[koty]

Theres a guy selling part of his oceanview condo in the hills outside of Jaco. Its beautiful. I could getyou the website I first found it on if anyone is interested.

Koty

[koty]

Interesting thought and scary too. I had not thought of that. I just can’t stand the thought of hiding from everything. One more thing to think of. THANKS!

Joni

[koty]

Any idea what the ball park figure of what that B&B would be worth? Healthy day hotel (it needs a new name!)

[koty]

Yes Jenny, my husband and I would love to hear your story. We are now thinking of a B&B. Last week we were down in CR again and we spoke with a couple who bought one 4 years ago and has made it into a thriving business in Alejuela. However, she is a gourmet cook, I am not but could learn ( I guess she did not know how until they bought it). Neither of them spoke Spanish and they are doing it. We are not afraid of hard work. What is your opinion? I guess our biggeest concern is the language barrier and speaking to vendors etc. as well as employees. We are trying to learn. I work in the people business (schools) and worked in a restaurant for 10 years. My husband, on the other hand is on the quiet side but has been very successful in the sales industry BSing his way with many people he does not like…. so between the two of us I think we would do fine. Hmmm/… what are the up and down sides. Thanks for giving us some ideas of B&Bs for sale
Koty

[koty]

Yes Jenny, we would love to hear your story. We are now thinking B&B because we spoke with a couple who just bought one 4 years ago and has made it into a thriving business in Alejuela. However, she is a gourmet cook. Neither of them spoke Spanish and they are doing it. We are not afraid of hard work. What is your opinion? I guess our biggeest concern is the language barrier and speaking to vendors etc. as well as employees. We are trying to learn. I work in the people business (schools) and worked in a restaurant for 10 years. My husband, on the other hand is not all that social but has been very successful in the sales industry BSing his way with many people he does not like…. so between the two of us I think we would do fine. Hmmm/… what are the ups and down sides. Thanks for the responses about the advertized B&Bs. As luck would have it the one with volcano views came out the day I posted this.

Koty

[koty]

I just brought stuff in that was in plastic (granola bars, fruit snacks, nut mix etc.) for my son and we did get searched at the airport. No problem with what I brought. I think they are really looking for fresh fruit as I saw someone with apples get them taken away. I got my son’s apple juice taken in the states on our way to CR (my stupid mistake) and in Costa Rica on the way back (my intentional mistake).

Koty

[koty]

I just had to comment that, yes it has deteriorated in the last 6 months. We just got back from CR. My experience with Jaco is more the “sitting at the bakery in the morning while hung-over 50 something year old disgusting men who are in CR to escape alimony or child support payments, find a young tica (yes the sex with minors sign at the airport is the only one that is in English) or avoid some other felony charge rub elbows with the low life surfer wanna be type who have not bathed in quite a while and thought they would get a muffin before they go to bed for the “night”. By the way, did anyone else notice the huge red sex shop sign that is as big as banana truck when you suddenly round a corner on the way to Jaco from Orotina? I think it is so big so that those men I talked about don’t have to put on their reading glasses to see it.

[koty]

My husband and I are desperately trying to learn spanish. We bought the Rosetta Stone program, and while I think it is good, it is tedious and boring. I am not a patient enough person and my Spanish skills reflect it. I am trying to force myself to use it though. We also bought the Instant Immersion Spanish series which you can listen to in your car. I like this better. I don’t retain as much but the time goes fast while driving every day. I also checked out some children’s books and bought simple mindless magazines while down there like “People” in spanish. I would love to get a surfer-type dictionary but I do not think my husband would approve.

[koty]

Just wanted to comment that there are some other options for schooling for children in other areas. We were just down in CR again and a women I met has two school teachers from the states home-school her two boys. I think there are options like this in many places. Jaco just opened up a new English school by Los Suenos and there is another bi-lingual school there too. I also heard of a good school in Orotina that has some Costa Rican children going there too. When we were in Alejuela we saw a public school that is getting grants from a corporation in Washington. They had computers and good teachers etc. Supposedly there are several other public schools in CR that also have these standards and have received grants from this source. I met some other people who have hired a private teacher for their small group of children down on the Oso penninsula in a very remote area. I think there are many options, you just have to find them. We paid special attention to these issues too and have decided that San Jose is not for us. Santa Ana is nice though.

[koty]

I know I know. I guess there have been some specifics but not from families that are similar to ours and the same age. I appreciate your comments. Maybe I am just looking for too many “for sures”. I will keep fishing for that I guess and keep thinking that new people are viewing and responding everyday. The more opinions I get the more I think the average replies are valid and representative of what “real life in Costa Rica” is like. Sorry if I am boring you with the requests for specifics. Just trying to figure it all out.

Koty

[koty]

We too are into Dora the explorer and Go Diego go!!!!! you are right I keep telling our son its all about Costa Rica.. He loves it… and he has been there 4 times and is 4. there is a beautful childrens book by Jan Brett called “The umbrella” that is actually written about Costa Rica. May be more for adults but we loved it. The illustrations are wonderful.

Koty

[koty]

Thank you for the kind reply. I have posted and read the posts for the information that you refer to. My husband and I too have investments and have saved and would have an income to rely on from investments etc. However, no one has really answered the question regarding the amount of income people with young children (or in our case child) need to live on. I appreciate the type of changes you refer to: not needing expensive shoes, living on what you grow and what is available in local markets, giving up what feels like essentials at home. However, many of these notions feel rather romanticized to me and probably contribute to the high number of people who move to Costa Rica and then decide they need to move back. (what is the percentage??? 60%)????? I agree this type of lifestyle is preferable to the materialistic one in the states but….. I would love to hear what people, who successfully live in Costa Rica with children, are actually living on. What are your expenses for school, insurance, travel back home, etc…..?

[koty]

I am sorry I can not answer your question but would love to hear how you are making this move. How are going to live down there? What are you going to live on? What do you expect your expenses will be per month? I know some of this sounds personal but my husband and I and my 4 year old son would also like to make a move but so far have not yet figured out a way to do it without taking on a huge risk. I guess the risk I talk about is our retirement funds, college funds, living a lifestyle that, while we expect major changes is not uncomfortable and the benefits outweight the negatives, and that our son would be properly educated so that one day he can compete in the world, if he so desires. We continue to look for opportunities and are going down again in a few weeks to check out some things as well as going in April (believe me the plane tickets and hotels are taking a toll). But we love the country and would love to make the change, what a wonderful way to raise a child, bi-lingual, and exposed to so many things that would open their eyes to a huge world and new perspective. But…. we keep getting stuck in the details. Would love to hear how others are doing it. Not just in vague descriptions but in actual real life terms. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks!

Koty

[koty]

I was trying to find your posting regarding Columbus Heights. Did not know how to email you directly. I have some questions. Could you email me at jrknee@centurytel.net/

Koty

[koty]

I am trying to be fair. Bob has stated that he has tried two times to get money back into our account and now has given up. He said that he will mail it to us when he comes back into the states. I will keep it posted if we get it back.

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