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[quote=”maravilla”] . . . We’re blessed enough to live on the Nicoya Peninsula, ( Di that is where Playas del Coco is) yes, a Blue Zone, and we are surrounded by the pura vida, but we still can’t get it. We can only watch others have it. Why?
. . . don’t have cars; therefore they don’t have riteve, marchamo, car payments or insurance;
[/quote]I live alone. Apparently you don’t. You have the company of someone I assume you love, if not only like.
I don’t have a car, but a bad leg. I can walk down hills, but not up them. Cannot conveniently get anywhere. Also hate traveling alone.
As for lamb, about which one of the other respondents wrote, I can only say, Where did you get it?
Nicoya is too hot. Was there once, when a friend came rented a car. We were almost drowned by the fast flood that developed when we were on one of the dirt roads. The new maps I bought stunk. A brave Tico led us to safety. An amazing event.
Ciao,
Barbara[quote=”maravilla”]retirement homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities or whatever you want to call those places where families dump their old loved ones in the States so the facility can milk medicare for their care is an anathema in costa rica. most people are cared for by family members,not dumped into some facility — some of which are pretty sterile in the States, too. they are little more than warehouses for people waiting to die and unless you have $12,000 – $20,000 a MONTH to pay for a really nice place, you will get a place that you described here in costa rica. if you want to see people begging for shoes, go to certain parts of the US where in the very next community there will be millionaires living the high life. there is a great disparity of wealth everywhere these days and costa rica is no exception. i am always amazed at the reasons people have for leaving here. makes me wonder where they thought they were really coming if they didn’t know about life in third world or developing countries. costa rica’s main industry is tourism. would anyone come here if they showed the pictures of the slums, the nica villages that exist in places where no one should even live, or show the polluted rivers that they are trying to clean up but an ignorant citizenry just keeps dumping their crap into the waterways with no thought whatsoever as to where that trash is going to wind up. there is wretched poverty here; there is also mind-boggling beauty. this juxtaposition is the nature of the world and costa rica is no exception.[/quote]
I’ve lived outside the State for approx 7-8 years of my adult life. Traveled throughout Europe (1 year). Greece (4 years), Israel (1 year), England off and on, and miscellaneous trips from time to time.
I’ve been in Atenas since 2009. I came her impoverished with a social sec’y pension under $1000 a month. The rate when I arrived was 587 colones per $1. Fifteen percent lower now.
In 2002-2004, my mother was in a home. Medicare paid. Oriental rugs, beautiful table clothes and tableware. Flowers on each table for all meals. Activities for residents. Bedrooms like real bedrooms.
The going price for a private home in Mass. was at that time $6,500 month. The prices you quote must be on the golden coast of CALIF, where enhanced show-biz salaries prevail.
Tranquility in Atenas is wonderful, but over time, it is boring. No theatre, no art, no intellectuals –they might exist but I’ve met none.
Old North Americanos — many alcoholics — seek young Ticas looking for secure financial futures. Many of these men would be unacceptable in the States. I’ve not met young family-oriented expats.
According to the Atenas Monthly, the expats seem more concerned about abandoned dogs than they are about senior citizens.
Spending the bulk of my time writing in front of the computer, I’m fairly hermetic and have made no effort to find young OR old people.
As for rivers: I’ve not seen a river in CR which is not either brown or dried out. Very uninviting. Nothing to swoon about.
And food: I never want to look at rice again. I want a variety of fresh fish, lamb, etc.
I have a few important tasks to accomplish in MA. Then, if things work out well, I’ll head to a fishing village in Greece.
Have a nice night, what’s left of it.
Ciao,
Barb[quote=”maravilla”]retirement homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities or whatever you want to call those places where families dump their old loved ones in the States so the facility can milk medicare for their care is an anathema in costa rica. most people are cared for by family members,not dumped into some facility — some of which are pretty sterile in the States, too. they are little more than warehouses for people waiting to die and unless you have $12,000 – $20,000 a MONTH to pay for a really nice place, you will get a place that you described here in costa rica. if you want to see people begging for shoes, go to certain parts of the US where in the very next community there will be millionaires living the high life. there is a great disparity of wealth everywhere these days and costa rica is no exception. i am always amazed at the reasons people have for leaving here. makes me wonder where they thought they were really coming if they didn’t know about life in third world or developing countries. costa rica’s main industry is tourism. would anyone come here if they showed the pictures of the slums, the nica villages that exist in places where no one should even live, or show the polluted rivers that they are trying to clean up but an ignorant citizenry just keeps dumping their crap into the waterways with no thought whatsoever as to where that trash is going to wind up. there is wretched poverty here; there is also mind-boggling beauty. this juxtaposition is the nature of the world and costa rica is no exception.[/quote]
Waiting for my last post to post.
I hope I don’t have to rewrite it.[quote=”Scott”]. . . if I understand your posting correctly, you’re moving out of Costa Rica to a place were there’s no poverty, is that correct?
Scott
[/quote]No, there is poverty everywhere.
