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[quote=”F.A Skippy”][quote=”sprite”]If you want to remain with your “kind”, why move away from them in the first place? Moving to a gated community in Costa Rica filled with US residentsis sort of like traveling to Paris, sitting at a sidewalk cafe with a view of the river and ordering a cheeseburger and a coke and consume that while watching a Family Guy video on your iPhone.[/quote]
I suggest American Dad.
It’s much more accurate to the views in The Empire.[/quote]Too true, Skippy.
Sorry, Sprite, but I don’t agree with you at all. I love Costa Rica and would never consider living in the States again but crime is a SERIOUS problem.
At least in the Central Valley, most people who choose to live in gated communities do so not because they’re elitist or segregationist but because they’re legitimately concerned about the safety of their families and property and they can afford to do something about it.
You apparently find it easier to pass judgement on them than I do. I don’t live in a gated community and never have but I do have dogs (and guns) and we never leave our house unoccupied – not even for a brief trip to the supermarket.
[quote=”Jim S.
You apparently find it easier to pass judgement on them than I do. I don’t live in a gated community and never have but I do have dogs (and guns) and we never leave our house unoccupied – not even for a brief trip to the supermarket.[/quote]
And I agree with you. I am well aware of the petit crime in Costa Rica and I intend to set myself up exactly as you have done. I made it clear that I was not addressing the crime aspect, rather the social consequences and the attitude involved in making the decision to live in a gated community.
I have never been a gun advocate in the past for living in the States. Owning a gun in the US is like smoking a cigarette in a room filled with fireworks. But I see a reasonable application for gun ownership in a place like Costa Rica where there is only an anemic police presence.
[quote=”sprite”] We have gated communities here in the States everywhere and I suspect for the same reasons. We have always had them but lately, I see more and more of these walled in and guarded communities. We have always had about the same level of crime so that would not be the reason for the sudden increase. It has been exposed to economic class division,[/quote]
The economic division that is becoming so prevalent now in the States, I believe, is creating an elitist/segregationist attitude anong the “haves”. There is much more depth to the idea of living in a condo community but… gates?
Gates present the idea that “I am capable of living here and you are not allowed.”[quote=”sprite”] Both of those gringo imports infect the society to varying degrees because you can’t have one without the other. I am not advocating that moving to Costa Rica requires that the immigrant also adopt the same standard of living.[/quote]
My wife and I chose a property which is upscale for the area in which we live but our choice was made because we first fell in love with the people in Costa Rica.
The saddest decision that I have had to make is that there will be a gate and fence in our future because we salvage animals in stress and they can be a nuisance to strangers in our neighborhood.[quote=”sprite”]But there is standard of living and there is style of living. If your style of living is behind a wall and guards, what are you saying to those who live outside those walls?[/quote]
We have lived for nearly three years without the gates and fences and have had minimal problems with the criminal element. The neighbors know those who are responsible for these problems locally and the area does not attract the professionals. Our Tico neighbors are truly wonderful people.
My gate is closed during the day. If I want to buy something, I’ll call someone.
I leave it open at night in search of “adventure”8)[quote=”plasticbrad”] There still is a loss of community that they are comfortable with. Are you really trying to say that everyone that moves to a new culture is elitist if they tend to congregate with cultures they relate to?[/quote]
Pardon me while I get down to a personal level and express some differences in environmental effects.
[b]Chicago, [i]the big city[/i].[/b]
Like all large cities, overwhelming numbers of people crowded into the smallest area possible. Barrios of like minded people immigrating and creating what were essentially closed communities even though they didn’t have the gates.
I grew up in a rural community in the 1950’s, not even a town, outside of Denver which over the years experienced the ever expanding population that eventually overran the area in which we lived. From living in wide open areas of natural grassland to living within the city limits in 1/2 a generation I was exposed to constant change, new people and an attitude that accepted the changes with open arms even as it changed our way of life.
During my adult life I transitioned to the smaller town, then to Denver and finally to Los Angeles. Through it all I never changed in my acceptance of what was new and different without fear although I have always disliked big cities.
