Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Master cylinder for the brakes—$150 parts & labor included (my car is dying a slow death guys)
There is not another picture that accurately portrays my marriage as well as this one. My husband: laughing and joyful. Me: serious and methodical.
This is the same expression I had on my face when Rob told me he wanted to sell everything and move to Costa Rica. I needed to plan things, make lists, and ensure that I would have a solution to all the uncertainties that were bound to occur.
But here’s the thing… you can’t plan for everything. It wasn’t a week into this Costa Rica adventure that I finally realized I had to let go. And letting go also meant welcoming in all the wonderful surprises that sneak up on you when you’re not looking.
In this picture, Rob is holding on while teaching me how to boogie board. I listen carefully, judging the three-inch wave accordingly, before Rob finally lets me go. I take it into the shore and look behind to see him cheering me on.
I love that he held onto the board, but it’s even better when you let it ride.
trying to reach you guys. my wife and i want to get more info about cost rica. we have been looking into moving out of the states and cant believe we found you guys on the internet…i did not know that i know a famous author!!
please respond..looking forward to talking
anthony tartamosa
the chiropractor still living in york, pa
Hi Anthony, I privately emailed you. So nice to hear from an old friend.
I loved your book. I can’t believe it but we are considering a move. The motivator is our two young children. I love the idea of raising them in a more laid back, less materialistic setting. So a couple questions for you- we really want the beach life style- any idea of there are good private schools by the beach (I keep seeing San Jose)?
How are the morals of the country? I worry that being a tourist destination it might be just as bad as the USA (I am not a prud or crazy religious but the kids of the USA scare me- I want kids who respect parents, parents who act like parents, parents who spend time instead of money on kids, and morals for our kids. I know you don’t have kids so maybe you don’t know but it is my only real hesitation and something that is hard to see in short visits…
Thank you!
If you move to the Guanacaste area, near Tamarindo, I know of a few schools. There is Country Day School, La Paz School, and Gold Coast school. They are private and they speak English and teach Spanish and I believe French. It appears the kids get a great education and go off to some great schools in the United States.
It is hard for me to answer the morals question. But I do notice kids play more outside, they are very active, climb trees, and do things that I used to do as a kid. When I go back to the states, I’m amazed at how few kids are on the playground anymore. Perhaps all the technology is keeping them indoors.
All the parents seem to know each other, and even live in areas together so that the kids have lots of playtime together.
http://www.cdsgte.com/aboutus/welcome.html
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold-Coast-Learning-Center/290252499767
http://www.lapazschool.org/
My husband and I just went to a party last night. It was at a restaurant on the beach and after the sun set, the kids all went out and were playing in the ocean as the parents sat in the sand. It was really beautiful, and simple, and made me think what a wonderful place I’m living in.
We lived in a medium-sized town in Honduras for two years and had our four-year old grandson there for 8 months. He went to the Pre-K program at the private school we taught at. Costa Rica will be very similar in many ways.
As far as values, it all depends on the socio-economic level you’re around. In our experience, the poor, hard-working people were honest, up-beat, friendly, and loyal. Once you make them a friend, they will stick with you. Learn some Spanish and don’t act like a haughty American. Pretend you were born there and just spent a lot of time in the states. The rich kids we knew were a lot like U.S. kids who haven’t been raised properly (too much materialism, too many violent video games, too much internet). The rich kids thought they were kings and queens. Very petty, conniving, dishonest, cheating, etc. In short, if you are living in a small town and sending your kids to a SMALL private school that still allows religious expression, you will do fine. Learn as much of the language as possible. Good luck and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. We wish we were still in the mountains of Honduras.
It’s amazing how big the world is, and how travel changes so much about what you thought was possible. I am so lucky I am on this journey. I can honestly say I am a different person than who I was 5 years ago.