Not everywhere is there someone extolling beauty, health, and Heaven on Earth. It’s the latter about which I take offense. The pretense. As I wrote in my first QUOTE: GET REAL.By the way, I bet he’s not building for ordinary Ticos. His clientele is Gringos.
[quote=”crhomebuilder”]Costa Rica is the most popular destination in the world for travelers interested in an eco-friendly trip.
71% of Potential Tourists Will Make Eco-Friendly Travel Choices in the Coming Year
http://www.multivu.com/mnr/49260-tripadvisor-eco-friendly-travel-survey-voluntourism-go-green
[/quote]I’m a contrarian. I’m leaving CR after 3 years. Donating my belongings. Went to the local Hogar de ANcianos, Senior Citizens’ Home. Depressing. One woman and the rest men. Not one chair, not one couch. Only wire rocking chairs. No art, no flowers. No arts and crafts. Nothing for activities. One small TV at the end of a huge room. Costs $800 a month for board and room. That’s stiff for the ordinary Ticos.
Clearly your business is to entice Gringos, so you wave a lot of flags and blow a lot of whistles.
It’s sickening when I think of all the Ticos/Ticas who are begging for shoes.
[quote=”bogino”]Well…A home I first started looking out nearly 2 years ago is back on the market. There had been a pending sale 6 months ago but apparently it fell through and I only found out about it by chance recently. It is probably as close to a “dream house” area.. . since I would renting the house out to long-term renters. Thank You.[/quote]
I am a potential long-term renter. How much? Can also do some property management. Do you have pictures of the property?
[quote=”Danceman”]I was rather astounded to learn that there are basically no used furniture places which makes furniture sky high and hard to afford. But …. am I wrong? There is one such store I found in Grecia but the prices are so high, it hardly counts. Is there any way to get cheap furniture in Costa Rica. And while we’re at it, how about thrift shops generally?[/quote]
Planning on leaving CR, I’m selling mine. Some high but of higher quality than in any stores here or in the USA. Some cheap and also of excellent quality. 2446-6724 (Atenas).[quote=”maravilla”]they did our residency as well and it was done in record time. i have a theory about using people who are well connected and have influence in the sphere in which they work and that definitely applies to Javier and Mayanye. everything Barbara said about their background is true, and i think her husband is a Sala IV judge, so you can”t get better connected than that and with having had a mother who was a consulate. In defense of Javier, he also has a full-time position at a prestigious law firm in LA and is always preparing cases for trial, so it’s quite possible he just didn’t have time to write an article for you.[/quote]
Yes, her husband is a Sala IV judge in a place near San Jose. I do not know how to spell it. It begins with DES…..
a long name. I can recognize it when I see it.[quote=”costaricabill”]Jerry, Barbara, et al –
My wife and I had our Entramite and file # now, going on 2 years. Do you think Mayanye and Javier could help us?I did all of the initial paperwork myself and gave it to my attorney to file. We got the Entramite from Immigracion the same day, with the only “Incompleto” noted as the CAJA insurance.
I have given a power of attorney to our SJO attorney, but immigration is not his specialty and I fear we are sitting in a stack of files somewhere in the Immigracion Ministry.
If you think they can help, please let me know either here in the post or by PM.
Thanks,
crb[/quote]Absolutely give Javier a call. His number and email are in their advertisement in amcostarica.com. The ad is usually on page 2. He will answer truthfully and quickly. It was such a pleasure dealing with him, I was ecstatic.
Barbara[quote=”ottfog”]… Today we got our Permanent Residency and it was a process made simple by the fantastic work of Mayanye and Javier Zavaleta at ResidencyinCostaRica. . . . I can’t say enough and highly recommend them to anyone at any stage of dealing with immigration or residency issues. Their fees are very fair as well.
Pura Vida,
Jerry[/quote]After my first immigration lawyer repeatedly messed up, I found Mayanye and Javier Zavaleta, Because of the small size of my social security check, it was imperative that I make application for my pensionada cedula pronto, before the “new” law became effective and raised the amount of money needed monthly to receive permission from the CR government for the permit.
Mayanye and Javier Zavaleta performed the necessary miracle. They were fantastic. They are brother and sister. Living in California, Javier speaks perfect English. Mayanye lives in Costa Rica and speaks no English. Her husband is a judge. Her personality is magical. She speaks to everyone waiting in the long lines and puts them at ease. Clearly pro bono. One has no choice but to admire and love her. Their mother was, if I remember correctly, a consulate in Los Angeles, CALIF, for years, so when they speak, they speak with knowledge and heart.
Barbara Johnson in Atenas with a “pensionada” cedula.
[quote=”Trishy”]I am 62 and am thinking of retiring in Costa Rica. This is kind of general but are there many other single expats there? All I seem to read about are couples. What’s it like for single people?
Also, is long term care affordable.
I appreciate any responses. Thank you.[/quote]
[quote=”Trishy”]I am 62 and am thinking of retiring in Costa Rica. This is kind of general but are there many other single expats there? All I seem to read about are couples. What’s it like for single people?Also, is long term care affordable.
