Live, Laugh, Love In Costa

Unpack Your Bags in Costa Rica

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Why aren't you living there now?

Exploring Costa Rica as a lifestyle option More than 12 years ago we selected Costa Rica as our option for taking an "active early retirement" from our businesses in the United States and living a more tranquil lifestyle. We had just read a book about many North Americans selecting this tropical paradise, located just a 2.5 hour flight from Miami as their "place and space" while maintaining U.S. Citizenship. If you work in an industry where the place does not matter, Costa Rica provides an attractive hub for business entrepreneurs. So years ago and before technology in communications was quite so advanced, we began our quest and discovered that indeed Costa Rica provided the lifestyle, climate and cost of living that allowed us to live more, work less and escape the winter ice storms. Wow, now we have wireless on the deck and I connect with clients on skype from under my palm tree.

Unpack Your Bags

 I am currently reading another one of those life-changing books entitled "repacking your bags--lighten your load for the rest of your life" by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro. If the downturn in the economy has you thinking of putting off retirement, read this book before you decide. One option may be repacking or unpacking your bags in Costa Rica and not putting off living your retirement dream.

Considering buying a property in Costa Rica? Location, Location, Location: My advice to Newcomers is to first determine if you are a Beach Person, City Person or somewhere in between? While Costa Rica is only the size of West Virginia, explore your preferred climate and community first. I previously served as President of the Newcomers Organization and found this to be essential advice to a great landing. From the mountains to the sea, your options for living in Costa Rica are endless and subject to your preferences. Many foreign residents opt for a residence in the San Jose Central Valley for (business, schools, culture and near perfect temperature--our average is 72 degrees without heat or air-conditioning). Central Valley offers incredible mountain and valley views. While some are called to the warmer temperatures and tranquility of the sea. You will also find many residents who have done both by establishing their primary home or an apartment in Central Valley and have a Weekend Beach Hideaway, like the secure condo below in Jaco. There's a good selection of Jaco Beach properties at www.CRbeach.com and my understanding is that the economic downturn has placed some great bargains and properties within reach.

Jaco, Costa Rica, always well known as a surfing mecca, remains our choice as the most convenient beach destination still rich with nature and convenient to Central Valley. I hate driving and there is something nice knowing you can be on the beach in 2 hours. On this past week's 24 hour retreat, we experienced a beach to ourselves; two Scarlet Macaws gracing the skies overhead and a breathtaking sunset. The playful monkeys remain a remarkable site for early morning hikers in the rainforest but you do need to get off and way from Jaco's Main Street! I am often amazed when tourists tell me they went to Jaco's with the many restaurants and shops and saw the beach directly behind the town, but missed the secluded " Here to Eternity Beach Coves", Rainforest Hikes and adventures like Sea Kayaking the pacific shoreline .

 About Security: For sure when you are in resort destinations in Costa Rica or anywhere in the world, you need to be particularly street smart. Jaco is no exception to the rule of "Nothing on the Floor except your Feet and the Furniture and that includes Pocketbooks" We are always careful. One interesting note about Jaco is on two trips, while I should have known better, I left my purse behind in a restaurant and returned to see that the waiter had secured it for me. Yea to the trusted staff at Jaco's Wishbone Cafe! Yea for honest people. As for the security of your residence, if you are looking at part time beach living, consider a 24 hour gated beach community. Some properties will also handle all housekeeping, property management and vacation rentals.

In "Repacking your bags" the authors presents 7 essentials checklist items for Repacking your bags. Consider that checklist in exploring Costa Rica as one option for Living Your Dream in Paradise.

 1. Passport: A Sense of Purpose for the Trip

2. Baggage: Stuff I need to get me where I'm going. 3. Map: Sense of direction for my life.

4. Traveler's Checks: Enough money to enjoy the trip

 5. Address Book: Contacts with the people I love

 6. Travel Journal: Travel lessons learned from past trips

7. Adventuring Spirit: Courage to choose my own itinerary.

 Take a virtual tour of homes available in Costa Rica at  www.dreamincostarica.com, www.costarica.org and www.crbeach.com.  Some properties include owner financing.

