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[quote=”waggoner41″]While we complain about the way taxes are created to finance the Costa Rican government we should be aware of impending peril to all of us.
. . . there is a definite need to finance the police authorities and revamp the judicial system and criminal laws. [url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/for-costa-ricas-pura-vida-a-drug-war-test/2011/12/20/gIQARoW8NP_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines. . . .[/quote]
It seems that many local people work under the table. They are paid daily for gardening, house cleaning, for instance. There appears to be no regularity. The gardeners seem to be Nicaraguans. My landlady is a Colombian and does not pay them from time to time, so I don’t see the same gardener more than two or three times. One came to me to ask for money to return to Nic. CR demands money to live and to enter. I gave him $50, knowing I’d never see it again. Another came crying that he would go to the Ministry of Labor in ALajuela. I didn’t see him again, so I have no idea what happened.
As for the law. It is nothing like that in the States. My landlady sued me. She lost. We had eventually gotten before a judge in jeans who wrote an order, which my landlady has not obeyed. There appears to be NO contempt in CR. Might be my lawyer’s lack of know-how. Don’t know. Waste of time. Waste of money. As soon as I finish my latest book, I’ll write about the experience. [i]La Gringa y la Colombiana[/i]. I might do it as a dual-language book, if I can find a Spanish-speaking person to check Google’s translation. I learned lots of things of which expats should be made aware.
CR is neither a 1st world country nor a 3d world country. Whether it is a 1-1/2 world or a 2-1/2 world country, I have not yet determined. I think a 2-1/2 world country filled with folks who think they are living in a 1-1/2 world country.
With all that said, I like Ticans very much. They are friendly, hospitable, kind. I wish I were more fluent in Spanish. But the country itself is frustrating.[quote=”maravilla”]you cannot become a legal resident without joining the CAJA. and if all you have in income is less than $1000 a month, you won’t be able to get legal residency here anyway,…[/quote]
That is not true for pensioners. I got my cedula as a pensioneer before the law changed. Then I joined CAJA.
What happens in CR if one is NOT paid up in CAJA and one does NOT have private insurance AND one has, for instance, a stroke?
[quote=”maravilla”]if you joined ARCR you could get their group rate which is about $45 a month for CAJA. . . .
[/quote]How much does it cost to join ARCR?
[quote=”TerriC”]Hello,
Can anyone direct me to some information about health care costs while living in Costa Rica? Do you still need to buy medical insurance? What is the quality of health care available? Any information would be appreciated
Thanks,
Terri[/quote]I live desperately on $964 social security a month. CAHA $60 a month. I’ve been told the cost of CAJA should be less. Have I been scammed? I do not know. What would private insurance be? At 77+, I am lucky I’ve not experienced illnesses or accidents.
As far as comparisons of med care in USA and CR: Before I came here, I experienced medical malpractice in Mass. General Hosp., supposedly one of the top hospitals in the States. I did NOT sue because I have as much fear of the incompetence of the courts as I do of hospitals. One of the People’s problems is that our society personifies judges and doctors as gods, when, in fact, they are absolutely not. As many of them were at the bottom of their classes as on top.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]I don’t think you will find many choices of decent accommodation, anywhere in Costa Rica for $35 a night for two people…[/quote]
Only in a private home. My neighbor, a Tican woman, rents a room or two to exchange students — most often from U of NC. The rooms each have one bed and very little space and the shower has only cold water. But she is a terrific lady and serves — I believe — breakfast — and helps out in many other ways.
I have a second bedroom with a double bed and a second bathroom with a shower with hot water. I’ve had my own personal guests occupy it when they’ve arrived for visiting from the States. I’ve never rented it, but I suppose I could for US$50 a night. Assuming you are in the US, my SKYPE ID is barbaracjohnson74 or my SKYPE-IN phone is 978-961-0079 (from which calls are forwarded FREE of charge).
