Costa Rica An Exciting Option For Retiring Gays

Many gay people are unencumbered by deep and binding family ties; 90 percent of us have no children. As we age and our parents have passed on we can become more mobile than at any other time in our lives. Not having to be home for Christmas makes it easy to consider heading south.

Retiring to a typical retirement area can be a frightening prospect. Even more so for perhaps three million gay boomers who are entering their graying years. Fitting in in a heterosexually dominated area is particularly difficult when you want to hold your husband’s hand or share a room with him when assisted living is required. The situation is particularly stark for gay men and women who haven’t raised children prepared to look after them.

Costa Rica may be a valid, even exciting, retirement option for graying gays. Costa Rica is perhaps the most Americanized Central American country, making it easy to adapt to. Though it can be more expensive than other Central American countries there is better infrastructure, a higher quality of life and a long-term, stable democracy. The nation is the most stable of all Central American nations. Armed forces were abolished in Costa Rica in 1948. This just may be our secret paradise and no visa is required for visitors from the USA. We all don’t have to move to Wilton Manors.

However, many Costa Ricans still look upon homosexuality as a sin. Over 70 percent of the populace is Catholic, and they have their evangelicals. In 2008, about 20,000 of them protested a proposed law to give same-sex couples basic human rights of access and inheritance. That law went nowhere. Gay friendly they are as long as gay active you aren’t. Much like the U.S. in the 1950s, being live together friends is fine though holding hands or kissing in public is frowned upon; around straight friends, no PDA.

Meaning ‘rich coast’, Costa Rica is perfectly situated on the isthmus to take advantage of the equatorial location that keeps the climate tropical year around. Temperatures along the beaches are 70 to 80 degrees, though the high mountains are about 20 degrees lower. There are really only two seasons. The dry season, is December through April. The rainy season, is May through November. On the Caribbean coast the result of over 200 inches of rain each year is the lush green landscape, though the Guanacaste Peninsula is usually dry Monteverde is often cloud covered, and some of the densest rainforests in the world are in Costa Rica.

Beaches on two coasts, mountains, rain forests and volcanoes provide diverse respite from the city. For outdoor activities in nature there is surfing, fishing, hiking, horse back riding, rafting or simply passing a lazy day on the beach or in a natural hot spring.

Living costs are significantly lower than in the U.S. A person earning less than $500 per month is considered lower class, $500-$2000 per month is considered middle class and over $2000 per month is upper class. Utility costs typically run about 30 percent of the U.S. A full time maid will cost less than $500 per month. Public transportation is reasonable, a bus across San Jose will cost about 50 cents and you can reach the furthest reach of the country for about $10. Gas typically costs about half of that in the U.S.

Many retirees live in the central valley near San Jose in small towns near the capital and in suburbs like Cartage, Alajuela and Santa Ana. San Jose is mostly for the locals, especially when the point of retiring to Costa Rica is to relax; the city is busy, relatively polluted and be aware of being robbed on the street.

San Isidro is south in a farming area where housing can be more affordable with the benefit of being in the area where much of Costa Rica’s produce is grown. The Pacific coast is easy to get to from San Jose and the climate can be better. Less than an hour away is San Gerardo, a small mountain town near the Chirripo National Park where nights can be cold. In the north is Arenal, though it is located near the active volcano of the same name and is quite remote.

Buying a house can be a tricky business because real estate is not a regulated market. With a developer, like timeshare sales, it is easy to get taken advantage of while surrounded by paradise. Generally it is best to secure the services of a reputable lawyer. Real estate is not inexpensive any longer, though you get much more than for the same cost in the U.S. Like any market, bargains are available.

In a suburb of San Jose all the U.S. brands abound where you can find most of the popular fast food outlets here in the States and mass feeder restaurants. Local fare tends toward a mix of Spanish, French and African foods relying on fish, tamales and chicken. In San Jose there is Italian and fusion Caribbean food.

The colon is the local currency. U.S. dollars and many credit cards are accepted most places. The language is Spanish, though many people speak English, especially where other U.S. retirees live. Those of us from South Florida probably won’t have any problem with Spanish.

Health care should always be a consideration for graying gays and one of the attractions of retiring in Costa Rica is the excellent medical care. All residents must participate in Costa Rica’s socialized medical system. Living in or near the capital health care can be as good as the US and less expensive. Living in rural areas is another matter entirely that can even require an airlift to San Jose for emergencies. In addition, Miami is only a few hours away should a need arise. According to UNDP some of Costa Rica is in a Blue Zone where people who remain active can easily live past 100. If you have physical limitations Costa Rica may not be as appealing. Facilities are not up to US standards and access to places may be difficult or impossible. Rural areas will have dirt roads.

There are three requirements to qualify for residency: proof of a minimum of $1000/month of income from retirement sources, gay couples need to prove $2000/month; convert $1000/month into colones; live in country at least four months each year. Moving belongings into Costa Rica requires payment of import taxes on most things. The cost of gaining residency is about $1000. In addition to a retirement visa, investors can qualify to remain in Costa Rica by buying a certain amount of land.

If you are one of the three million gay boomers getting ready to retire and move away from your workplace home, adventurous and not quite ready for a condo in Boca Raton, Costa Rica might be worth a familiarization visit.

Source: Ric Reily, SoughtFloridaGayNews.com