StoryTelling in Latin American Art!

 

SASY Cigar Art from Havana, Cuba

One of the pleasures of moving to Latin America from the United States has been the opportunity to study, support and collect art from a different part of the world .  Latin America is passionate in it's visual arts and thanks to long weekends visiting neighboring countries of Latin America, we are proud owners of tapestries from Guatemala, molas from Panama,  antiques from Nicaragua and cigar art from Havana, Cuba.  We also have in our sculpture collection the "The Legends of Costa Rica"   which seeks to educate young  Costa Rican children about society morals in terrifying stories that put Aesops fables to shame.  

Remember that every piece of art has a story!  Don't be afraid to ask questions when buying  Latin american Art about what the story is--- be it from a gallery or local street merchant.   Note:  Be sure to do a little research before you go.  Storytelling is prevalent in Latin American Art and if you know what you are looking for and the stories within the art, it makes the quest all the more worthwhile. 

Note to our Costa Rica Enthusiasts:    When you visit or move to Costa Rica, do consider add on visits and trips to other destinations in Latin America using Costa Rica as your hub.  It's a economical and exotic excursion to compliment your vacation or  residency in the land of Pura Vida!

www.costarica.org.com

Escazu Cultural Hub Properties  www.dreamincostarica.com

Costa Rica Earthquake Relief: Here's How to Help Man & Man's Best Friend

 

I continue to hear the individual stories of impact of the earthquake on both Costa Rican families and animals.  Although we live in the country, my closest work to the situation has been through the volunteers at SASY! Stop Animal Suffering Yes! www.sasycostarica.com  who have been helping to find homes for the hundreds of abandoned animals.   There are so many ways to help fellow man and man's best friend, whether you live in or outside of Costa Rica .  I was talking with a couple who own a farm in Ciudad Colon, who adopted two dogs who were traumatized from huge landslides.  Their way of saying "I'll do something".  If you can do this visit the sasy web-site at www.sasycostarica.com . We have 4 rescue animals in our home and from first hand experience can tell you that you will be giving yourself and your family  a gift with  your generosity. 

You can also provide a tax-deductible contribution to help over 128,000 people who have been impacted:  Here's How:

U.S Tax-Deductible way to Donate to Costa Rica Earthquake Relief and Recovery Efforts

Dear Costa Rica Earthquake - January 2009 Group Members,

There is now a U.S. tax-deductible way to contribute to this effort. Amigos of Costa Rica and its Costa Rican counterpart, the CRUSA Foundation, have established the Costa Rica Earthquake Relief Fund to help mitigate the effects of the earthquake.

The fund will provide a transparent and efficient means of helping to offset the estimated $100 million in damages brought on by the quake, including both near-term and medium-term efforts aimed at environmental remediation, local community economic development and recovery, and infrastructure repairs. Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible in the U.S., and Amigos of Costa Rica has issued a guarantee that 100 percent of funds received will go toward the relief and recovery efforts. This fund is officially recognized by the Ministry of the Presidency in Costa Rica, and Amigos of Costa Rica has established a website to facilitate secure, online donations:

http://www.amigosofcostarica.org/earthquake

Please forward on this message and link to anyone you feel may be interested in U.S. Tax-deductible ways to support the estimated 128,000 people directly and indirectly affected by the devastating earthquake.

For more information about the Costa Rica Earthquake Relief Fund, Amigos of Costa Rica and the Fund partners, please visit http://www.amigosofcostarica.org/earthquake.

For Press Inquiries, Corporate or Foundation donations, please contact info@amigosofcr.org or dial (202) 238-2281 in the U.S. and (506) 2283-0665 Ext. 216 in Costa Rica.

