What should I do, bring my car or buy one already here? That is the dilemma for many of us living in Costa Rica or soon to be living here. Anyone looking to purchase a vehicle in Costa Rica soon find out that used vehicle and new one for that matter, are a lot more expensive here [...]
As Albert Einstein once said about filling out tax returns, “This is too difficult for a mathematician. It takes a philosopher.” But philosopher or not, everybody knows it’s that swell season of the year again, with only a month to go before the United States IRS tax filing deadline of April 15th. And yes, even [...]
When North Americans face the realities of a reduced income after retirement, many of them look abroad for places to move that offer a lower cost of living in order to stretch those limited resources. Developing countries around the world offer such a promise, from Central American republics like Mexico or Nicaragua, South American expat [...]
The process to obtain residency in Costa Rica is a process, which basically means it is a Bureaucratic hassle to try and get started even. However, new procedures have finally made it easier… in one aspect anyhow. For those who are going to start their residency, or need to complete other legal processes, legalization of [...]
One of the many great things about retirement in Costa Rica is the quality and affordability of domestic help and other manual labor. Maids, cooks, gardeners, childcare workers or property caretakers are all a bargain compared to North American rates for such services. In our two years here, my husband Layne and I have had [...]
A few nights ago when friends were over for dinner, we were relaxing and talking over glasses of wine in our back patio “dining room” when one of us looked up toward the ceiling and spied a large black tarantula slowly cruising along the top edge of the wall. As we gazed at the unwelcome [...]
How two friends made a dream about early retirement come true in Central America The first thing I see each morning when I step out on the porch of my home in Costa Rica is the ever-changing Gulf of Nicoya. As I write this (in September), it’s the rainy season, which means there are a [...]
For those who choose to retire in Costa Rica, the ability to stay in touch with loved ones, run an Internet-based business or just peruse world news is critical to a happy retirement. In this column I will cover the basics of Costa Rica’s communication system, but be aware that this is far from a [...]
If you are considering retirement in Costa Rica, you may well ask yourself: What about golf? While it’s not a universal interest, it is amazing how well golf and retirement seem to go together. With the luxury of leisure time and the desire to stay active, expats who once managed only an occasional weekend game [...]
For a nation that prides itself on the beauty of its environment and the diversity of its ecological heritage, Costa Rica has been remarkably slow in joining the “green” movement, which for several decades has been taking root around the world. Although this small country has set aside some 27% of its landmass in national [...]
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