Costa Rica Simple Living

Over 25 years ago my husband, young daughter, infant son and I moved to Costa Rica from Oregon, looking for a simple lifestyle in an affordable rural community.

We settled in a small community on the slopes of the Barva volcano at an altitude of 1,500 meters, a climate comfortable for living and favorable to successful vegetable gardening. At that time we bought five acres for $10,000, a price unheard of today anywhere near the central valley.

The area we chose as our home, amidst the high altitude coffee plantations and dairy farms, had no electricity. Up early with the sun and to bed early, after reading aloud with the kids by kerosene lamp. We later progressed to using a 12 volt light hooked up to our pick up’s battery. It worked, though sometimes we had to give the truck a push to get it started if the battery was too drained.

Our son and daughter attended the local Tico school, about a kilometre away and quickly became proficient in Spanish. Since classes lasted from 7-11am, there was plenty of time for English home schooling, playing with the neighbor kids and helping out with chores.

Over the years progress arrived to the area, bringing electricity, followed by telephone service. When our son turned 14, we finally let grandma buy us

a television. Today we are well equipped with a networked computer system and Internet. Progress.

The kids flourished through the years attending the local high school, then university. My daughter went to university in the United States, my son here in Costa Rica. They both earned their degrees and are happy with their jobs here. Neither have the desire to return to the US to live.

Costa Rica is their homeland and they love it.



Though change has come in leaps and bounds over the years, some things remain the same. Our neighbors are the same hard working, kindhearted peace loving people as their families were a generation ago.

You can still bring your bottle to Cristina to be filled with fresh creamy milk, for a fraction of what you buy a carton of milk at the pulperia. Zara, now in her mid 80’s, still sells her rich natilla and her son sells goat milk. Other members of the family on the same road make fresh Tico cheese for sale.

At Christmas we receive abundant delicious homemade tamales. We reciprocate with homemade baked goods. These people have always accepted and embraced us into the community. I in turn have helped numerous local students with English through the years.

We have seen many foreigners come and go, not being able to adapt or find what they were looking for. As I look back over the 25 plus years we have lived here, I can only be thankful for the choice we made and the opportunity taken.

Costa Rica has given us a wonderful living experience. Certainly no place is perfect, but we feel there’s no place like home, Costa Rica.

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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.