Jimmy Buffett says in A Cuban Crime of Passion, “In the tropics, they come and they go.” Perhaps nowhere is that more true than in the beach town along this beautiful Pacific Coast.

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I have seen many people come and go during my time living here in Samara says Raul Rodriguez, local radio personality. “Don’t get me wrong, this is a fantastic spot to live and I’m certainly not going anywhere”, Rodriguez continues. “But since I am a people watcher, it is always interesting to me which people succeed and those who give up on paradise and move back or move on.

Here are 5 things I have learned about those who do and those who don’t make a long term, successful integration to their dreams of living in paradise here in Costa Rica.

  1. Your primary relationship!

    If you have one, must be intact, strong and nourishing. I am continually amazed when watching couples who come to paradise thinking they will find here the things they are missing in their lives or partners which is unlikely to happen.

    This also holds true for singles that come down and hope to find their life partner here — in a tourist town. This is also tough to do and although it’s a great fantasy, it’s not often supported by reality.

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  2. Your resources need to be in order.

    After relationship problems, another factor is your financial solvency. People continually underestimate how much they will need to live here.

    Make a budget and stick to it. I recommend new residents have their financial house in order to support your particular lifestyle. Those who must work to support themselves face both immigration issues and a wage so low it is difficult to make ends meet. Others leave unresolved financial issues in their home country.

    Plan ahead and be disciplined rather than live as if you are on vacation and splurging incessantly. It isn’t as easy to find work when you are not in your home country.

  3. Issues with patience and progress.

    If you are a Type A ‘To Do list’ worshipping, get it done relentless taskmaster and results junkie, you are either going to learn to prioritize and plan realistically and accept delays as an art form or, you are going to blow a 50 amp fuse.

    Things get slowly, and at times circuitously accomplished here. Accept it and work with it. You will either become more patient and a bit more tranquilo or realize you are simply not hard wired for the mañana pace.

    Overlaying your expectations of how things are done “at home” will only leave you frustrated unless you can laugh and take it easy.

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  4. Have your insect and critter juju in order.

    You will have close, frequent and surprising interactions with varied members of the insect and animal kingdoms.

    Here in Samara, this is a tropical desert and you must embrace living within the Nature Channel. This often times affords the opportunity to deal with primal fears (spiders, snakes, scorpions et al).

    For those of you who just cannot hang with creepy crawlies, you should consider remaining in more sterile interior environs or the big city where these guys are fewer in numbers.

  5. You must have some sort of self-sufficiency.

    You will often experience Y.O.Y.O. which means You’re On Your Own. You can not call AAA when your battery is dead!

    You must figure how to get the things you need and do not sweat acquiring what you truly do not need. This means learning how to move your pharmaceutical prescriptions across the labyrinth of rules and regulations and finding the credible answer about your income taxes in your country of origin.

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    Raul ended his thoughts by commenting on one last item he highly correlates with successful and happy expats; Give back twice as much as you bitch!

    Everyone likes to tell his or her experiences and war stories over a beer. However, this land of beautiful abundance needs everyone’s help. Find a cause, volunteer and do something to pay back.

    You will feel better every time you do so and you will integrate more easily in this very special country.

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Retirement in Costa Rica: Five wise tips to ease your transition into life in “paradise!”

Article/Property ID Number 3931

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