Expat Community > Costa Rica

Jonahsafta
Joined 2018
Posts: 9

Observations

5 years ago

Hola!
My sweet husband and I are here in Costa Rica for a fact finding expedition. We are considering a move. I have used this forum and a couple of others in my research. Being here with a focus on living here is a completely different way to travel. This has been really fun and interesting. First of all we are not naïve travelers...we have both traveled to first..second and third world countries..to vacation..visit friends and to serve....
We are not looking to retire yet..we both have jobs that can be done remotely. Retirement will come in about 5 yrs.
We have minimal literacy in Spanish...but we keep taking lessons and practice with the locals at every chance we get...they have been remarkably patient and kind in our efforts. We have no interest in pretending any place is paradise shortt of heaven.
The bickering and sniping on this an other forums has concerned us.
We lived in Fl for several years and the reputation of the retirees were legendary...not all but enough to make us sigh a lot.
We love the Pura Vida attitude and its less comfortable side effects. We live in a well known American tourist city ( way away from the tourist attraction part) but understand the mindset of tourists being "marks".

We have spent time observing expats to understand the forum responses and the locals perceptions. First of all there have been..fun...kind happy expats who are a delight to watch and interact with. Who are respectful and warm to the Ticos...That is the posture we hope to bring if we move here...we have also observed expats who hang out only with expats..its like an exclusive club...also expats who open up the local bar and close it down...to be honest very little difference from the retirees in the Florida snowbird capitals.. Delightful life giving people...and complaining bitter angry rigid...people.. We expect no different here.....
I have totally loved the thoughtful assessment of living here by people who absolutely love it and those who see the good and the challenging....Thank you for your gracious honesty....
I think our decision to observe and interact with expats has been one of the best information gathering assignment we have given ourselves. It helps us understand the locals view of foreigners and some of the reasons why...this is by the way THEIR country and we are guests and immigrants...
Our job will be to adapt to their culture...values and systems...using wisdom to avoid as many pitfalls as posible...and to respect the citizens of Costa Rica..
We have a couple of more places to explore this trip....Ojochal and Lake Arenal...these are the last two on this journey. And we now have a more realistic view of the expat community that we would be a part of.

William Russell

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Living in Costa Rica Guide

Our Living in Costa Rica Guide is a primer on everything about living in Costa Rica: best places to live, cost of living, pros and cons, healthcare and insurance, and more.

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Visit our Costa Rica Index for a Full List

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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Expat Community > Costa Rica

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