www.CostaRicaTicas.com :: View topic - Costa Rica the Happiest place on earth?

Here is what I see....

People here don't aspire to high position or wealth. They just want to be able to live there life. They have a very strong sense of family and delight in spending time with family and friends. I see several generations walking hand in hand constantly and mothers taking time to play with their Ch*ldren. They seem to live much more for today while the typical Western mentality works today, foregoing happiness today for something more tomorrow, whatever that may be.

Perhaps that is also the way in Viet Nam. People in the US may be many things: Well off, well dressed, well fed, well informed. But I don't see anyone saying that US citizens are happy. If I asked several US citizens to categorize they typical US citizen as either "happy" or "miserable" I suspect that miserable would lead by a wide margin.

I'm not saying that the study is correct. To me it is simple: We get what we seek and "happiness" trails "wealth" in the seeking of most US citizens, to their detriment, in my opinion.

Author:	EL_Jefe [ Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:00 am ]
Post subject:	Costa Rica the Happiest place on earth?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/ ... index.html

Author:	Zebra [ Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:14 am ]
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It would be nice if they'd start promoting some "anti-littering" campaigns. Even in the countryside......there's lots of trash strewn everywhere.

Author:	El Viejo [ Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:27 pm ]
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I'll give CR credit for trying, even if their warts are evident to those who visit often.

Author:	Budafuco [ Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:18 pm ]
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Yaa!! How many guys have said that they can die and go to heaven now since being in CR.

Author:	Steven1 [ Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:21 pm ]
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I see Viet Nam is on the same list. Great. Really great. Let's make certain Burma, Sri Lanka, and Singapore make it next year. Jeesshhhh....

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Author:	Pacifica55 [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:28 am ]
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Here is what I see.... People here don't aspire to high position or wealth. They just want to be able to live there life. They have a very strong sense of family and delight in spending time with family and friends. I see several generations walking hand in hand constantly and mothers taking time to play with their Ch*ldren. They seem to live much more for today while the typical Western mentality works today, foregoing happiness today for something more tomorrow, whatever that may be. Perhaps that is also the way in Viet Nam. People in the US may be many things: Well off, well dressed, well fed, well informed. But I don't see anyone saying that US citizens are happy. If I asked several US citizens to categorize they typical US citizen as either "happy" or "miserable" I suspect that miserable would lead by a wide margin. I'm not saying that the study is correct. To me it is simple: We get what we seek and "happiness" trails "wealth" in the seeking of most US citizens, to their detriment, in my opinion.

Author:	NYG [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:02 pm ]
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Pacifica55 wrote: Here is what I see.... People here don't aspire to high position or wealth. They just want to be able to live there life. They have a very strong sense of family and delight in spending time with family and friends. I see several generations walking hand in hand constantly and mothers taking time to play with their Ch*ldren. They seem to live much more for today while the typical Western mentality works today, foregoing happiness today for something more tomorrow, whatever that may be. Perhaps that is also the way in Viet Nam. People in the US may be many things: Well off, well dressed, well fed, well informed. But I don't see anyone saying that US citizens are happy. If I asked several US citizens to categorize they typical US citizen as either "happy" or "miserable" I suspect that miserable would lead by a wide margin. I'm not saying that the study is correct. To me it is simple: We get what we seek and "happiness" trails "wealth" in the seeking of most US citizens, to their detriment, in my opinion. Pac my man you may be overstating a bit. I could be wrong, but the only people I see migrating to CR are mongers, and hotel people that are driven by the mogering industry. Well as her is the states we get everyone but that Students, lawyers, doctors and computer people. Also too I am never miserable here in my country. It is what you make it on a daily basis. I am not always happy but I would rather live here than anywhere NYG

Author:	Orange [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:26 pm ]
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It seems like the simpler the life/society people are in, the happier they are. They live for today, what will happen tomorrow is up to God. That's kind of the way my inlaws think. In their minds, they can only control what happens today, and they say the future is in God's hands. They don't have too many worries. No debt hanging over their heads, no cars so they don't worry about gas prices or oil prices, they don't understand enough economics or finance to know what is going on in the world today, etc. Meanwhile, so many people in the US just work hard through their best years that they realize that they missed out on life.