It was the same with the move to Costa Rica. We live in a semi-rural area on a property without gate or fence without fears and with a feeling of comfort in the community.[quote=”plasticbrad”]I don’t know Sprite, maybe you have it all figured out, but I would think that there is a little more deviation in judgment when you consider that people are going to pursue what is most comfortable for themselves. As long as their comfort does not impede mine or yours then great, have a wonderful life.[/quote]
[b]No one [/b]”has it all figured out”. We live with the same joys and fears which we have experienced since childhood and base our views on what has gone before.I think a lot of people on this board are probably buying part time homes. Condos and gated communities are a good option for this lifestyle. If I were living there year round I would prefer to live outside of such a community. Also for those who are buying with an eye on resale and/or, an investment in a community with a certain amount of security and amenities “could” offer the potential for greater return as well as resale.
[quote=”*Lotus”]I think a lot of people on this board are probably buying part time homes. Condos and gated communities are a good option for this lifestyle. If I were living there year round I would prefer to live outside of such a community. Also for those who are buying with an eye on resale, an investment in a community with a certain amount of security and amenities “could” offer the potential for greater return as well as an easier resale.[/quote]
Admittedly there can be reasons why you would need a more secure situation but when you consider those who live here full time I think the tendency is to avoid the culture as much as possible.
We came here because of the people and elected to live among them. That isn’t possible for all people for a variety of reasons but I think they are missing something That, for us, is one of the the main attractions of Costa Rica.
Different strokes for different folks.
I believe it’s going to get bloody ugly and, I do mean ‘bloody’.
Lastly, seeing what’s going on now and what is most likely to happen in the future, if I was in the US, Canada or anywhere in Europe I would ONLY live in a secure, gated community…
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com[/quote]Scott, I tend to agree the freedom and joy of the First Worlders is coming to a low period shortly, but a word about Canada… Canada is NOT Toronto Vancouver Calgary and Winnipeg. I mention those 4 cities because there’s a crime problem. Thousands of smaller centres, cities towns and villages enjoy enormously safe lives, wherein the morning water cooler talk concerns someone losing CDs out of their car which, like most cars here was left unlocked.
Michael Moore did a funny bit in one of his docu-dramas where he went to Toronto neighbourhoods and opened doors to show Canadians do not lock. He was quite wrong of course..well wrong to do it in Toronto where only the silly do not lock up, but still..
When and if we move to CR we’ll be seeking non-gated lives!Surely not all Ticos live behind the wire.I lived in a gated community when I first arrived here…I might as well have been in the states…there was very little inter-action among neighbors and believe me the people in town do have an attitude towards the gated personas….now I live in a tico neighborhood and love it..
moonbanks, please tell us a little more about your gated community. Where was it? What was the general makeup of the resident population?
I’m just wondering if your experience was in one of the “gringo” communities around Escazu and Santa Ana or was it in an area more heavily populated by Costa Ricans?
[quote=”Darin”]I believe it’s going to get bloody ugly and, I do mean ‘bloody’.
Lastly, seeing what’s going on now and what is most likely to happen in the future, if I was in the US, Canada or anywhere in Europe I would ONLY live in a secure, gated community…
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comScott, I tend to agree the freedom and joy of the First Worlders is coming to a low period shortly.[/quote]
Americans are in denial regarding the economic power of the U.S.
The economy is bleeding profusely due to the policies of laissez faire and supply side economics. The wealthy get wealthier and the middle class, which has always driven the economy, is being driven to the poor house.Americans have come to expect instant gratification in expecting the economy to be corrected and to feel no financial pain in the process.
Obama has accomplished in less than two years what took Roosevelt four years to accomplish in the 1930’s.Scott’s comment “I believe it’s going to get bloody ugly and, I do mean ‘bloody’.” is an understatement If it comes down to a war between the classes the walls of those gated communities will be no barrier to the masses.
What people fail to understand is that the military is composed of citizens whose families are feeling the pain and they will not willingly intervene to stop it.
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