www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Tourist? Yes, yes. But also Expert expat enough to know it's not a place I'd put one dime of my own into it. I live with my mistakes and my successes just as I'm sure you do. Too, I also have no problem in owning my mistakes. Maybe you're one of the very few who has positive cash flow in CR; is comfortable with the "architectural style" of living behind bars, shards of glass, and razor wire; dealing with system of property ownership which changes on a daily basis (the fact the title to your land can be changed, your name being removed, is worrisome to me); constantly being hustled by north american real estate dopes who have lost their "credentials" in north america because they're such swell sorts; and not being able to see the forest for the trees. Listening to the drivel of "paradise"....as if there is such a place; blah, blah, blah. Maybe you got in when the getting was good. I dunno and I don't care. What I do know is you'd have to be a fool to try it today....get in.....

Not too many things worse than a curmudgeon who sees shit and calls it fertilizer.....like some wanna be hippie K*D!

Oh....and the glass is half full.....half full of poison......

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I am mostly happy living here. But if I had a choice between living in San Jose and Panama and had the resources to make a move it would be Panama City in a heartbeat. My day to day is easy enough here, but money would go a lot further in many other places for those on fixed incomes. I don't see real estate coming back anytime soon, but that might be a blessing in disguise for Costa Rica.

...and thank you for your "frankness", Thirdworld.

The issue isn't so much "...being happy where you are...." as it is how much "things" have changed since ya first started living in CR? Feel any "safer" either financially or personal safety wise; or the exact opposite? You imply/point out that the dollar just don't go so far as had, I think. CR only really even got on my personal radar screen in 2007. I had been in CR previously for some "work related activities" and didn't have living there anywhere near my thought processes. I thought I had found the "promised land" in Nov. 2007 and, on a mere whim, got on a plane to check it out. From my perspective, it....CR....has done nothing but go down hill since that trip. I've kept every MasxMenos, Hypermas, Automercado, blah, blah, blah receipt; every restaurant receipt, etc., etc., etc.; have graphed all that data along with the fluctuation in the colone, blah, blah, blah.....and been and been and been.....and my conclusion for me was NO WAY NO HOW.

boquete panama

but even "there" has now been "found"

However, to each their own as MH edumacated me!

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

The fact that a number of people, ex-pats, reside in San Jose does not prove or disprove anything. The city of San Jose is a dump. It has alot of the same problems similar size cities in Latin America have. To much traffic and congestion, over priced housing, crime is bad, as indicated by all the bars and barbed wire on peoples homes, and a number of other problems. The wages for the average worker also suck when factoring in the cost of living there. I have also read articles which indicate that a large percentage of people who move to so called paradises such as Costa Rica leave within two years.

Having made the aforementioned comment it really doesn't matter. As long as you, and whoever else is living there like it, than good for you and enjoy your life.

Needless to say there are plenty of beautiful areas outside San Jose but that's a different topic.

Ok, keeping it strictly financial. My income has gone down over the last few years, but won't put that on CR, the rest of the world is feeling the same thing. And in general, I imagine tourism is down across the board worldwide. The factor I notice is that my money doesn't go near as far as it used to. Luckily for me, I like the local food, sodas, fruits and can alter my lifestyle to live very cheaply for eating. I do miss getting sushi from time to time and the other good restaurants I used to frequent. It still beats being back in the States, but when my situation allows, I will probably move on to living somewhere else a fair amount of the year. Doesn't mean I won't spend time here.

CR or any place will always be a place where some will choose to live and other will not be willing to "put one dime of my own into it.". I could say the same thing about Manhattan.

As to the pro and cons of being an expatriate I will bow to your superior knowledge of living in CR that you have acquired being an occasional visitor.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

You have basically described any major city in any third world country. It shows that living in a less developed country is not for everyone. Nothing else. As I posted earlier in this thread "They live all over the central valley and other areas of the country not just in the gringo enclaves of Escazu or Santa Ana. Spend your time in the "red light" district of any major city and your perception of life in that city is going to be badly distorted."



I do not know about "other so called paradises' but I have heard that mentioned about Costa Rica. The problem is that seems to be an anecdotal statement that no one can verify. The last time I saw it in print I emailed the author of the article and asked him where he obtained that information. He admitted he could not verify the information and could not remember where he obtained the figure. Perhaps you can provide a source where you have seen it in print so we can ask that author where he obtained the information.



