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Rolex
I have a question--how long have you been living in CR?
Have your experiences living there anything like MexPat?
I think people should read this post again before deciding on whether CR is better to live in than the US:
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Living The Dream The Final Chapter!
After trying to "live the dream" for most of this year I've finally awakened and realized that San Jose, although great place to come and party for a few days, is just not a place that I want to live on a long term basis. So, in mid November, I'm outta here.
Basically I found that the main thing that attracted me to SJ originally, the availability of virtually unlimited sex with attractive young Latinas, rapidly became routine and boring. I know, I know. I would never have thought that was possible but that's what happened to me. And I tried all the variations. Short times and all nighters with expensive, top of the line Del Rey chicas, doubles and triples, a steady novia for a couple of months and MP chicas at all price levels. I found there to be, for me, sameness to all of these encounters which quickly became routine. The faces and bodies changed but the game was the same. The same trivial conversations, the same too often perfunctory sex acts, the same exchange of money and empty promises to meet again. At first the fantasy sort of worked for me but it soon became clear that any interaction I had with the vast majority of these chicas was really just about the money for them and the fantasy started to fade for me. I usually ended up feeling like just another Trick. Dissatisfied and somehow diminished in my own eyes. Some guys don't seem to mind this, or are able to sustain the fantasy that there is something else going on. I don't seem to be able to do that any more.
For a while I tried working the straight chicas at a dancing school I attended and in some of the dance clubs. That took a lot of effort and the reality was that I'm old enough to be the grandfather of any chica who is physically attractive to me. Unfortunately, Latinas don't have a very long shelf life. I meet very, very few over 35 who are attractive to me at all and most start spreading and sagging in their mid twenties. 95% have k*ds early and their bodies show the effects. Most of the chicas that really ring my bell, physically, are between 18 and 25. Granted, in Latin America relations between older men and younger women are more readily accepted than in the U.S. but even here there is a point at which an age spread becomes ridiculous... almost embarrassing. I may look to be in my fifties but I'm going to be 67 this year. For me, normal, non-commercial, social/sexual relationships with chicas in their early 20's, the type I find physically attractive, are really no longer feasible. What's in it for them? Unless they are Putas, of course. And the women in an age bracket of say 35 to 55, more appropriate for me, I rarely find even remotely attractive. Sort of a catch 22 that makes the chase more trouble than it's worth to me these days.
Sure, I could have gotten involved in a "relationship" with some chica if I had really wanted to. There are plenty around looking for a meal ticket. But the problem with speaking pretty good Spanish and understanding Latin cultures to some extent is that you quickly realize that 90% of these available chicas are really, really dull. They are largely uneducated, ignorant and for the most part, emotionally irrational and childish. The constants in their lives are their k*ds, their family and their unending need for money. Those are the things that interest them and are about the only things they can ever talk about. Dealing with their problems on a day to day basis quickly becomes very tiresome for me. Any man in their lives, particularly a much older Gringo, will most always run a distant fourth on their list of priorities and in reality become little more than an ATM for them and their extended family. Not my style. Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I have not run into any lately. Younger, attractive, well-educated, higher class, employed, bright, interesting chicas are not usually looking for relationships with Gringos in their late 60's. They have better options.
The reality that I'm coming to terms with is that I'm getting to the age where it's time to put the "hobby" behind me and find new ways to spend my time. I've been mongering for over 50 years. Started in Tijuana in 1953 when I was fifteen. The need and desire for sex has been the driving force in my life for many, many years. The real thrust, I've come to realize, behind almost all the choices I have made since puberty. I've expended huge amounts of energy and very substantial amounts of money trying to attract and please women so that they will reward me with approval and sex. I've never, until fairly recently, questioned my behavior. It always seemed perfectly normal to me. And I guess it was. The male drive to plant seed in as many holes as possible is what keeps the world populated...but, as I age, and the production of the testosterone that fueled my sex drive declines, I'm finding that my interest is waning. I'm still functioning fine physically but the drive, the intense desire is no longer there. I still appreciate looking at a hot chica but feel little urge to follow through with the seduction or the negotiation. I've lost my lust. Mongering has become, for me, almost a chore rather than a pleasure. Something that I have been doing in recent months more out of habit than out of any real desire.
I find running through my mind, from time to time, the comments a certain Lord Sandwich made many years ago relating to the practice of frequenting prostitutes. In a letter of advice that he wrote to his son, he said, as I recall it, "The pleasure is but momentary, the cost is exorbitant... and the position is ridiculous!†Lord Sandwich must have been an older dude like me. There comes a time when it’s just time to move on to other activities.
