It sounds like you are a level headed person who tries to think things through. Therefore I hope you will take this in the spirit it is given. Your chances of finding work are between slim and nil. The locals who know everyone and speak the language cannot find work, you being a gringo with no spanish will be the last one considered for any job. Bottom line my friend, either come down here with twenty or thirty grand to pay for a six month stay and get used to the country or stay home. It is NOT easy here. People who have plenty of money fail here all the time. Almost everything costs more here and everything is harder. We stay because we love it, but it is not easy. I would never be here if I had to depend on a local job to support me.