Hardly a different topic. The original post in this thread inquired about retirement in Costa Rica not retirement in downtown San Jose.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Sadly I have to agree, although in the same light, you have also described virtually every place I've been in 2nd / 3rd world countries... To a lesser extent, the US is heading the same direction...

Every dog has it's own set of fleas... The question is can you accept them and still enjoy life... By fleas I mean for example, zero rights as a foreigner, dual-pricing, racism, targeted for crime / scams, visa issues, and on and on and on... If your quality of life quotient outweighs the day-to-day BS you have to put up with as an expat, then you're on the winning side of the equation... If not, time to move on... If you have enough $$$, you can insulate yourself from pretty much any ugliness no matter where you are...

I've met a few guys who pulled the trigger and sailed off into the sunset in what they thought was paradise, only for reality to bite them in the ass... Be careful what you wish for, or at least do a little homework first...

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"Mongo only pawn in game of life"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3K6UmgJIOw

If this were not a Costa Rica forum, I might start a thread: Is The United States really getting as bad as it sounds?

Where I came from, California, and especially the Sacramento Valley, things have gone downhill a lot more quickly than they have here. In many ways the economy is still better than Costa Rica, but unemployment rates, foreclosure rates, etc. etc. etc. have taken a BIG swing in an ugly direction.

No place is for everyone. Costa Rica has certainly been over-hyped, especially by those trying to make a fast buck. The same thing could be said for housing in Florida, Arizona and California in the same period. I can't think of a place with perfect weather, no crime, modern infrastructure, minimal poverty and affordable cost of living. If you are rich enough, I suppose you might try Switzerland in Summer and Maui in Winter. Not in my price range, and I'd STILL have problems getting laid. I suppose Elliot Spitzer's lady might come see me if the price was right, though. Any ideas on what it might cost to maintain that sort of lifestyle?

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

who wouldn't love you guys!

I KNOW you mean Manhattan, Kansas, right?

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

But isn't your "freedom of movement" pretty much restricted to your own personal "compound" (be that your actual property or your respective "neighborhood" which I'm sure is fraught with every day Ticos)? Not MY idea of being an "expatriate"; more like self-imprisonment.....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Keep posting and soon everyone will begin to question your "superior knowledge of living in CR".

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I will be moving to Costa Rica in the next 60 days. I do so with full knowledge of what to expect, so I'm not going in blind. But the US is swiftly going downhill and it pains me to be here and see it go downhill so fast. Better to be in a place that I don't care about than in one I do that is rapidly going into the toilet.

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Man I'm living life like a great white shark swimming with minnows! It's all about panocha, great scotch, fine cigars, loud-ass rock music and speed, speed, speed - plus spending as much time as possible in paradise on earth, Costa Rica!

Hi
I'm going through some medical issues that may cost me my employment, If so I plan on possibly taking an extended trip to CR. I am a low trip count guy compared to so many of you but every visit I came home healthier, I weighed less breathed better and my stamina improved greatly.

I am only 51 so do not have enough money to retire unless I somehow could see how long I would live don't know if I would want to know anyway. LOL

I have read and talked to enough expats to understand what I am getting into and will only know if I am staying after visiting for a year or so. Yes SJ is kinda dumpy but to me it's still pretty cool. My biggest hurdle will be to learn to be a bit more frugal with my money, being the tourist I was a bit to free with the money it being a vacation for me.

The posts about the US going downhill hit the nail on the head for me, I am having prescriptions turned down by my insurance company that my Doctor writes and insists I need and no matter how hard we try the insurance companies win. I can pay cash for these and get them in person in CR for way less than I will have to pay without good insurance. Kinda piss's me off to no end!!!! I was out of pocket $18,000 US last year, that would last me a bit for medical in CR.

I also had reason to visit the private hospital and was impressed with the pricing and the care I received.

My only other choice right now is a trip to Bali to visit a friend with a Villa and Cigar business to see if it's as nice as he say's. I plan on this in May.

So I have not given up on CR, sorry It took so long for me to say it I guess I needed to vent a bit.

Dave

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LOL I would Love to never hear the word game used again ever again! :)