I appreciate any responses. Thank you.[/quote]
I’m 77, and until last month I lived on $964 soc secy a month. $700 rent plus utilities. I’m a year behind on CAJA payments. I believe I’ve been overcharged. Fortunately I’m healthy. I have no car. Prices are much higher than people tell you. Some items are cheap . . . provided they are grown in CR, e.g., bananas, pineapple, mangos (which I’ve never liked), and other CR fruits. You can learn about them on the Internet, but I can’t tell one from another in the market and they are NOT identified by a sign. Generally food is likely cheaper than in the States, but on my budget, even skinned, boneless chicken appears expensive. I never buy Brahmin meat. I just listen to the mooing of beautiful Brahmin cows (vacas) which live next door to me. I can’t think of eating them.
If you rent a Tican house, rather then one rehabbed or built for North Americans, you will have to deal with bats, opossums, and assorted rodents entering your house. When I complained to my landlady, she, not a Tican but a Colombiana, sued to evict me. She didn’t win, but she was ordered to put some screens into place, which have lessened the invasion by diverse fauna.
As far as social life, old, expat men are looking for young CR women. One sees old, shriveled expats with young CR women. I’m not sure you would’ve wanted those men even in their youth.
I live rather hermetically. My friends call and/or almost daily via SKYPE from the USA and I’ve kept myself writing books, so have no time to socialize locally. Am NOT interested in bridge groups, drinking in bars, working for abandoned dogs or neglected or orphaned children. I have NOT met any older, single expat women, except for one recently widowed woman, who returned to Canada.
I plan on moving in July, by the latest. The people are very nice and friendly and will invite you to birthday parties, etc., but do NOT ever forget, you are a Gringa, an alien, one who is thought of being rich, when, in fact, you are not, and they will be looking for work as a cleaning woman or want to sell diverse services by their friends at inflated prices.
The music is similar to Gregorian chants, dirge-like, and is not a source of energy to my ears. Only taxi drivers seem to play modern or rhythmical music.
Remember that I’m of a more advanced age than you are and any sexual allure I might have had when younger has long since past. Fortunately, I had a young loving man — who said he loved me for my “head” (had to be true, for it couldn’t have been for my shape, but I was able to give him a NO-child-support guarantee) — for a little more than the past decade. I left him behind when I ventured down here. He has come down here to visit. He thought CR too expensive. It is he that I’ll be joining this summer but in another clime.Good luck. Perhaps visit before moving bag and baggage.
Call me on SKYPE (978-961-0079, forwards FREE from Massachusetts to CR) if you need more info.
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[quote]That house has been for sale for a year or two. I recognize the “hammock” picture on the left and the area in the picture on the far right. I am NOT sure but I think it might have been on the puravida real estate website.
$400,000 No way, Jose.
[/quote]
CORRECTION– SORRY. The add on craigslist was $200 for the ticket NOT NOT NOT $200,000 for the value of the house.[quote=”cheryl4313″]Does anyone know anything about the house being raffled in the San Ramon area? It’s being advertised in AM Costa Rica, page 3. [/quote]
That house has been for sale for a year or two. I recognize the “hammock” picture on the left and the area in the picture on the far right. I am NOT sure but I think it might have been on the puravida real estate website.
$400,000 No way, Jose.
[quote=”smekuly”]I thought this is important enough to share on this since this will affect all of us in some way or another[b]http://wordpress.org/news/2012/01/help-stop-sopa-pipa/[/b]this will NOT stop in the U.S. as this will happen here also[/quote]
The video stops and starts every few seconds. It is impossible to listen to properly. I don’t like wordpress. I have not been able to figure out how it works.
[quote=”Camby”]What are your impressions? are they easy going, hard nosed? both?
Do you feel less hassled then in the States (or EU/Canada/UK,etc)??[/quote]
Depends on whether you are discussing civil or criminal law.
I reported to the Ministry of Salud that there is no septic tank for my home, which I’ve been renting for 2-1/2 years. They told me they’d come and inspect the following week or so. That was six months ago.
When my landlady sued me because I complained, we went to court and the court ordered her to make certain corrections and repairs. She has not done so. My lawyer, who had given me a gringo price–which I paid because I had no choice–has done nothing.
There is, apparently, no contempt in Costa Rica.Almost a year ago, a burglar cut my scren and got in. He didn’t take much– a few cans of tuna and two bottles of wine and an empty black bag. Was told he was a druggie. I was asleep. When he saw me in bed, he left. One of my neighbors saw him come empty-handed but go full-handed, so she called the police. I was unaware all this was happening until I woke and found people in my house. I said, had I known he was hungry, I would have fed him. At the court, where I was told to go immediately, the clerk said he’d get 2 yrs. A month ago, I was brought a notice b y the police to appear in court in February. I was asked whether I wanted to press charges or have him do community service. I said, community service would satisfy. I would press no charges. Mugging someone on the street is a misdemeanor. Breaking and entering a home is a felony.
But given my recent experience, the law doesn’t mean a damn thing civilly or criminally.