 

 

An Angel in the Morning---Costa Rica Daily Life

  

I now know what it's like to begin my morning with magic.  The beauty of living in the mountains of Escazu, Costa Rica is you can literally walk out your door and be amidst the countryside and nature.  But today was an exceptional morning in Costa Rica.  We saw a rare butterfly that was resting on the path and seemed to be waiting for us.  The butterfly had paused his  flight to rest from the high winds and wish us good morning.  I thought to myself "I need to do more of that myself" . Nature is a great classroom sometimes.    A few meters down the road we were beckoned  to the gate of a  typical home,  where a young boy with Down's Syndrome resided.  He smiled and extended his hand to my husband. They shook hands as gentlemen and wished each other good morning.  When I went to do the same, our new young friend  instead took my hand in his , gently pulled me down to his small size and  kissed me on the cheek as he whispered "te amo".  I love you.I don't think those 3 words will ever have quite the same meaning for me.  So, today on our hike in the magical mountains of Escazu, Costa Rica we met two butterflies, one with the pureness of heart and soul reserved for the angels.  The other reminding us  to rest amidst the wind.

I returned home from the walk to massive problems with my non Costa Rican e-mail server based in Canada.  I have not received my mail since January 15th.  On any other day, since e-mail is the heart of my business and contact with clients, I would have had a stress meltdown that closely resembles a volcano eruption.

Not today.  Today I was kissed by an angel.

www.dreamincostarica.com

Good Will from Good Samaritans On Costa Rica's Roadways

 

  New Years Day 2009 was not a good day to have a breakdown in your car on top of Cerro de la Muerte --Costa Rica's  "Mountain of Death."  The high mountain range is known for frigid temperatures (for Costa Rica) and is frequently encased in cloud cover, wind and rain.  The quick turns, cavernous drops without guard rails  and lack of visibility are not for the faint of heart .

We were reminded of the Samaritan Spirt of the Costa Rican People as passerbys quickly came to our aid( shown above).  FYI:  "Opening your Hood" is the Universal Sign for Help in Costa Rica.  Keep it closed and no one will stop!  We even managed  cross-cultural Maguiver techniques that involved removing a hose from another car that was being towed and placing it on our vehicles.  WOW! It worked after a bit of time, effort and a sense of humor about our predicament. 

 For sure there are reported instances of unscrupulous thieves disguised as Samaritans who have targeted Costa Rica Tourists.  The scam was/maybe still is that  when you left  the airport/rental car center you were not aware of the pre-arranged  "slow tire leak".  When you got far enough away, the rescuer appeared and your purse somehow disappeared. These isolated scoundrels have given the  business of helping your neighbor and Costa Rica a bad name. 

 Last night I was at a friend's party watching the Superbowl and she talked about another rescue on the roadway on Christmas Day that she experienced with her family.  Her mother, a native New Yorker still refers to the rescue by the Costa Rican stranger who appeared out of nowhere and helped them out of a ditch as the "Christmas Miracle".  This miracle man of humble means would accept nothing for his help,  but a "Gracias" .

So for this blog, I'm happy to report that Good Samaritans are alive and well in Costa Rica--  A reminder of the warmth and generosity of the Costa Rican people and just one of the many reasons we selected Costa Rica for our international home and residence.

Considering a move or relocation to Costa Rica?  Visit www.dreamincostarica.com

Central Valley Escazu Properties for Sale By Owner

Or visit blog sponsor www.costarica.org

 

How are you Weathering the Financial Storm?

 

What's on Your Financial Horizon?

Whether you live in Costa Rica or are Planning to , you will want to take this survey which asks the questions that are on everyone's mind:   What is the economic picture ahead?  What are my strategies ?

Since my last post, I have been both in the U.S and Costa Rica and the economic news is not to be hidden for long  from either the celebration of the innauguration or drowing one's sorrows in a fruity tropical drink.   

 Over the past month, I have been  working with  U.S. companies in both healthcare and banking to map out their turnaround strategies.  I have also been talking with everyday Costa Ricans, Europeans and North Americans about their  survival techniques for weathering the economic storm.

What are your strategies and predictions?  Take this quick survey and focus your financial thinking.  We will publish the tabulated survey results at Costarica.org 

  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=614iIj0D3yXrP5DWtr4g6A_3d_3d

Writer's Note:  I'm back in Costa Rica for 3 weeks, so look for some hot happenings about life in Pura Vida

www.gowildgogreat.com

www.businessmeetingscostarica.com

www.costarica.org

www.dreamincostaricacom (For Sale By Owner Properites in Costa Rica)