[Rservant]

[quote=”yvette”][quote=”PauldThomas”]We were just wondering why you moved to Costa Rica instead of Panama? What were your main reasons for moving to Costa Rica?
What does Costa Rica have that Panama doesn’t?
Thanks,
DT[/quote]
well i didn’t actually move to costa rica.we just go once or twice or thrice a year. a friend’s mother in law from cr visited me here in states on way to niagara falls because i speak spanish i suppose. after the second visit she invited us to come down so we did and i fell in love with a little place in Tortugero on the San Juan river which was not for sale but after that she called me to tell me about a similar place which became the place we’re talking about which she helped me get. Besides, i don’t know anyone in Panama.[/quote]

OK let me weigh in on this as I have experience with both..

I… until quite recently had a lot of business in both panama and Costa Rica. SO I have had times when I was living in Costa Rice and times when I was living in Panama…

You must understand that BOTH places and different from the US (of course), but also from each other. It largely matters what YOU are looking for. If you are looking for the cosmopolitian life I suppose an arguement can be made for Paname (hell there are more banks in Panama city than in New York City. However if you are looking to retire in a quasi-rural quiet surrounding. with a demographic slice of people that are conspicously / visibly happly.. then it Costa Rica for ME personally…

Additionally I need to point out (as Scott has to others so many times.. you MUST INVEST YOURSELF IN THE CULTURE, if you are going to have a happy time and a good experience. You first must get spanish under you belt, you need to attend public gatherings (festivals mostly etc. ) so you feel as ‘part of the community’. IF you TRY… and if you have trouble in their society.. there are those who will help you.

BOTTOM LINE OR YOUR WAISTIN YOUR TIME: YOU MUST ASSIMILATE IN THE CULTURE

If you don’t… you WILL eventually give up and leave…. and report to others what an awful experience it was.

AND FOR GRINGOs to succeed …
this means a bit a work…

After years of thinking about it and weighing all the options and my goals and… being honest with myself (which is harder than most expect it t o be)

I chose to buy some property and build in the mountains of Costa Rica.

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