www.CostaRicaTicas.com

It is a Gut Check Time (GCT). SO FLA Business is upside down. Hard Decisions must be made between 11/15 to 12/1. With only a couple large for start up and survival funds planning a fast/lite "less filling - tastes great" move to CR.

Open invitation available to reside in El Carpio courtesy and protection of El Salvaduche diez y ocho living in the humble abode of my Babi*s mama. Long term open fluid relationship that has jelled over the last couple of years en su casa propia. My son is 8 and provides ready made residency and work permits.

Mi Espanol is good. English is better. Rumor is new business development opportunities, sales positions, and telephone hustlers are able to find their way in CR across various industries.

OK flame on with valued input and open discussion. NO Group think please. Homeless in CR has got to be better than homeless in Palm Beach or Miami.

Option B, C, D, E, and F are living on family and friends in Jackson Hole (WY), Palm Desert (CA), Sacramento (CA), Jupiter (FL), Huntington Beach (CA), Palm Beach-Miami-Coral Gables (FL). Ugh! Option G is a Class A CDL truck driver's license with some experience traveling the open road X months out of the year at $40 to $60K living in the sleeper along the way. While less Ugh still not first place.

I like Pina Colladas, walking in the rain, backgammon, late night conversation, helping helpless tourists, #18 tats, and new business ventures with legs. Willing to work hard. I've got an app for working smart. Open to new ventures. Lots of natural energy & initiative.

Really, those that have gone before, I would appreciate your ideas, comments, and suggestions. I do not want to be Oscar Jr. out in front of the Del Rey, but will find my corner of operation someplace.

unemployment is the highest ever in costa rica,20%..load's of part-timer's,a few hours here and there,same as most places around the world.....it's hard everywhere and i wish you good luck....

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Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

I've been institutionally embedded for 20 + years so my advice isn't likely worth spit but--If you can hook up reasonably well as an OTR driver, that one looks good 'cuz you'll at least get to get some sense of US labor markets. I understand your sense of independence puts even family/ friends charity off the table except as a "We won't let you starve" alternative. I just haven't read anything anywhere that would lead you to believe you could make anything like a reasonable living in CR, legit or semi-otherwise.

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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

Go for it. You always have options bcdef and truck driving waiting for you if things don't work out in CR...

Decision making time.

Reservations are confirmed, I can crash in La Vega, DR (near Santiago) until the 15th of next year or I can crash in La Uruca, CR near SJO (El Carpio). Both are living on the economy like opportunities without the basics.

Both places are family homes. I would share a cama with "mi mujer" in a non private room together with other members of la familia.

What next?

Sounds like a nightmare. I recommend re-thinking your options. I don't recommend coming to CR long-term without any savings or any plan for income down here. Too many gringos do that and the wash-up on the shore.

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http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

I hear they are paying 90K Canadian up north for 6 months on and 6 off. Its cold. But, at them wages you can do both. Here they are hiring all kinds way up north. 90K is truckers. Electricians 160K plus Bennies. Good luck

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Take a walk on the wild side.

Call Centers in CR are always clamboring for native english speakers. Get your permanent residency via su hijo and get a job in CR. Some call centers have been offering as much as $1300-$1400/mo. Decent wages for CR. If your novia has a decent job, the two of you should be able to get a place of your own. That would buy you some time to see if you can find some Pura Vida of your own in CR.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

There are some good call centers here. Most want bilingual. A tico I met makes about 300 a week a gringo I know makes about 600 a week. Let me tell you it is not cheap to live in CR. Basic goods that we in the states would go to walmart or dollar store to get are double the price here. Imported items are taxed so heavily. Things that are cheap in CR are labor, rice, pineapple, bannanas, imperial and beans. Expect to spend twice as much on comodities or make compromises on what you want. And if you can afford to buy all the things you are acoustomed to then you have to worry about someone stealing them. But all that aside I do enjoy the people and the country and find living here no different than the US.

How many hours do you have to put in at these call centers? What is the work like?

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The Most Interesting Man in the World
"Stay thirsty my friends"

I met some Americans in Medellin setting up a call center.

They were hanging out at Tiger Paw Hostel Bar. lots of expats go over there for sports on the big screen.

Colombia has 47 million people and industries covering everything.
Costa Rica not full spectrum business wise at all.
medellin would definitely be more upscale for a call center job or start-up business. IMHO
San Jose is a provincial backwater compared to medellin.

Trucking is kind of iffy right now. truckers sometimes wait a week in another town waiting for another load.
Arrow trucking stranded 1200 drivers all over the country last week!

Good luck with your options. How poor is the economy in south florida?

fred757

A terrif post by Fred757 of a venue not previously mentioned here. Private rooms with private baths from $33--what's not to like? Bar looks nice--typical sports bar with all-brick walls. Check it here:
www.tigerpawhostel.com
And oh! Those Paisas!

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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

it is bad, bad, bad and getting worse....no shit.

anyway, i agree about more opportunity and more diverse economy in colombia than costa rica.

and car bombs and stuff are becoming rarer in colombia!

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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)

Hello;

not living down in florida anymore- I dont hear the phrase "anytime is a good time to buy real estate".

Mexico is the new Colombia.

If the USA is going the way of slow growth europe- why not move to europe, better infrastructre.

If the Job market does turn not around for years then we will see alot of questions about relocation to somewhere else on this board.

fred757

you got that right!

_________________
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)