Costa Rica Living – Susan’s Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Costa Rica

Time has flown. I am celebrating my fifth anniversary of living in Costa Rica.

In five years, I have lived in three very different areas of Costa Rica – from downtown to the country. My family has opened a business; I have worked as a radio documentary producer, a writer, and I am a mother to a little girl that just turned three-years old who also happens to be in complete control of our household.

Anniversaries are time for reflection. So, I decided to put down my 10 favorite things about living in Costa Rica.

With #1 being tops, here are the reasons why I absolutely love living in Costa Rica.

10. No One Wants to Bomb Costa Rica.

Ask someone where Costa Rica is, and most have a hard time finding it on a map while others may point out some island in the Caribbean. If Costa Rica had weapons of mass destruction (remember, we don’t have an army), the government would probably lose them. And if an attack came after Friday at one in the afternoon, the person in charge of pushing the red button would be at the beach.

9. I Don’t Have to Shovel.

I moved to Costa Rica from a very cold place that didn’t receive inches of snow, but instead the snow was measured in feet. Over the years, I have had to shovel snow in order to open my back door, and I once I even lost my car in the back yard. Shoveling is not refreshing. Those that tell you it is great exercise are rationalizing. Shoveling gives people heart attacks, bad backs, and frostbitten body parts.

8. The Disorder

At first, Costa Rica may seem a mess. After living in the United States where lawns are perfectly manicured, houses are color coordinated, and city ordinances dictate whether or not one can keep the garage door open or closed, I appreciate the chaos.

After five years, I have begun to notice a certain order under the chaos. It has given me the opportunity to see things in a different light – look at life from a different angle. A corner store can open right next to a church which can open next to a home which is right next to a guy who grows green beans on an empty lot. People can sell decorated ceramic pigs in the street without ever applying for a permit.

Now I save my worries and concerns for the bigger things in life rather than whether or not my neighbor is going to put up a fence too high or what color they are going to paint their house. Costa Rica is a developing country with a poverty level of almost 21%.

Living close to a population that struggles to provide their families with basic needs, I am reminded of how blessed I am. I have so much – my health, my family and friends, and sunshine almost every morning of the year. I have gadgets like a digital camera, a telephone and a blender. Keeping up with the Jones´s is the last thing on my mind.

7. Corporate America is Not Being Jammed Down My Throat.

Costa Rica is not a big enough market share (not yet anyway) for Coca-Cola and Pepsi to be dispensed in every hallway in schools or for Nike to supply book covers or Microsoft to sell computers with pop-up advertising so children´s mouse click patterns can be tabulated for marketing information so more Coke or Pepsi can be sold in the lunch room.

It is easier to keep my daughter away from the way corporations want us to live and the products they want me (and her) to buy.

6. Safety.

I feel safer here than I did living in the United States. In the U.S., my business was robbed twice in two years (not to mention the theft by employees). I had cars broken into four times in five years. I had security systems, car alarms, and a lot of keys to a lot of locks. Costa Rica ranks lower than many wealthier, “developed” nations in murders, assaults and robberies per capita.

I live sensibly and do not take undue risks. I don´t walk at night where it is dangerous, but I never have in any city I have ever lived or visited. Costa Rica does not have an army. There seems to be a large correlation with peace and countries that do not have a military. Ever notice how countries with large military budgets often have a lot of crime?

5. It’s Harder to Get Things Here.

As odd as this sounds, I have greatly begun to appreciate that it takes a little more effort to shop here. The grocery stores are quite convenient, that is not a problem. However, I can no longer run into Target (or WalMart for those who do that) for some toilet paper and leave with an armful of goods, dropping them on the way to the checkout because I didn´t get a cart and have to charge $62.00 worth of stuff I don´t really need because all I brought was $5.00 to buy the toilet paper.

4. Coconuts and Avocadoes.

Coconuts are one of the best foods in the world. The milk is scrumptious, the coconut water inside is full of calcium and potassium, and tastes like candy water. Coconut oil is being redefined as an incredible health food with all the “good fats” a body needs. It keeps the wrinkles and sagging skin away, and tones up the digestive tract.

Avocados are about 25 cents here, available year round, and also full of great things a body needs. Incredibly both grow on trees and are very affordable. These are only two of the foods that are fresh, fantastic, and full of great health benefits – starting as little as 10 to 25 cents each.

3. Learning a Second Language.

Finally, after years of average schooling in the public school system of the United States, I am learning a second language. I am immersed in Spanish every day. After only one year of lessons, I continue learning solely by listening to my three-year old daughter and all the people around me (see number 2 for details).

My daughter will be completely bilingual (not marginally adequate like me). She will be able to speak in Spanish and English without an accent in either language. In addition, learning other languages will be much easier for her. For example, she already knows about 100 words in sign language and a few of the basic farm animals in French.

2. I Can Afford a Full-Time Nanny and Maid

For almost less than half that it costs to put one child in day care in the United States, I have a full-time maid and nanny. The nanny comes to my home and plays with my daughter all day long. My daughter is under my supervision while she and her nanny go from room to room playing, painting, swimming (remember it´s warm enough to swim almost every day of the year here), out for walks to see cows, and flights on imaginary airplanes.

She eats the foods I want to her to have, and when I need to check in on her I am able to without ever having to drive into traffic. I get to work in an office in my home and only have to go out in the public when I choose.

I dislike cleaning. I have done less than ten loads of laundry since I have lived here. I did two “life-times” of cleaning by the time I had moved to Costa Rica and do not miss it one bit. With a maid, I am freed up to do other very important things like eat avocadoes and fly on imaginary airplanes to the beach and …

The Number One Reason Why I Love Living in Costa Rica (Drum roll please…)

1. I NEVER HAVE TO FOLLOW MY DOG WITH A PLASTIC BAGGIE

Even before the “Homeland Security Act”, the United States was filled with rules and regulations governing the intimate parts of life right down to having to pick up my dog´s poop and carry it away in a plastic baggie. This became incredibly problematic because I had three large dogs. Now, when I take one or all four of my large dogs for a walk, I only carry a leash. Costa Ricans tend to understand in a day or so, all will be washed away or dried up as nature intended.

Once past the few bureaucratic inconveniences like auto registration, residency renewal, and birth or death certificates (which are also inconveniences in every other country), I am left to just live my life – as nature intended.

Susan Carmichael is a freelance writer living in Costa Rica. She has developed several education curriculums for children and adults. She has also taught journalism. Susan produced and hosted radio programs and documentaries in Costa Rica including a short story program called “In the Moment” and an hour long interview program focused on the issues of women called “A Woman’s Voice”.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew 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.