had interest in producing content with his books, I think some journalism, the blog, etc

What Im really saying is that again this blog post doesnt scream ¨I need to move back to Lima ASAP.¨ It screams what I see as a desire to find that deeper achievement, passion or whatever in life to give us meaning

And also it comes across as a lack of self confidence in ones own life with all due respect (even though ill reiterate that again I think his writings have been both entertaining and informative)

Even with the details of his personal life that we know about, he doesnt seem like a failure

He manages a business. Many try to start a business but fail. He managed to live abroad for over a decade and make it work while he did (especially at a time when formal remote work wasnt possible). And got to live many interesting international experiences that few get to have. Has a healthy family. Wrote THE book on Lima. Etc

But as to if he should move back to Lima or not?

Again, I´m just guessing from my chair that isnt really the topic here but as to if he´d feel happier doing or so not is a complicated question that I couldnt answer or suggest. Maybe he would. Theres again complications with that as it relates to business, family, etc. But that´s only for him to know.

At the very least, enjoying some ceviche while looking at the ocean from a fancy Lima restaurant doesnt sound so bad.

But my armchair input is to, regardless of a return to Lima or not, focus on self confidence perhaps and finding whatever that bigger meaning in life is to give more fullfillment. However i would have no idea but I can only guess that maybe it does have something to do with writing. But only Colin would know.

Peace

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