The US
Attraction To
The Costa Rican
Lifestyle
By Don G.
Halbert
These days, most
of us are
performing our
daily tasks in a
state of
numbness, while
day dreaming of
a simpler life
without the
worries and
stress we deal
with on a daily
basis.
It's no secret
the USA is in a
constant state
of fear with
terror levels,
economic
disasters and
gang violence
dominating the
news stations.
Today, a vast
majority of
American
citizens are or
have, taken some
form of anti-depresant
or mind altering
medication. We
have to deal
with all that
anxiety somehow
right? Well
there is an
alternative.
Many people
believe that
moving away to a
tropical Latin
American country
like Costa Rica
is nothing but a
far off fantasy.
Partially to
blame for this
is the fact that
many Hollywood
stars have been
purchasing
property in
Costa Rica which
only reinforces
the idea that
only the rich
and famous can
afford to do
such a thing.
This can not be
further from the
truth.
Buying property
in Costa Rica is
in some regards,
easier and less
painless than
back home in the
US. This may
surprise you
however it is
accurate.
Recently a
couple were
visiting Costa
Rica on holidays
for two weeks
and in the
beginning of the
second week, the
husband began
thinking of
investing here.
This took the
wife by complete
surprise yet she
found it
strangely
intriguing. The
long and the
short of it
is...they left
Costa Rica as
the proud owners
of an incredible
piece of white
water ocean view
property on the
Pacific Coast of
Costa Rica for
less than they
would pay for a
fifth wheel back
home.
Whether they are
big ticket
Hollywood stars
or John and Jean
from suburbia
Georgia, we're
all the same
once landing our
feet in Costa
Rica...ahhhhhh...pura
vida!
Life in Costa
Rica operates at
a much slower
pace than in
North America.
Most Ticos
(Costa Ricans)
don't even where
watches or have
the desire to
buy one either.
Mexico has it's
"mañana" saying
whereas here in
Costa Rica it's
"ahorita".
Essentially they
are the same
with only slight
differences in
their
interpretation
of length of
time.
I honestly
believe a great
example of the
laid back
attitude of
Costa Ricans is
in the fact that
they are a
country without
addresses. It's
true! For
example here is
the address for
the US Embassy
in San Jose:
Pavas area of
San Jose, at the
intersection of
Central Avenue
and 120th St.
(Lucky it's at
an intersection)
Normally an
address in Costa
Rica is not so
easy. Common are
addresses like
50m East, turn
left at the
church and go up
100m and look
for the pink
house (what if
he paints it?)
and take that
right then
follow that
street for 200m
and we're on the
left down the
alley. You can't
miss us!
In Costa Rica it
is the complete
opposite of the
North American
mentality.
Here the Costa
Ricans believe
in life, family
and then work.
In North America
we only think of
work work work
in order to pay
bills bills
bills.
However the only
'honest' way to
truly understand
what life is
like in Costa
Rica, is to come
here and
experience Pura
Vida for
yourself!
Article
contribution by
Don G. Halbert,
2010
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