experiences with re-entry permits

[agileflower 0]

Hi there! Soon we will be applying for DCF via London for hub (and DS) to come home to the US! We are thinking about where to live/what to do/etc. Because I will be finishing my degree (via distance), and wont be able to work for a bit so we had been thinking that perhaps we can buy our house, rent it out, stay with friends for a bit and then go travelling - coming in/out of the US a few times over say the next year. I know that if we are gone more than a year he will need a re-entry permit. However, there is also the caveat that could pose us a problem, namely the 'if you are considered to have abandoned your residence' to live overseas. We would probably do my fieldwork in Quito, Ecuador and would primarily be there, but coming back to the US--

Would he be considered to have 'abandoned' his residence if we are there more than in the US for the first year? All of our stuff (houses, bank accounts, etc) would still be in the US: we just want to a) take advantage of the time before our son has to be in school full time and at the same time give me a unique fieldwork experience (not to mention fluency in spanish). What kinds of things define 'abandonment'?

I am asking this stuff so we can plan ahead: I realize I probably cannot do DCF in Ecuador as someone who is essentially a 'tourist' ! If anyone knows anything about applying through Quito, I'd love to hear.

THanks :-)

Tracy