Tic! Toc! Costa Rica Retirement
There is a clock that sits atop my refrigerator. It is a kitschy thing, made of
plastic molded in busy shapes of tropical birds and tree branches.
The numbers are large and the hands bold, so I can read it easily from across the room.
Such a noise it makes. TIC-TOC-TIC-TOC-TIC-TOC!
It is so noisy I can hear it ticking from my bed in the room down the hall and
around the corner. I have taken to pulling out the battery at night just as I
am retiring. Otherwise, the tic-tocking becomes a bit like the ancient art of
water-torture.
Some nights, when I head off to bed, I turn and remember the clock – must disable
it before hitting the sack. When I return to the kitchen, much to my surprise
I discover that I forgot to reinstall the battery when I awakened that morning.
The clock has sat there on the fridge doing nothing all day except looking kitschy.
That is happening more and more often. Perhaps it is a sign of that dreaded “old
age” approaching. (Now, I don’t want to hear you whispering, “Somebody
tell him it has already arrived!”)
I prefer to think that my forgetting to set the clock in the morning is an indication
of just how well I am adjusting to retirement – and to living in Costa Rica.
Why do I need to know what time it is anyway? It isn’t as if I must rush
about preparing to go to work. Gobble down a bite of breakfast, jump in the shower,
jump out, throw on the wardrobe, gather up the paraphernalia I always drag along
in a briefcase, and away I go.
Nope, that is not me anymore.
Now, I wake up – earlier, in fact, than I did during those last few years of my
working life – take my time putting on the coffee while gazing blissfully out
my windows at the dawning of another wonderful day.
Then I sit on that
hard and heavy chair I bought for just such purpose and do a few stretches and
bends and pulls and pushes that I like to refer to as my yoga exercises (yoga
purists would not be impressed).
Then I settle onto the couch, pick up the batch of Spanish language cards I am
currently learning, and begin talking to myself in my new language as the smell
of coffee wafts about.
Spanish study continues until the coffee is ready, and with nary a break, as I
drink three cups of the stuff.
I will continue to study for two hours, maybe longer – every day. I am
really into it, y’see!
Next, I check the email, and then wander out onto the balcony to evaluate how
my green thumb is developing. Some of the flowers need watering or a weed or two
pulled from their pots.
A little later I will walk the three kilometers into town and join the group of
expats who meet in the park each morning. I might lose the roll of the dice and
have to spend almost 2,000 colones (about three United States dollars) paying
for everyone’s drinks!
The rest of each day varies quite a bit – a morning of routine is just about as
much as I can handle these days. Lunch and the afternoon that follows will be
extemporaneous. I like to think of it as “Adventure Time“!!!
Whatever I do in the afternoon, one thing is for certain: I am going to make
it fun. If it isn’t, then I will stop doing it, and instead do something else.
I was raised in a time-oriented culture, where the most important thing is efficiency
and linear activity. In the United States, my native land, people are constantly
checking their watches and saying things such as “I’m late” or “Oh,
gotta rush.” They insist on doing “one thing at a time.”
I am now living in an event-oriented culture, where maintaining a schedule
and efficiency are not so important. Instead, the people here (generally speaking,
of course) focus on their current project, on following the correct procedures,
and, most importantly, on relating harmoniously.
Relationships are much more important here than finishing any task, maintaining
any timetable or doing anything in any specific order.
Costa Ricans celebrate other values that they consider more important than
being on time.
Adjusting to that is not something that many expats accomplish without a struggle.
If you cannot deal with last-minute changes in plans, with tardiness, or with
what may appear to be a lack of order, then living in an event-oriented
culture is not for you. Please don’t move to Costa Rica! You will be miserable.
You might not like retirement at all, in fact.
Now, on the other hand, if you can forget to set the clock in the morning. Forget
what time you went to bed the night before. Not care what time you awake.
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Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.
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