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Pura vida! I am taking my first baby steps toward investigating a simpler life in Costa Rica, and would appreciate any insight or direction you can provide (other websites, books, etc.). Really, any advice on where to start would be helpful. I will give you some background on my situation and an idea of what I’m looking for, in the hope that someone on this board will be kind enough to offer some broad suggestions as to locations in Costa Rica I might consider.
I’m a late-30’s lady looking for a simpler life. My time frame to leave the US is 12 to 24 months. I will be quitting my 9-5 thing, but I have a freelance business (web development) that provides an additonal income of around $1000 per month. I hope to continue my freelance work post-move, so an area with reliable internet access is a priority. Any reason to think this idea isn’t realistic?
I’m also a fairly acomplished nature photographer/digital artist, so I have a glimmer of an idea to possibly earning some money with that in the CR, perhaps postcards for the hotel/tourist trade… who knows! I also recall reading something about relaxed residency requirements for “artists.” Any info on that would be helpful.
Once I cash out, I’ll have a nest egg of around $125k. I would be moving with two pets (dog & cat). My Spanish is non-existent, but I plan to remedy that over the next year (any on-line suggestions for learning Spanish?). I would like to rent a small house initially, in an area that is not too touristy but still has a sprinkling of gringos. I’m content to live a fairly simple life, and I’m open to any suggestions at this point!
I’m “technically” married to a Spaniard, so I was curious as to the rules for spouses of Spanish citizens as regards residency in CR. We’re only married in the legal sense right now, but are still great friends. He’s vaguely contemplating joining me, but it’s totally up in the air at this point.
I’ll probably make a visit to CR sometime in the next 6 months, so any advice as to what to see and do while I’m there to further my relocation plan would be helpful.
This website and board is an awesome resource! Thank you so much!
Jackie
First, go to http://www.amazon.com, do a search on “Costa Rica”, and spend $250 on books. When they arrive, read ’em all.
In the meantime, read everything that’s been written on this forum.
Then, spend the next hundred hours Googling “Costa Rica”, follow each link, and read everything that’s displayed on your screen.
If this still seems like a good idea, after you’ve digested all that, schedule yourself on George Lundquist’s four-day tour of the Central Valley which is aimed at gringos thinking of relocating here. You’ll see more and understand more if you’re well versed and have the advantage of George’s structured approach to the matter.
Plan to spend the balance of two weeks here, after George’s tour, just snooping around.
After all that, you should have a fair idea if this is a good idea or not.
In the meantime, try to find a conversational Spanish class, but don’t be discouraged by your lack of language skills. We speak Spanish hardly at all and get along just fine.
Hi, I agree with davidcmurray but also have a look at:
http://www.guardianangelscr.com/ (about expats)
http://www.amcostarica.com/ (daily news in English)
http://home.tiscali.nl/wonenincostarica/wonenincostarica/wicr.htm (rent an apartment)Try to spend some time in CR, first a vacation and then rent a house or apartment. See if you like the culture, the people, the system before you spend your money in a house. If you don’t like it, you have to sell it, a lot of problems, and maybe loose a lot of money.
Sounds that the central valley is the best for you (work).
Visa: talk with a good attorney here in CR.
My opinion: just do it, you won’t regret it !!!
Bart.
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