Tico Tom

The best decision of my life (other than marrying my "tica" wife), was to move to Costa Rica. After twenty wonderful years of living here full time, I am healthier, wealthier and hopefully, wiser. As I write this, I am looking out my living room windows at the Pacific Ocean and the Golfo Papagayo in the distance. A few minutes ago I heard the distinctive voices of a family of Howlers in the trees just below our house. My wife is an artist and has been painting a series of Howlers over the last few months. She won't see them as she is an architect and is working away from home this morning. I mentioned prepping and farming and I should mention that we bought a small macadamia farm in the highlands last year. The beach can be hot, though for most of the year, it is breezy and balmy. The farm is less than two hours from the beach but it is much cooler and is green all year round. We have a small, restored farmhouse and a guest chalet. The earth is very rich to the six foot level. We have gravity fed spring water and pay some $10p/m for all we can use. Get this: our property taxes are presently $60 a year! They will go up, but I hope they won't go over $100. (Ha) I do not want to say exactly were we are, but there are many highland, agricultural area in Costa Rica. An ex-pilot friend just sold three acres with a rough old house for $20k! Great water and black soil too. Feel free to write if you have an interest in Costa Rica. I am a good source of local knowledge and have also resently obtained my Costa Rican citizenship. Pura vida,........."Tico" Tom