I'd like to find someone locally who is technical enough to manage a relay or 2 here (one specifically for local community) and fund them to do so. Is there a good guide somewhere on what hardware to consider and how much storage etc? Am assuming easiest is start 9 or umbrel but no idea how much actual storage would be required 

 It will depend a lot of what types of content the relay will have to support. There is on recipe. They will need to learn while doing it. 

 Thats what i was assuming. Bit tougher sometimes in costa rica for cost and hardware availability. Think 4tb a reasonable starting point? 

 Good enough. Memory could be more important depending on the implementation you want to run.  

 Ok. Thats a bitch here. Am getting a fruend to bring ram fir me when he comes on holiday next week. Max available in costa rica is 32gb and if you order to be shipped in, ends up doubling cost! Sounds like rule os 7 Ps needs to be applied here