When the ready availability of fairly cheap sex is removed from the equation I find little reason to remain in San Jose. The main things I look for in a place to live are political stability and security, pleasant year around weather, an affordable cost of living, reasonably well developed and maintained infrastructure, availability of the products and services that I use and a population of pleasant, interesting, attractive and more or less civilized people. I find Costa Rica in general and San Jose in particular to be pretty much lacking in all of these areas with a few exceptions.
Although marginally stable at the moment, after replacing half the cabinet last month, the government is inept and corrupt and seems to be pursuing an economic policy that is putting more and more pressure on the population. Their failure to pass fiscal reform legislation, the recent and ongoing rash of scandals involving payoffs to government officials and the deteriorating credit rating on public debt instruments are signs of trouble ahead. More and more Ticos are having a hard time getting by and are taking to the streets in protest or just to steal what they need to survive. The recent bloqueos and marches were annoying and disrupting to anyone trying to function here. I suspect these disruptions will become more frequent. Street crime is a real problem in San Jose and makes living here increasingly uncomfortable for me. Few people that I know have not been touched in some way by this. I had a watch stolen off my wrist in broad daylight last year, my ex-novia was knocked down and robbed of cash and a cell phone I gave her while waiting for a cab one afternoon, another friend was shot during an attempted robbery by three thugs as he was walking home from work a few weeks ago. Crime statistics are understated as most crimes are unreported. Why bother? The police are inept and few crimes are resolved. I find I really don't like living in a place where I don't feel safe taking a walk after dinner in any part of the city. Granted, in any larger city there are areas where one must be careful but in San Jose I feel that I have to watch my back everywhere at all times. And it seems to be getting worse.
The highly touted Costa Rican weather has been disappointing to me. I know, I know, in San Jose it's never really too hot or too cold, and of course it doesn't snow, but it is damp and gloomy a lot of the time. Think Seattle. I knew that there was a long wet season here but I found that even during the dry season it was windy and cloudy and I saw very little sun. Now, during the "green" season it doesn't rain all day...just, it seems, when ever I need to go out somewhere. An umbrella has become like an appendage that I don't leave home without. I've used the pool where I live less than a dozen times this year as there has never been enough sun to warm it up to a tolerable temperature. There are, usually, a few hours of sun in the mornings but most days the clouds and rain appear by early afternoon. I find San Jose weather to be...well...depressing. Of course, some folks don't seem to mind it. Vegas Bob says he loves the weather here. But then, he's from Boston. This is probably an improvement for him. I guess I was spoiled by the almost perfect, sunny, temperate weather I enjoyed in Mexico and am not interested in settling for much less on a long term basis.
One sort of expects to spend a lot less to live when one chooses to give up the security, comfort and convenience of the developed world and move to a third world country. I found this to be the case in Mexico where I was able to maintain a very comfortable standard of living on around $1,000 per month as long I was willing to put up with some inconveniences. This has not been my experience in San Jose. The cost of living here seems to be approximately double that of the smaller cities in Mexico, double that of Colombia and Nicaragua and some 30-40% higher than Panama. My average monthly expenses here, excluding chicas, have been running around $2,500. Way to much for the quality of life I am experiencing. Sure, it's possible to live cheaper but there is a limit as to how far I want to lower my standards. Many guys I know spend much more.
And Costa Rica is not that "pensionado" friendly. There really are no programs designed to benefit foreigners who want to retire here. Nothing like the great Pensionado program now available in Panama. If anything, the opposite is true. The need to leave the country for 72 hours every 90 days is, in addition to being a pain in the ass, expensive. I've traveled to Colombia, Panama and to San Andres this year to meet the requirement. Each trip cost me around $750. Adds around $250 per month on average to my budget. Yeah, I know, I could take a bus to Nicaragua cheaper. Phuck that! More and more, also, I am finding a two level price structure. One price for "nationals" and one for Gringos. Hotels and resorts openly publish two prices, many parks and recreational sites have one price for Ticos and a separate, higher price for Gringos, taxis and restaurants will stick it to unsuspecting foreigners in a second, my ex-favorite MP now charges 5,000 for Ticos and 8,000 for Gringos and even Merecumbe, the dance school I use, has just changed their price structure and is blatantly charging Gringos $20 per hour while Ticos get their private lessons for $13. Doctors and dentists do the same thing. They don't even deny or try to hide it. The message I get from this is that because I'm a Gringo they think I'm dumb enough to pay 50% more than a service is worth. And I don't like it. This practice just pisses me off!