[quote=”wash_me”]Is there any hotels in Atenas in the $35.00 range?[/quote]
I live in Atenas, but I don’t know of any hotels in Atenas proper. I think there is in the center of town one place that rents rooms.
How many people are in need of a hotel? You alone or with family and friends? Are you male or female? Length of stay? Are there any particulars that one should know regarding what you are expecting or seeking?
Barbara
2446-6724, barbjohnson74@gmail.com[quote=”DavidCMurray”]
The New York Times limits you to reading twenty news articles or columns per month for free. After that, you have to become a paid subscriber . . .. . . unless, that is, you clear your cookies when the Times pops up its little warning window. Clear your cookies and you’re good to go for another twenty stories.
lculation come out differently.[/quote]Thanks. It WORKED!!! I had just got the 20-article warning. In FIREFOX, go OPTIONS–>PRIVACY and look for cache. Then enter NYTimes in the search field. Select the NYTimes cookies. It worked! Thanks.
[quote=”jhicks920″]Does anyone know if i can leave the country to go to the us today and come back on Sunday monring i know i am supposed to wait 72 hours but i heard they will still let me back in. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Joe[/quote]
Yes, you can. A year ago, my lawyer told me it is a myth about the 72-hour stay. I went to Nicaragua. Spent an hour in the duty-free shop, turned around, and walked back over the border. No problem.
I had splurged and had taken a cab up. The cabbie waited the hour. Brought him some duty-free bottles. And we headed back. Having paid him well, he took me on a tour of places along the coast I had not been and wanted to see. It was his suggestion!
Happy trip![quote=”Logsdon”]My wife and I have looked almost all over the world for that perfect retirement place. [/quote]
So far, with all that traveling, what countries are amongst the possibilities for your retirement residence?
[quote=”Livefreeordie”]My wife and I are “young” compared to the “normal” age of gringos that retire to CR. I am 40’s she is 30’s. . . . The people we have met around my house are all over 60 and tend to ask the most personal questions right out of the gate. “How can you afford to build that house, where does your money come from, ect. I find these questions not only rude but intrusive, especially from strangers I just met. . . .[/quote]
Literally a half a century ago (1966-1970), I lived as a divorcee with two kids. I was 31-35 yo. Having coffee with a few locals the first week I arrived, one asked me how many times a week did my hubby and I have intercourse. I, like you, was shocked. I came to learn that the Greek customs are different than those in the States. Ditto here, although they are much more conservative here in CR. Given that you and your wife are 30s-40s, people are curious to learn whether you inherited your money or whether you are using drug money to build a house here. Earning a few thousand dollars ANNUALLY, the Ticans are also curious how such a young man can afford to build a house here – never mind buy one. Although less expensive to build here, one still needs a few hundred grand. As for the local banks, when I opened a bank account locally, I was required to get a report from my local police dept in the U.S. and to have it certified by the Secy of State (MA).
[quote=”jimkrica”]My wife and I always seem to meet interesting people here but one out of the two always seems to be a bit weird?
One day we meet a couple and the wife is just terrific and the husband is a complete whacko and the next week it’s the other way around.
Is it the type of expat that moves to Costa Rica or is it just us? I’m beginning to wonder.[/quote]
How are you defining “interesting”? Interesting to one is boring to another. How are you defining “whacko”?
As for couples of the terrific-and-whacko variety is simply indicative that opposites attract and that the “terrific” spouse thinks that the “whacko” spouse in interesting.
As to expat-types who move to Costa Rica: those who are divorced or who are widowers or widows or who are tired with their job at “home”, who think they can live better on the little money they have (often a myth), who have no family or no other loved ones, who are literally “wanted,” who are escaping from one thing or another (sometimes themselves), who are incapable of loving or being loved. The expats are people one finds anywhere or everywhere. Many do read lots of books because they have the time. If one inquires, one will find surprises — pleasant and unpleasant — all the time. Good luck. Keep an open mind.
