I wanted to find a country in the tropics where agricultural land was affordable, the forest was still intact, rainfall was sufficient to support non-irrigated agriculture, leaf-cutter ants did not exist, the soil was rich, the political climate was stable, rural public transportation was present, violent crime rates were low, industrial pollution was minimal, and land tax was minimal.
More difficult requirements were: The place had to be free of venomous snakes (eliminating all of Africa, tropical Asia, Australia, South and Central America) and free from malaria (further eliminating many South Pacific and African Islands).