The government admits to inflation running at about 14% so far this year. In fact, as in the U.S. it's much higher than government published figures. I've seen an increase of 20-25% in the colon cost of most things I buy here this year. The gym where I workout was charging 18,000 colones for a 3 month membership in January. Now it's 40,000. Some of the ignorant 'gym rats" who hang out there are trying to charge US$150 a month for "personal training". 45minutes of bad advice three times a week...that works out to about $17 per hour. There's something wrong with the charges for some of these personal services. The minimum wage, the amount for which most Ticos work 48 hours a week, is still around $250-60 per month, or around $1.25 per hour. Where do these guys get off trying to charge $17 for standing around watching ME push iron around? And I won't even start on whores trying to charge $100 plus. Enough has already been written on the Board regarding that subject.
I have noticed a lot of price increases in the supermarket that do affect everyone. A roast chicken cost 1,940 colones in Automercado in January. Now it's over 2,350. Increases in the cost of other products are similar. My light bill has gone from 11,000 to 15,000 for the same amount of consumption. The price of gasoline is going through the roof. Now over $3 per gallon I'm told. And it goes on and on. I'm not extravagant at all but my purchases at Automercado average $375 per month just for myself plus around $200 per month for restaurant meals. Over twice what I spent in Mexico and even more than I was spending in Nevada before I left the U.S. The cost of living here, although admittedly still less than major U.S. cities, is rapidly getting out of hand in my opinion and CR is no longer a very good value in terms of what one gets for ones money. At 15%-20% per year rate of price inflation the cost of living will rapidly become unmanageable for many on fixed incomes.
The infrastructure here is typical third world. Highways and many streets are in miserable condition, the power fails frequently and traffic sucks. Although I miss having a car I would not want one here. Trash and garbage are often not picked up in my neighborhood for days. It's hard to find a place in the city where it's pleasant to take a walk or a short hike. Bike trails? NOT! Hardly even a decent park. La Sabana is not too bad but not convenient for me without a car. I miss playing tennis. Even in Oaxaca, the capital of one of the poorest States in Mexico we had some nice, well maintained public courts conveniently available. Here, to the best of my knowledge, the only public courts around are the three shabby courts in La Sabana which are always full of surly Ticos. Oh sure, you can join a private tennis club, if you want to buy shares for between $5,000 and $15,000 plus a fat monthly fee. I don't think so. Poor infrastructure is more easily tolerated if at least a city is visually attractive. Colonial, perhaps, and with beautiful old buildings and interesting streets. San Jose is, frankly, one of the ugliest cities I have ever lived in. And then there is the internet situation. I have a cable internet connection which is supposed to give me downloads at 128Kbps. lately it has been so slow at times as to be almost unusable. A bandwidth test this morning showed I was getting only 32kbps. Calls to Amnet and Racsa get no good answers. As it varies from day to day it must be a problem with their system and not my equipment but they won't admit it. And there are no alternatives since Racsa has the internet monopoly. This problem, in itself, is making San Jose unacceptable to me as a place to live.
I have found most of the products that I need to live here to be available, although frequently they are imported and more expensive due to high taxes. Mall San Pedro has been convenient for me and I hang out there a lot. GNC vitamin products are available but pricey. I have to spend around $125 per month to get the supplementation that I need. Some sugar-free hard candies I like to suck on cost $2 for a bag of twenty in the market. I finally found some large shoes, a finely made brand called Calderon, to be a good value for around $75. Some services are still a very good deal, particularly dental and medical services. Even when a "Gringo Premium" is added costs are much lower than in the States for good work although much higher than in Colombia, Panama or Mexico. I've had dental work done and some surgery for minor skin cancer and was pleased with the competence of the doctors and the prices.
Latin dancing is one of the activities that I have enjoyed a lot here. Since April I've gone from zero to not too damn bad at dancing Salsa, Meringue, Bolero, ChaChaCha, Bachata and some other stuff. The classes and lessons have been fun, good exorcise and are affordable although that seems to be changing too. Dancing at the Latin clubs has not gone as well for me. Often the people are there in groups and it's hard to know who to ask to dance and who is off limits. Most of the older chicas, if there are any, are pigs and the young ones aren't excited about dancing with an old Gringo. And some of the clubs are LOUD! I thought I was bleeding from the ears when I left Hobbies over in Tibas one night. I can always dance with the whores at Key Largo, of course, but it's often hot, loud and crowded there. Not too much fun for me. But, when I'm in the States I bet I'm going to be a real hit with the old ladies at the Senior Center tea dances. Whoopee Phuck! I'm really looking forward to that! Hmmmmm....well, maybe not quite yet.
