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[quote=”aguirrewar”]out of 100% divided by 4 you have 25%
out of 1 divided by 4 you have .25
is .25 different than 25%
warren[/quote]
No those are not different, however you said .25% which is different. The key is the % after the .25
[quote=”maravilla”]hahahaha — that’s funny. will we have to goosestep too?[/quote]
I agree that things in the USA arent what we want them to be, but disagree it is the country for corporations. Most corporations make less here than overseas. Those who claim the US tax rates are low for high earning individuals and corporations ignore the fact the US is one of two governments who tax income earned outside the US. So the next wave of departures you will see is Corporations moving their HQ and tax domicile to other locations. The consumer driven economy is tapped out in the US and with a low population growth rate, demand is weak and going to stay so for some time. Jobs were moved out of the USA and now Corporations will move next, how is the government going to feed its insatiable demand for more money? Borrow more from the Chinese, a short term strategy at best. Long term, military spending must be cut. I know the US has fewer entitlements than many countries but do not know how our spending as a $ of GDP stacks up. I believe much higher spending on medical services is a fundamental reason for the lower US standard of living. I think the difference is not a single payer system. I think we have access for more services for those who can afford it than most countries. My mother in law just had knee replacement surgery paid by medicare. I suspect it will run over $200k once PT is complete. So rationing medical services is what I suspect will be required to lower spending to the levels of other countries. I believe lawyers are a big difference in cost of living here. We have 7 times the nos of lawyers per capita as Japan. I Believe that is too many. Manufacturin jobs bring significant money into the country and help standard of living but those are almost gone except for oil, which will soon be gone too.
The truth about our situation is undeniable but the solutions are not as clear as some suggest… Meanwhile, CR sounds like the place to be.
[quote=”Miss O”]My fiance really wants to live on or near the Pacific coast. We have map of C.R. and he circled the Guancaste & Gulf of Nicoya area for his first choice for us to visit. It’s every town from Golfo de Papagayo all the way down to Tambor.
I circled the San Ramon, Atenas, Grecia, Palmares towns and for the coast Jaco, Play Hermosa, Manuel Antonio but I do like what I’ve read and seen of Samara Beach also.
Now knowing that all of you have your choice areas; with that said, if anyone has any advice on areas and towns that I can mark off the list or ones that are better than others that would be great. Obviously, we will not be visiting every town on the Pacific but as far as beach towns, my focus is finding one with a strong community.[/quote]I like the view of the coast but to be higher elevation so cooler temps. I have been searching the last ridge before the land drops down to the ocean. I am focused on west of Aetnas currently. There are some smaller towns along that ridge. With the new toll way this area is not too far from the coast for my needs but might be for your finance’s desires. My concern is if its cool enough for me. I know a few places where you can see the pacific coast while in the mountains and where you have a view of lights in the towns along the coast at night too. Good luck.
[quote=”rf2cr”]Scott is right but biased toward San Jose, for all it’s advantages I can see as many or more disadvantages – the traffic, the noise and bustle, the diesel fumes, the living so close to neighbors etc….. While the costal areas both sides are charming to visit the weather is hot and humid and with ever rising electricity costs – expensive.
So, being equally biased toward the mountains in the Arenal, Tilaran area, suggest you check it out. There is a great Gringo community, the weather is fresh and cool (if somewhat windy at times), we do have our petty theft problems that seem to run in cycles when gangs from Liberia, Limon and other areas move in but fortunately move on when things get too hot for them around here. If you would like to contact me directly for more information please do so.[/quote]
I understand there are maps showing fault lines for Escazu/Santa Ana and probably other areas. Are they a useful predictor of future seismic activity from anyone’s experience? If so where do you find these maps. I know Escazunews site use to have such maps for that area but not sure about other locations
[quote=”Miss O”]So I have recieved some really great information from some very delightful people, (special thanks to Bill Knight & Lou & Family) I can say that the communication with everyone, offering their 2 cents and experiences has really made me feel very good about Costa Rica.
San Ramon looks like a great area, we would like to live close to the beach, I have been looking at a very well done website http://www.samarabeach.com This looks like a very gorgeous area along with a lot of ammenties we would find in the States.
Have any of you lived or visited this area and what are your thoughts?Any other suggestions of great communities is always welcomed.[/quote]
I am living in Houston but planning a move to CR in the near future. I havent experienced the pacific coast in much depth due to the temperature being well above what is comfortable to me. I am certain if I found a place near the ocean, I would need a/c which is expensive with the high electric rates in CR. My preferred temperature range is a low of 60 and a high of 80, so higher elevations in the central valley match my needs best. Atenas area is less humid than San Ramon from my experience but San Ramon is cooler as it is a higher elevation.
I would recommend you visit the Santa Ana area on your trip. With the new highway, the central pacific is about an hour away. The climate is on the warm side of the range that I prefer as is Atenas. But it is close to a lot of infrastructure you might prefer and I always feel safe in there.
The schooling options should be good in this area as well. The major downside is it is a more expensive area than other central valley locations but less so when compared to the pacific coast at least for real estate if not other things as well.
Hope you have a good visit and enjoy CR as much as we have over the past 15 years of visits
[quote=”sprite”]I have been reading and participating in this forum for about 4 years now. Over that time, I have come to believe the host to be a sincere and honest individual who oversees a fair and responsible monitoring of the forum. The sentiment that keeps me coming here, and I suspect most of the other regulars, is the obvious and sincere love that Scott has for the theme of this forum, Costa Rica.
