www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I thought this was an interesting article for anyone who's contemplating on moving to CR -

Who Should NOT Move To Costa Rica?
By Christopher Howard, Liveincostarica.com

After helping thousands of Americans and Canadians move to Costa Rica over the last thirty years through my books and monthly retirement and relocation tours, I have observed who are the best candidates for living successfully in the country.

Don’t move to Costa Rica if….

(1) you expect everything to be like the U.S.
(2) you think the locals should change and do everything like we do.
(3) you don’t like warm weather or rain.
(4) you have breathing problems due to high altitudes or have allergies
(5) you expect to every product from the United States.
(6) you are insensitive to the local culture.
(7) you a smart ass, self-righteous and know-it-all “Ugly American.”
(8) you are going to refuse to use Spanish and think the locals should speak English.
(9) you are running away from the law in the U.S. You will be found sooner or later.
(10) you want to get rich overnight.
(11) you want to find a Latina woman for a low price tag and exploit her or if you have serious problems with the opposite sex.
(12) you want to avoid paying taxes.
(13) you want to work illegally under the table here.
(14) you don’t want to go through the process of obtaining residency.
(14) you want free medical care.
(15) you want scam people.
(16) you have a serious drug or alcohol problem.
(17) you expect all of your emotional baggage and problems to go away just because you move here.
(18) you are smarter than the locals and can beat the system.
(19) you think you can become an expert on the country overnight.
(20) you think it is easy to set up a business.
(21) you can’t stand your fellow Americans. We have more and more coming here every day.
(22) you think you are the savor of the locals and will civilize them. You should leave the Second Coming of Columbus Syndrome at home.
(23) you are type of person who will give foreigners a bad name.
(24) you think a younger woman will be attracted for your good looks and not your money.
(25) you feel just because you are an American you should be entitled to something.
(26) you have no sense of humor.
(27) you don’t want to experience the country’s culture and people.
(28) you don’t have a sense of adventure.
(29) you don’t realize you are guest here.
(30) both you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye about moving here.
(31) you really don’t have enough money to live here.
(32) have no goals.
(33) don’t want to affiliate with groups like clubs, church groups, volunteer etc.
(34) suffer from the “hammock syndrome” with nothing to do. You’ll end up tipping the bottle and get real bored quickly.
(35) are a negative person who likes to complain about everything and everyone.
(36) you have never traveled or lived abroad.

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Anyone who wants to move here or thinks they might someday want to move here should print that list out and refer to it when making the decision. So much of it is spot on and the author has the credentials and experience to know what he is talking about.

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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

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Mr. Howard is a regular at the Association of Residents of Costa Rica monthly seminars and says exactly the same thing. He says something like 50% of the people moving here, leave within 2 years for 1 or more of these reasons (I'll take him at his word on the per cent and time frame). The "hammock syndrome" and lack of desire to learn Spanish sufficiently discouraged me .

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

ahahahahahahahahaha


I like the above list better!




ahahahahahahahahahaha

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

The figure purporting to be the number of gringos who move back to the U.S. within the first year or two year has been thrown around for years. It usually is expressed as somewhere between 40 to 50%. Every time I hear it I ask the person where they got that number. Not one has been able to cite a source other then... I think I heard it from... (insert your favorite here).

I have lived here for almost seven years and know a lot of gringos so I also ask them how many people do you know who returned to the states after a year or two? Very few can name more then 1 or 2 and most can not name anyone. When asked why the person left many say the person went back for medical reasons not dissatisfaction with living here. I am not saying people do not move back because of dissatisfaction with life in Costa Rica I am just saying it is no where near 50% in my opinion. Many on this board live here and most would, if asked, echo Bktuna's tag line I am never going home.

If anyone can cite a legitimate source who can place an accurate number on this please post it.

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

I have yet to meet an expat in Costa Rica who has not displayed at least one of the 25 traits mentioned. I think if you have more than 3 or 4 of them maybe moving there is a bad idea.

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I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

I do agree with most of the list, however we should do a lit of why to move here:

1) 200plus working girls available daily

2) No one judges what you do or don't do

3) Continuous stream of Goodfellas to hang out with

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BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

I haven't ruled it out but if I do I will certainly follow all the advice and lessons learned here, My bummer reason is the lack of freedom to move around and the having to be on guard constantly LOL I am not on the list at least none I saw

I am going to Bali in May and gonna check it out I have a friend so may even find part time work to supplement my meager millions enough to cover half the expenses,

Anyone been to Bali for play?

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

I would move down in a heartbeat, mostly due to BK's reasons. I just have to complete my life of "quiet desperation" here in the US and hope that I am not too old to enjoy it when I can finally move to CR. My inspiration is BB57, who seems to be alive and kicking.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

Stream of consciousness that even makes sense to me...

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

I like number 7. In fact I wish all number 7's should jump off a cliff and die...opps did I say that

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Life is a short, meaningless journey filled with emptiness and pain. Get all the pu*sy you can!

Once again, I gotta tell you the term "Ugly American" has been 180 degrees misconstrued--in the Burdick novel it was the upcountry unassuming AID worker actually doing something to improve peasants' live and thus ridiculed by the striped-pants cookie pushers at the Embassy who's sole contact with workers was tipping the waiter at the Hotel Continental. It has nothing whatsoever to do with arrogant, ignorant tourists, Hawai'ian-shit clad or otherwise. A little learning goes a looong way. Oh an BTW "rhythmic" is spelled my way. yes I'm a butthead--I get that a lot.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

there is nothing on the list which addresses the too small napkins or lack of asswipe.......unless that falls under "the sense of adventure category"

also, does finding everything that is not phucking nailed down will be stolen an unsavory situation mean one is not qualified to move to pair-of-dice?

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Hardly been misconstrued Jazz. The definition has changed over the years as things tend to do. The definition is now a far cry removed from the Lederer-Burdick novel. This is what has become he common understanding of the phrase.

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