Even I cannot complain about the looks of the Ticas and other Latinas I see here. They are extraordinary and can be seen virtually everywhere. Even though my interest is more aesthetic than carnal these days, I do get a visual treat whenever I leave the house. Unfortunately, most become little more than brood mares as they age. Ticos are less interesting. They seem to share the Latino male tendency towards machismo and often display a spoiled Ch*ld's lack of interest in the feelings or well-being of anyone other than themselves. And Ticos unfortunately seem to lack the humor and spirit I found in male Mexican friends which helped to offset some of their less pleasant traits. The Tico lack of consideration is manifested in the way they drive, in the way they ignore time commitments, their rudeness in lines and in the cine, in the way they treat their women and in their interaction among themselves. It's a cultural thing. "Falta de educacion" they call it, poor upbringing, but then they pass it on to their k*ds. They don't even seem to like, respect or trust each other very much. The only Ticos I have encountered who seemed even somewhat open, helpful and friendly are those who were either making money from me in some way or wanted to. I don't feel I've made any Tico friends, here only casual contacts. And that has disappointed me. This is just my view....as always, other folks' experiences and opinions may very well be different.
For the most part I've felt like an outsider in this culture. More so even than I did in Mexico. Always a little apart, on the fringe of things, different...the stranger. The Gringo. I didn't really expect it to be any different. Everything one does in a foreign country is a little more difficult because one just does not have the background...the depth of experience in another culture to fully understand all aspects of whatever it is that's going on. A Gringo will always be at a disadvantage in a Latin culture. At least that's the way I have always felt. It's just so much harder to get anything done. Gets old after awhile. Speaking the language helps but doing so only allows one to see more clearly how deep the cultural differences really are. At first this was interesting and challenging for me. Lately it's just become tiresome and annoying. Trying to adjust myself to THEIR way of doing things has become a bore. Even speaking Spanish, a language I have worked so hard over the years to master, has become tiresome. Just too much damn trouble. I've lived a total of 12 years in Latin countries during my life and, at least for now, I've had enough. I think it may just be time for me to go back to the States for a while.
Hopefully my predominantly negative comments won't discourage any guys who are interested from visiting CR and testing the fantasy for themselves. At the very least it is a great place to party. I really feel a guy's experience here depends a lot on his age bracket. Guys in their 20's and 30's are going to have different reactions and experiences than those in their '40's and '50's or older guys in their '60's plus. A somewhat younger guy can become part of a young chica's own fantasy, be seen as a potential mate, and sometimes be treated very differently than a fat, old, married guy who the same chica is unlikely to ever see as anything more than a "John" or at best a longer term meal ticket. As far as partying goes, there is something here for everyone.
To those who dream of living here full time I can only suggest that you "try it before you buy it". Come down light, rent a place for a while, try doing the things you think you want to do here and see how it feels. Give it six months to a year before you burn your bridges behind you and fully commit. Beware of the scammers and expat Costa Rica "experts" who will surely find you and offer you everything from great real estate deals to hot investment opportunities. To be an "expert" here all one needs to do is have a business card printed. No experience necessary. Many high interest investment schemes have gone under in the last couple of years, The Cubans, The Brothers, and The Vault. Millions have been lost by trusting Gringo investors. These investors seemed to forget that high return means high risk. Dealing in real estate here is much, much different than in the States and much more risky in my opinion. The term "buyer beware" takes on a whole new meaning in Latin countries. Gringos often find they have few rights, little recourse and when problems come up encounter a convoluted legal system unlike anything most have ever experienced. Personally, I'm glad that I've have stayed very "light" here during this year. I haven't opened any bank accounts, gotten a cell phone, bought a car or a house nor signed any contracts. Now that I've decided to leave it's just a matter of buying a ticket and packing the same two suitcases with which I arrived. I've kept my life here simple and since I've decided to cut it short I'm very glad I did.
Although living here is not for me I'm certainly glad I've had the opportunity to experience "Costa Freaka". I've made a few good Gringo friends here with whom I will keep in touch and I may even be back someday. For a vacation, anyway. The CRT Board was a useful resource in the beginning and I wish all involved continuing success. I've had some really enjoyable interaction with many of the guys I've met through CRT. That's been fun. But it's time for me to move on. In November I'm heading up to Tucson for a while, where my son lives, and, if I get tired of that, well, quien sabe?
My best wishes to all those that have been part of this Board.
Que les vaya bien!
Mexpat
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Although experiences living in CR vary enormously per individual this is an experience worth noting IMHO (especially in this thread).
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Knowledge & places can help us or hurt us & it is up to us to use them wisely as we are a product of our own making . To me the main goal is to find true inner peace & happiness without hurting others & helping others when you can where ever my journey takes me? 
...I moved to CR because I believed I could start over and grow both personally and businesswise faster as an "aging" American. If I had tried doing in the states what I do here, I would have multiple times the competition, much larger overhead and taxes, PLUS, I would still be in the water and food chain there that I strongly believe causes the huge increases of cancer (as well as obesity) in that Continent. I am much healthier here than when living in US culture. I gain 6-8 pounds every time I spend more than a week there.