Whether or not the forum assists in his business, I have never had the impression that business was the only or even the main motive for its creation or its continuation.[/quote]
I agree completely. I find very helpful information here on all topics except of course politics. I generally ignore or read and do not post on such topics. However, I stronly support your view of this forum and its operator. I too appreciate the time, effort and money it takes to help me for no cost to me. Great forum I say, only a few strange posters on it
[quote=”Scott”]In 50 years and living in dozens of countries, I’ve never lived anywhere else where the people are genuinely happier…
Have you?
As an adult, I lived in the UK and in the US (about 10+ years each) where – in comparison with the Costa Rica – the people were downright miserable and that was before the really tough economic times started…
Scott[/quote]
I believe people in Texas are happy. Those who dislike Tx leave as they do CR. As hot as it is here in the summer, Costa Ricans have to be happier that time of year. Texas isnt a country so not in the poll. I have lived all over the US especially back East and there is a marked difference in happiness in Tx versus say NJ. Has to do with freedoms. Less regulations govern your life here adn more open space than NJ. Just one mans view. I will admit I find myself happy in CR because I value a great climate, scenic views and friendly happy people.
I dont really care where he was born and who has his original birth certificate. I do care about the federal governments size and control over lives. We could get the smartest people in the world, and with the scope of this government, I do not believe they could run it effectively much less efficiently.
I expect politicians to lie but get a bit upset when my government thinking medicare/social security are big successes because people like them, ignoring the financial condition of both as a measure of effectiveness. So while the Obama independent commission is working on benefit cuts in medicare and tax increases to save it, the feds makes another set of promises called healthcare reform. I wonder, will this program too cost more than the feds estimate and taxes prove inadequate to pay for it? Will some in congress still declare this a success too as they raise taxes further to fund it?
I do not like having to decide if I want Bush back or more of Obama…cant I choose neither? Wait a minute, I can… I can choose Costa Rica
[quote=”maravilla”]they ALL lie. it’s part of the job description. i seem to remember Daddy Bush making some ridiculous statement about “Read My Lips” — NO NEW TAXES — ahhhhh, and what did we get?
it would be one thing if the guys we put in office were actually the ones in charge, but they aren’t. expecting them not to break promises is a little naive.[/quote]
The federal government is too big to be effective and the whole system will soon collapse under its own weight. We need less federal government, then the states could decide whether to go hard left progressive or hard right conservative. That way when mistakes are made as they are regularly in government, only one state would suffer not the entire country. Also, if one wants a conservative place to live there is one, if one wants a progressive state to live in, there is one of those too.
I am jaded by politicians, especially at the federal level. They are just too far away and too caught up in the inside the beltway thinking to remain true to what they were before and what they promised to get there.
[quote=”grb1063″]Basic public school education in CR is probably better than what most US school districts provide and certainly a more respectful environment.[/quote]
I agree that the typical Tico I have met seems better educated than the average American I run into. I wonder if its the school system or the desire of the students making the difference. I truly do not know but the typical tico seems more focused on things that matter in my view. Perhaps due to education, perhaps upbringing or perhaps out of necessity and believe they can better themselves this way.
I am so tired of the bailout mentality in the US and government spending beyound its means while CR seems to be more sensible as a government. Look at how the dollar, which is strong now versus the Euro is doing against the colon as evidence of the markets agreeing.
As illogical as some of the processes seem in CR, CR’s future and cost of living make more sense to me than the US at this stage.
How did we get to politics from finding a job? I think that is the fundamental issue in the US today. Jobs and perhaps low population growth.
[quote=”grb1063″]Not a chance Kimball. We will even give our military contracts to foreign companies.[/quote]
My view of the US jobs problem is cost is what drives jobs off shore. When did you last hear a US politician say he was going to lower the cost of living in the US? Not lower taxes but the cost of living. I do not ever recall hearing it. Americans want things that drive up the cost of living and therefore the wages there without considering the impact on competitiveness of US jobs.
As an investor in companies, I would want them to relocate jobs to a lower cost environment to make sure that company remains competitive and hence in business. Call me old fashioned or call me unAmerican if you wish…
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]My Costa Rican endocrinologist (U.S. board certified) disagrees with John’s assessment of the anti-cholesterol medication dispensed by the CAJA. They only have one to offer and he (my endo) asserts that it’s not very effective. Maybe it has enough oomph, however, to meet John’s needs and that’s all that matters. That’s why I remain on Zocor which is doing the job for me.
There is a U.S.-licensed physician here in Costa Rica who will write prescriptions that U.S. pharmacies will honor. You mail in the script and can then order online. As long as you only order in small amounts (one or two prescriptions per order), Customs and the Ministry of Health won’t get in the way.[/quote]
David, thanks for the info on a US licensed physician. I too have Medco as you may recall. I also have an option of buying prescriptions in CR, paying cash for them and getting reimbursed by my former employer. With Medco, my copay on non generic meds is 25%. My wife requires some meds that do not have generics like Humira. I priced all her meds in CR and surprisingly found the CR price for non generics was less than Medco and I pay for them in the US. However, no knowing my copay situation in CR without further research with the company, it is nice to know there is an option to get US prescriptions written in CR for sending to medco to be filled then get them to CR as you mentioned before to me. So long way of saying thanks for mentioning this
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Okay, so if a person were in downtown Atenas, how would you get onto the new highway?[/quote]
When I was there in August, the access road was a block or two south of the heart of Atenas. That access road takes you directly to the new Highway. You can see the Atenas access or extension from the map in a later reply to this topic. Hope that helps
[quote=”tiffen”]Found what looks to be a pretty good map of the new toll road:
http://www.costaricafrog.com/wp-content/files/CostaRicaFrog.com_mapa_san_jose_caldera_pacific_highway_autopista.jpg%5B/quoteWow thanks, the route is further south than I assumed. I thought it passed North of Atenas but it is well south of Atenas. Must pass very near Barroeta which is west of Atenas and south of route 3.
Great help thanks
