Hi all, it's Ray again...I can not take any credit for these two stories, they were in the local paper in reply to a letter from a North American who was complaining that CR was not perfect.
I just thought the readership of expatexchange would appreciate these two letters, from the point of view of 2 expats that used to live in the US, and now have lived in Costa Rica for 16 to 25 years. __________________________
He found American dream
right here in Costa Rica
from Leo D. Plumley
(formally of California)
Hermosa Beach, Costa Rica
The first 25 years of my professional life were played by the rules taught by my parents, my religion, my schools, and most of all, my government. For those who worked hard and smart, free market capitalism was seen as a path to a better life in a land where our government promised to be of the people, by the people and for the people.
After 25 years of blindly following these principles came an awakening. Becoming a CPA to better understand and follow the rules, then a CFO for six different companies led to realization this way to a better life through economic freedom was little more than an illusion. The “fix” was in.
Then came the economic meltdown of the Carter years with 18 percent interest rates, 12 percent inflation, and 11 percent unemployment. Haplessly, the average American could only watch as investments and retirement nest eggs dwindled; then disappeared. Then came the savings and loan crash and bailout of the 80s.
And where are the savings and loan companies today? The bailout was to save them and pay the money back to the taxpayers. As they began to disappear, we could do nothing more than watch the deficit explode, inflation grow, interest rates rise with decline of the dollar and our purchasing power following close behind. Does this have a familiar ring in light of current events in our motherland?
And following close behind was recession of the early 1990s as banks cut lending and credit dried up for almost four years. Remember this one?
As credit returned, the pendulum again swung too far in the opposite direction. Can we simply forget the dot.com bubble created by easy credit; along with its subsequent crash? Thank you, Chairman Greenspan. You quit just as your policies came crashing down.
As interest rates were lowered, we saw the genesis of our sub-prime mess; created and nurtured by new concepts such as “stated income” where a person need only state what they thought they would earn to qualify for 100 per cent financing. And few of us understood the “credit default swap” where unscrupulous guardians of our way of life were able to purchase insurance on the failure of a company and force its ruin through stock market manipulation.
Our entrusted leaders are no longer satisfied with wasting just our work product, they are gambling with that of our children and grandchildren. As of this writing one in eight homes in the United States is either delinquent in payment or in active foreclosure as our banking and government systems play games to make us believe it is all better.
We must ask ourselves; “What has changed”? The “Shell Game” is in full swing. Unemployment will be 10 percent by next month.
My decision was enough of this never ending cycle of economic roulette, to look elsewhere for a place to find and live the American Dream. Was there a stable, democratic government with a history of transferring power without bloodshed? Which held family values in high regard, which was not required to waste its resources supporting militarization, but rather chose peace with its neighbors and the world at large? Was there a country which protected property rights and rewarded hard work, risk taking and success; without excessive taxation?
Could this place also provide health care for the poorest of their people, while providing free education for every child? Could it have a wonderful combination of healthful climate and biodiversity, replete with protected lush rain forests, and be bordered by oceans? Was there a place where provision of food and shelter were virtually guaranteed regardless of one’s station in life, a place where the people are open, loving and kind, even to the “ugly” Americans who have attempted to soil its resources? The only answer to these serious questions regarding quality of life came in two words: Costa Rica, where there is abundant health, peace, prosperity and happiness and where I have chosen to live the remainder of my life. A country populated by the “happiest people in the world”
Is it perfect? Of course the answer is no. There are growing pains. There is corruption in government and public service. There is too much poverty and petty crime, need for a larger middle class, far too much disparity between the haves and have nots. There is homelessness and begging in the cities. But, compared to the first 45 years of this life, there is no doubt Costa Rica is the land of opportunity; the new American Dream.
Since I was privileged to become a legal resident of this precious little jewel of four million kindred spirits, there has been prosperity for me here during a time when the poor citizens of the U.S. have suffered through three recessions and as many wars. In spite of the economic problems of our homeland to the North, Costa Rica has continued to experience an economic miracle, all of which is in its infancy. Throughout the world, this little fiefdom is gaining brand name stature for all the things we love and enjoy here daily. The secret is out, creating vast economic opportunities for those who believe and are willing to seek something better in this world and their lives.
