Happier Than A Billionaire

LIFE’S A BLOCK PARTY

Cost of Living Update: One bottle of something that resembles Windex—$3.20

My husband loves to talk about block parties he had as a kid growing up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The men would race with balloons between their knees, and kids would bob for apples. None of it was very complicated or expensive. The main goal was to get everyone together to encourage a strong community.

Living in row houses may have been congested, but if you were running low on salt or sugar, you could easily get a cup by knocking on the wall and calling out to your neighbor. Everyone helped each other out, and the evenings were full of people sitting in their yards together enjoying glasses of lemonade. (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:32-04:00 June 20th, 2012|Categories: Neighbors|Tags: block party, neighbors, party|28 Comments

PRETTY WOMAN

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 6.6 pounds of mangos—$2

The sunsets lately have been amazing. There is an afterglow of purple and pink colors that up light the sky just as the sun disappears. I like these more than the typical golden ones; these have panache.

People often “ooh and aah” on the beach as this display unfolds. It occurred to me that Costa Rica is much like a pretty woman. One so gorgeous you stop what you are doing to watch her saunter into the room. You might even get lucky and catch a whiff of her perfume as she passes.

Or maybe Costa Rica just makes everything seem prettier. I’ll remember that the next time a flying beetle gets caught in my hair. They might be pretty as well, but I can assure you, they never smell like perfume.

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:32-04:00 May 27th, 2012|Categories: Nature|Tags: sunsets|8 Comments

DO YOU HAVE A TWENTY?

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: One week’s worth of produce—$19.68

This is what we brought home today. A week’s worth of produce for under $20. We will use the vegetables to make plenty of homemade stir fry dishes. The mangos and the big bag of oranges will be our fruit for the week.

For another dollar, we could have bought a pineapple but they were a little too green. I like them when they are more yellow. If you catch them at the right time, they are so sweet they taste like Jolly Ranchers.

I feel good eating this way. Now that my diet is full of fruits and vegetables, I feel younger. Furthermore, when I feel younger I start to believe I look younger.

And to think… I did that without any Botox.

(Remember to follow me at https://www.facebook.com/happierthanabillionaire where I post new pictures everyday!)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:32-04:00 May 5th, 2012|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: fruit, groceries, vegetables|12 Comments

COOL JOBS

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 2 foot handsaw—$5 (my husband said the men would like to know this)

I’m running into the most interesting people lately, people who have decided to change their profession into one that includes making a living off the things they enjoy doing.

I watched this photographer—his tripod vicariously positioned on the rocks— take pictures of surfers darting in and out of the waves. It turns out this is his job; tourists purchase these snapshots, happy to pay for a professional picture that they can show off to all their friends and family. I know if I caught a good wave, I would love a photo as well.

This guy was cool (as I am finding lots of photographers are) and he gave me tips on what cameras work well in this salty environment. He smiled a lot while telling me he is living his dream every single day. “This is what I was born to do,” he said.

I’m glad I walked out onto those rocks to introduce myself, even if my wedge sandals got stuck in a tide pool. No souvenir photos were taken of that.

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:32-04:00 April 22nd, 2012|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: photography, surfing|20 Comments

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 4 brand new, Chinese engineered tires—$600

Holy Toledo! I’ve been reviewed in the March issue of The Howler Magazine (page eleven for all you inquiring minds). I can’t tell you how happy this makes me, because The Howler Magazine is one cheerful periodical.

The Howler gives you precisely the right amount of current affairs one requires while living in Costa Rica. Who needs to know about the Republican Primaries when the best frozen daiquiris are being served at Chillerz in Tamarindo? Or that high tide is 9:08 tomorrow morning, a perfect time to get out that boogie board and get some exercise?

I remember reading an issue before I moved here and thinking, it would be so awesome to live like this. Now I’ve been reviewed in one, next to an advertisement for Las Brasas Steak and Pasta Restaurant (closed Tuesday, reservations preferred).

I feel like I made it. I think I’ll celebrate with a frozen daiquiri.

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:32-04:00 March 29th, 2012|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: happier than a billionaire, review, the howler magazine|18 Comments

LIFE’S A BLOCK PARTY

PRETTY WOMAN

DO YOU HAVE A TWENTY?

COOL JOBS

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

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