[PattyAC2002]

Ecuador is a GREAT place to live! I lived there for 5 yrs. & would highly recommend it. I suppose you're wondering "If it is so great why did she leave?" That wasn't just a personal choice. Family obligations of taking care of my elderly mother required that I return to the U.S. I am only living here now because of that obligation & eventually plan on returning to Ecuador.
I would definitely NOT recommend living in a big, major city like Guayaquil or Quito. If you do that it will be practically the same as living here - expensive & dangerous.
You are doing the right thing - learning Spanish because to live in Ecuador w/o speaking Spanish is impossible & impracticle. As long as you leave here w/ a working knowledge you will pick it up much faster once you are actually living there. It is the "immersion" thing. I knew a lot when I went but you learn so much faster there cuz you HAVE TO.
I myself lived in the south of Ecuador in a town called Loja. The climate there is like perpetual spring/fall neither too hot nor too cold. It is a decent sized town/city - big enough that it has most ammenities you would want/need yet small enough to maintain that kind of small town feel.
The people there are wonderful - friendly, humble, honest, helpful. Can't say enough good about them! The lifestyle is a lot simpler there, slower paced, mellow & cheaper just like you want.
It will take a while to adjust yourself to the fact that you can't get everything you want there fast or done fast. It is not the way Latino people live in any Spanish speaking country. It is always "mas luego" (later) or mañanaa (tomorrow). Their attitude is, you do your best, do what you can now & today and, if for whatever reason you don't get to finish it there is always later or tomorrow. Believe me once you get used to it it's a better way to live. No ulcers there.
I suggest that you try to make friends w/ some locals there. They will bring you home to meet their familiy who will, in turn, take you under their wing. The whole group of them will help you to aclimate to the area, the changes etc.
If I were there now & you were coming to my area I would be more than happy to help you but unfortunately that isn't the case. However if you DO go I am sure you won't regret it. Rent will be $100-$300 per month (depending upon what size & ammenities you're looking for). Electricity $10-$14 per month. Gas for cooking is $1.60 per month. Water is about $4-$5 per month per apt. unless you rent an apt. that includes water. Telephone for local service runs $8-$14 per month. Food is amazingly cheap. 100 oranges for $2-$3. 100 lbs. of sugar for $30.
One thing's for sure you'll never be sorry! I never was & I miss it 24/7 now! If you have any more questions please feel free to ask. I'll do my best to answer them.