Have you lost half of your retirement? Do you sense there is prospect for much higher losses before things improve at home? As the cost of living here is less than half that of the United States, a move here now will restore your wealth to the approximate level it was prior to the current economic debacle in the U.S. Where will you invest what is left of your life’s work?
Will it be the United States stock market? You all know the “correction” in coming. How about the U.S. housing market? Certainly, there are good buys in those markets, but where is the bottom, where is the end of the huge financial burden the government is placing on every taxpayer? How long will it take to restore the equity which has been lost, if ever?
Can you rely on a money market account? With certain continued deflation of the value of the dollar, high rates of taxation, soon to be high inflation; the value of your savings will continue to erode at a record pace.
Our money is here invested in ocean front and ocean view property, and we are buying more as quickly as we can afford to. Title is secure and can be insured by all major U.S. title insurance companies. Completion of our transnational highway will come soon and the positive economic impact related to this is immeasurable, albeit certain. Where else in the world can you purchase a fully titled luxury beach front condominium for under $350,000 or luxury ocean view home for under $500,000?
Where else can you get in on the ground floor of the new Latin America Riviera? Where else can one successfully shelter investments and profits? Where else can one keep a fair amount of their profits? Where else are property taxes on valuable properties paid in hundreds, not tens of thousands of dollars per year?
Bienvenido! You are welcome to join us. There are plenty of opportunities. First, do your homework; then locate a reputable broker, find a good, honest lawyer/consultant/advisor. These are the reasons we live, invest and prosper and made the leap of faith. We did and have found the Latin American Dream, right here in Costa Rica.
________________________
This is a freer country
where options are greater
from Judith Kent
San Joaquin de Flores, Costa Rica
I applaud the candor of Garland's article in a world where everyone feels a need to be politically correct and God forbid we speak our truths. There are, however, a few points I wish to refute. In my 16 years of living in Costa Rica and with a psychology background, I seek more to comprehend than condemn. I sense the frustration and resentment in the article and have often share the same feelings. Try being a woman and building a house, a business, a life.
Short-sightedness is a product of their environment and the way they have been raised. Generally speaking, most Ticos live at home until they are married. When they got married, generally a room was built on to the family home to accommodate the young couple or a little house was built on the family property. When I arrived in 1993 apartments to rent were scarce, that of course has changed, but the average Tico never had to worry about rent/mortgages. Most of their disposable income was spent all at once, on clothes, entertainment, makeup, jewelry, or the latest gadgets on the market. Prices have always been unreasonable but without the Internet, Wal-mart or ready passports, who knew?
When I tried to impart to them the costs of similar items in other countries, they were in shock. They have been held hostage by their own government and their elected officials; the same families that have always run the country, politically or fiscally. Poverty is control.
That, too, is changing. To be fair they don't need to be independent nor do they want to be. They enjoy a very close bond with their family members and they truly support each other through it all, something we could all learn from. Short-sightedness or "living in the moment" an adage quite popular these days.
As far as education is concerned they have a higher literacy rate than the United States and Canada. They study and are groomed to be lawyers and doctors with the aim of high income potential, hard to be passionate about that. Careers built from following your passion are a luxury afforded more in our North American culture.
Just as we critique their folkways and mores, we must also understand their frustration and bewilderment at our own characteristics. I live in a barrio where very few Gringos exist. They ask me why perfectly wealthy people insist on wearing holes in their jeans? How can all those foreigners with their big fancy cars and houses be broke and in debt? Why do they shout and speak so loud all the time? Why don't they dance and enjoy the music? Why is working hard all the time, and rushing so important? Why do they want everything NOW, and how come they live here for so long and never learn how to speak Spanish? They can't comprehend families scattered all over the globe having no without contact with each other
Yes I have my gripes about this culture, but when I tally the sheet, I know I live in a freer country now than I ever have. I can remodel my house and not need a permit, keep chickens in my backyard and have the freedom to live with low taxes, be an entrepreneur and create business in a culture where there is less competition than my homeland. You don't have to be rich to have a maid, a gardener or employees. Yes I am fed up with crime, potholes, lousy lawyers, crooked cops, illogical tramites, and I don't wear rose colored glasses. I would never say, "so you don/t like Costa Rica, go home!"
I live my life, change what I can, grateful for what Costa Rica has made me, and learn.
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