Hi Everyone..It's great to be here

hey happy - I *love* your "Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update"s!
Glad to see you on here.

Thanks Julie.  After reading your blog, it looks like you have a very fulfilling life here.

French?  Oh boy, you should hear my Spanish.  Still working on that.

Hello,
Like you I decided to give CR a shot. I arrived from the US 12 days ago with my 18 yr old son and 2 old doggies. So far, more positive than negative. Only mistake I really made was renting an apt. too high up the mtn in Escazu. The view is fantastic, but walking these steep inclines has brought back my sciatica with a vengance. Fortunately I took it with a 1 month lease, so now I am looking for a place on more level ground. I'm considering Escazu center or Santa Ana center. Do you know of any other areas that have an english speaking presence?

My son will probably return to the US, but I am definitely going to stay. I left humid summers and frigid winters. I can't afford the US anymore. Too much for rent/mortgage payments, high utilities, and auto cost. Plus no more keeping up with the Jones.

Pura Vida,
I am going to study spanish, but I doubt I will ever be fluent.

Escazu is a great place to start, buy it is the most expensive part of the country.  There are some other towns that have a big gringo presence: Atenas, San Ramon, Grecia.

I found you can get a nice place in these towns for $500 a month or under.  And the food is less expensive as well.

Good luck, this has been a great adventure and couldn't imagine going back to the states.  I'm glad you have your doggies with you!  I brought mine too.

Pura Vida,
happierthanabillionaire.com

HappierWithLess, I enjoyed looking at your blog and will keep it on my list of places to check out on the internet. I like your username because this is something I found to be true when I lived in Costa Rica (and am trying to convince my wife of). By the way I have property in San Ramon and have spent a good amount of time there, as well as living in other parts of Costa Rica for a few months here a half a year there... Right now I am trying to get the $ together to build on our property near San Ramon.

The first time I lived in Costa Rica was back in the mid-90's and I lived in a cabin 100 yards from high tide on the central west coast for $200/month. I know, you won't find that deal now. I had very little money and basically tried not to spend any at all except for food, and maybe a couple beers, but usually one of my neighbors offered me one for free.

But while I was living on less than $350/month and had no money to spend on traveling or luxuries, it was one of the most rewarding and satisfying times of my entire life. At that time I learned that "living on less" is more. I didn't watch tv, hardly ever saw a dvd or movie, didn't go out to eat, but I had so many fulfilling experiences and a healthy, fun, rewarding lifestyle.

I had close-by friends, I had long walks on the beach, I had beautiful sunsets, playing frisbee and swimming, and community dinners with friends and neighbors. I think that somehow simplifying one's life and not having "all this stuff" we Americans tend to have, can be very liberating; and spending more time with friends and less time on tv and the net, etc. is also liberating and rewarding.

jancor, if you keep studying Spanish - and practicing; that's the key: daily practice - you will eventually become fluent! And becoming fluent will enrich your life in Costa Rica by leaps and bounds. I think one of the #1 reasons people return to the states is because of their not learning Spanish.

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http://www.RanchoSilencio.com
See my articles about "How to Buy Real Estate in Costa Rica", "How to Choose an Attorney", etc. plus Links and FAQs for more great CR info!