Author:	J0sie [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:11 pm ]
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NYG wrote: Pac my man you may be overstating a bit. I could be wrong, but the only people I see migrating to CR are mongers, and hotel people that are driven by the mogering industry. Well as her is the states we get everyone but that Students, lawyers, doctors and computer people. Also too I am never miserable here in my country. It is what you make it on a daily basis. I am not always happy but I would rather live here than anywhere NYG Iâ€™m with you NYG. People donâ€™t aspire to a higher position on many of these 3rd world countries because they cannot aspire to it. It is the many obstacles, patronage, bribes, padrinos and crap that need to be met before you can get to a higher lever. And the fewer obstacles that are presented in the USA are what make us a better country. Why is it that so many of their best want to move to the USA? Happiness is just a stay of mind. As much as we complain of the good old USA, many of us will not leave for any amount of poon to live on a shithole like CR. I have investigated and come to the conclusion that my standard of living will decrease tenfold if I would to live in CR.

Author:	El Tranquilo [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:17 pm ]
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For the most part, Ticos seem pretty happy; but a different study, done a couple months ago and apparently using more broad-based criteria, had them at number twelve. http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/world-happiest-places-lifestyle-travel-world-happiest.html The happiest countries were small, prosperous and Western European. Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands were the top three. One of the differences between the two studies was that the one placing Costa Rica on top did not factor in economic well-being, but did put an emphasis on the country's supposed ecological footprint. Being green is great, but is it what really makes for happiness? (Plus green Costa Rica seems to me to be the proverbial Legend In It's Own Mind). On the other hand, is prosperity what makes for happiness? But neither study factored in the availability of hot latinas, so maybe we should commission a study that takes into account the true source of happiness in this life. In which case, Costa Rica will beat Denmark, but could get trounced by Colombia.

Author:	Zebra [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:06 pm ]
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Seems sort of contradictory........all this business of "Being Green"......so what's the deal with all the trash everywhere, the polluted rivers and sewage going into the ocean? I "don't get it." "Being Green" seems to be a new "buzz term," and pretty shallow. Sort of like General Motors producing "Green SUVs." It always seemed to me that the "do-good eco-tourists" coming to Costa Rica from the U.S. to "save the turtles," could do better by cleaning up those filthy beaches on the east coast.......on second thought, I guess they wouldn't want to do that......too much like work.

Author:	HikerTom [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:26 pm ]
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Yup, beware of any "study" with an agenda and axe to grind.

Author:	JazzboCR [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:47 pm ]
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Kind of reminds me of the story of the businessman coming on a fisherman on a 3rd world beach who's strumming his guitar and suggests that he work much harder, build up a fleet of boats, spend long hours at his business, then at the end, sell the business. The fisherman asks,"And then do what?" The businessman says, "Then you can sit on your porch and strum your guitar." This is a facile and simplistic tale but there is a deeper meaning. I'm surely not averse to money or possessions but it's not the objects that make you happy but the enjoyment you derive. The average Suburban owner in a McMansion is no happier than I--less so 'cuz he's sweating bullets about losing it.

Author:	Del Rey Dave [ Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:04 pm ]
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Many have told me that they see American's living to work and that they work so they can live.

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Author:	DrForm [ Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:40 pm ]
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Del Rey Dave wrote: Many have told me that they see American's living to work and that they work so they can live. Good point DR Dave.....I have found that down sizing your life goes a long way on making yourself more content....Another point is avoid negative people like the plague...This year i will be out of the country about 4 of the 12 months(mostly Colombia and Mexico) and the people of both countries have taught me to slow down and smell the roses!I live in New Mexico and the people of my state are pretty laid back and friendly so i feel i have the best of both worlds! ....