www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Absolutely. Couldn't agree more! As long as you always have a "Plan B", just in case things don't work out.

You'll never know until you try, and if you don't try, you may always wonder...."what if". I say Phuck It - Go for it! And when it's my time to make a change in my life, I'm goin' for it! And best of luck to anyone else who decides to "test the waters". And my hat's off to all who have already taken the plunge!

Pura Vida,
Mucho Gusto

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

Sure - a loaded revolver, or maybe a nice concoction of pills courtesy of the Hemlock Society. Anything would be better than coming back here...

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

Some more information on comparing the cost of living. If you stay away from imported foods the cost can be very reasonable. Coincidentally I came across this price list of fruits and vegetables at the agricultural markets that are in almost every Costa Rican town on weekends. The majority of the sellers are the growers and the items are very fresh.

These prices are for this week:

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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

The same is true about the Chicas who make us feel like we are truly special. We are only special for the time which has been negotiated, after that it's all a fantasy.

The good: I rented DVD movies that weren't even out in US theatres at the local video store.

Ceviche everywhere you go. I love it!!

No long lines at the Amusement park, especially at the roller coaster.

Easy to start up a conversation with almost anyone.

How receptive the local police are to bribes.

The bad: It's difficult to trust anyone.

I hate having to watch my back everywhere I go, any time of day.

The jails are not as luxuries as the ones in the good o' USA.
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"If I was to live each day as if it was my last I would have been dead a long time ago." - Traylor Park

Guys,

Thanks for the responses. I had no particular reason for starting the thread other than curiosity about the little differences between CR and the US, whether good, bad or otherwise. After my first trip last year, I submitted a post on the Tico mindset. Your comments on that thread really helped me to understand some of the facets of the Tico personality.

I hope to return at least 3 more times this year and am still in awe of this little jungle country. At this point in my life, at least 10 years away from retirement, without skills that can be used profitably in Costa Rica, I am not looking to move there anytime soon. I am woefully ignorant about Costa Rica, as was no doubt obvious from my post. However, I am hooked, and this board provides me invaluable information, useful for my upcoming trips.

You all made many insightful comments, whether or not they related to the topic. I liked Traylor Park’s observations, particularly the one about being able to start a conversation with a Tico. I noticed that as well. Also, BK Tuna was spot on when he said that the prices weren’t that high compared to the US, but they were high when you compare it to Tico salaries.

A couple of other observations:

If you don’t give a Costa Rican “spare changer” any money, they don’t try and lay a guilt trip on you (this may not apply outside the Del Rey at night). From what I have seen, they are polite, say “con mucho gusto” and move on.

Homeless people do not try to find a hidden nook in which to sleep, but seem to sleep on sidewalks during the day. I have seen any number of young men catching some shut eye on the cracked sidewalks and everybody steps around them.


Ciao Ciao

This is why I stay in the USA for my base life. I have a regular at home so pu$$y is a luxury worth flying for but pu$$y is not worth that much to me to change the life style & safety I have back in the states. Also it is meaning less all the time since I have done this so long. One thing for sure as long as one has $$ he can find a nice young hard body to play with anytime he choses to go out & play. Another good reason NOT to live in CR I believe it is harder to hit a MOVING target.

Banging putas is a blast but leaves me with a hollowed out feeling about life if I do it too long IMHO. Everybody has to find their own balance of what works for them . Having a significant other & playing with the little darlings has a nice way of making one appreciate what each camp has to offer at least for me. Leaving reality & escaping for a wild fantasy for a while has its rewards but I do like my return to reality where I spend most of my time. As they say too much of a good thing can be bad. I have always found moderation & discipline to be my friends most of the time.

We all have different wants & needs so to each his own but one thing for sure is life is way to short not to be happy where ever we chose to live.

Peace

_________________
"Run silent, run deep"
Spunk glazed Chicas are the building blocks of the universe!

Not as easy to obtain for some of us, especially when we are younger & still a bit immature but definitely some valuable traits to strive for that will pay off in the long run. Carry on O' wise Pinhead.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

After significant soul searching, I’ve concluded that yes, I in fact could live with the present toilet paper situation in Costa Rica. I realize that the TP is quite often John Wayne Toilet Paper (rough and tough and don’t take crap off nobody).

A possible alternative is using the currency which quite often is softer and more pliable than the Tico TP.

This reminds me of a story I heard where a guy is stranded in a stall in a public restroom with no TP. As he was sitting there evaluating his situation, he heard someone enter the facility and inquired as to if this person could help him out of his messy situation by handing him some TP from another stall. Upon being informed that there was no TP in the other stalls, the stranded guy inquired; “do you have change for a $20?”

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Cigar smoking doesn’t reduce us, it elevates us; It makes us more content to be alone, or it helps us to enjoy our companions. It encourages us to dwell on the simple moments and celebrate the sublime.
_______________________________________
Hung like Einstein and smart as a mule.
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You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on.

This has been the most interesting thread in a while. Obviously it is very relevant to me, in that I have made a decision to stay for a while. Another consideration people should take into account is their ability to moderate their comsuption of favorite vices:

All four (girls, alcohol, drugs and gambling) are readily available and cheaper than the US).

