Living in Ecuador, still working in U.S.

Hi! We have a question about residency in Ecuador.  My husband and I are seriously contemplating moving to Ecuador with our young daughter and my mother (she is retired).  I am a stay at home mom and my husband is a merchant marine working as a tow boat captain out of Houston.  He would basically work for 2 to 3 months at a time and then would come home for 2 - 3 months at a time.  What kind of residency would allow him to do this? Would we be best off doing the investment type visa? Since he is the one earning the income, my daughter and I would fall under the dependent type visa and my mother would have the retirement one but we are not sure about my husband as I understand that he would be required to stay in Ecuador for 6 months.  Any advise would be appreciated.