If you have some issues with any of the above, it is likely it will get worse here.

The availability combined with the boredom some find by living here and not working can lead to serious problems.

Most of us have seen the retired guys at the NY Bar and other places drinking themselves to death before lunch every day.

You have to find other things to do with your time:

1) Exercise
2) Learn the language
3) Work (for me working again after a two year sabbatical has been enjoyable)
4) Volunteer

I try hard to live a schedule similar to if I was in the US,

Part on weekends, maybe one night during the week but home early and no drinking at all three or four days a week.

The beauty of living here is that anything you want is a phone call or short cab ride away virtually 24/7

I seem to have more trouble limiting the chica consumption, but even that is way down from my first 90 days here.

As I know more and more CRTers, it is also easy to join in on the "rock star" level partying when they are in town for four days and want to go really hard.

As a final thought on this topic, I have traveled all over the world on extended business trips. One thing I notice consistently is that some guys are basically happy anywhere (I am one of these) and some guys are miserable no matter what.


BKTUNA
I am never going home

A number of tico friends swear that even a gringo can live like a local for a grand per month. I wonder...

I think if one chose to live in a modest home (no luxuries,exncluding hot water and cable TV), ate local style fresh foods (more on that in a minute), quit smoking, used only buses for transportation and limited poon to once per month, I think a thousand bucks would be reasonable.

I agree that if you want to live as though you were still in Chicago, you'll pay Chicago prices...and then some.

Also, the lack of investment by the Costa Ricans in infrastructure will eventually piss off even the most patient among us.

Bottom line: If you can live like a local, you won't spend more than a local. Could you live like the average tico?

BTW, C.C., I have to disagree about the "freshness" of the beef on your burger. I believe the difference in taste comes from the fact the C.R. beef is grass fed and is not aged the same way as in the U.S. The meat does have a different taste (I personally don't mind it), but that is no reason to presume that the meat is somehow unwholesome or not fresh.

Yes, the hanging meat in open-air markets has a grey-green color. This is largely due to the fact the U.S. meat suppliers inject generous amounts of red dye into the meat, and even wrap the meat in lightly-tinted plastic wrap to produce a "healthy" red color. Tico carniseros do not do this.

I don't understand how otherwise intelligent north AMericans can go to a developing country and then expect "suburban Indianapois." This demonstrates a conceit that I find puzzling. "I, an American deserve this standard of living, even though the local people do not enjoy the same standards." In other words, if you're going to live away from the States, isn't it possible to live as a local, eating local food, staying in local-style housing etc.? And before I.D., V.B. or L.V. Steve jump on this, saying that Denny's keeps them from being homesick, I would just say that if you want Denny's...go home. But that's just my (probably ill-considered) opinion. I understand on some level the need for U.S.-style comforts, but at the same time I would embrace the chance to fully immerse myself in the local scene.

And while we're on the subject of immersion: Wanna bet that 90% of norteamericanos living in C.R. speak as little Spanish as possible? I've seen gringo enclaves (notably Dominical) where most of the ex-pats speak nearly no Spanish. So MG, maybe your Spanish would improve, but maybe not. If one only associates with other gringos or English-speaking ticos, there's really no incentive to learn Spanish (except to talk with the chicas). Which for me would be reason enough!

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

My point exactly!
MG

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

El Ciego wrote:



I agree with EC that is the primary reason for the difference in taste. The secondary reason, I believe, is that Tico use very very lean ground beef. A hamburger requires a certain amount of fat to be tasty and juicy. Price Smart comes closest with a 88/12 mix.



LVS & I made our final foray to Denny's last Saturday. While the food was still enjoyable and good, there pricing has become ridiculous, we decided that $10.00 a person for breakfast was just unreasonable. But no problem we have 3 or 4 Tico places we visit on Saturday morning and pay Tico prices. Viva gallo pinto

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

Zippy, can you do me a favor and introduce me to your friends, moderation & discipline?
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"If I was to live each day as if it was my last I would have been dead a long time ago." - Traylor Park

Not sure I would want to meet them. Moderation sounds like they might be boring and Discipline sounds like they may be kinky and into S&M

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

Anytime you are ready TP but you & PacoLoco may have to find them on your own since as we know some friends of my friends may not work as your friends. I hope this comes across as friendly . It is a problem for oh so many that I have seen in the clutches of the Gulch to lose these friends, for many when they are so needed. Sorry to say as I have watched so many a good man torture himself from the lack of finding these friends. You really see it with drugs & alcohol which I am lucky with & don't have any trouble avoiding but Latinas with thier natural genuine warmth are something a man can crave if you haven't grown up around this. It sure beats a cold 6 ft long hand shake with little to no emotion shown.
Why ID I am surprised at you. These seem like pretty wild comments from a nice balanced guy like you. I assure you I maybe low key but anything from boring in SJ . My soul isn't that pure & from what I have seen in SJ my kink level isn't up to speed with many a good man . ID from reading your posts for several years it looks too me that you also have found these friends but I have been known to be wrong !

I can't believe you guys are "gangiing" up on a nice guy like me & picking on me about my few remaining friends left in my life??

_________________
"Run silent, run deep"
Spunk glazed Chicas are the building blocks of the universe!