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Gee whiz! These detailed responses are exactly what I need! Thanks so much to everyone AND to anyone else who may still respond.
I can easily find “our” future use in these responses and plan. Also, are the ICE rates the same for every part of the country? Sue
We are shipping our auto down. But just a note, we sold our Lexus and found a 1984 Toyota Landcruiser in just excellent condition. Only 87K miles, only three owners, a great Carfax report and it was very, very inexpensive. This baby will practically go up the side of our house in four-wheel. Our import tax will be under $3K and we have had the stuff double-checked where we expect the most scrunity from the Costa Rican inspection.
So our choice was to buy here, use our trusted mechanic and the really helpful advice from Arden at Ship Costa Rica. We talked to her before we purchased which was a really big help! Now we just have to get its wheels on the Pan American!
I am perfectly aware of the systemic problems with petty theft and dog poisoning in Costa Rica. Are we then all assuming that these problems cover all “Latinos” or even all Costa Ricans? How are these kind of blanket comments acceptable, useful or further the kind of dialogue we all enjoy on this forum?
What an appalling remark about Latinos…why would anyone holding those views be on a Costa Rican forum?
Hot tubs were mentioned here and I have a question: In several homes we noted an outdoor “jacuzzi bathtub” instead of a standard hot tub. I am wondering if the high humidity causes additional maintenance or shortens the life of a regular hot tub.
Also, David….are the tanks themselves attached to your solar system installed in the house, or on your roof?
We recently opened an Ltda. into which we are going to transfer property. I will use the recommended IRS form. As this Ltda. is currently “empty”, how would this be listed?
Maravilla: Can I inquire about the general San Ramon area in which you live? I understand that just a few hundred feet of elevation in San Ramon can make a big difference as to micro-climate. Also, can you tell me why you have chosen down bedding as opposed to a thermal cotton, etc.?
As always David, a great detailed response. My friend there has also told me that opening up the house to cross-ventilation is really key. I am in the building planning stages now and will carefully plan for that need. Thanks! Sue
David: Our land is outside San Ramon at about 3300′. So you think that we will NOT need dehumidifiers? I was considering a couple, but am intrigued that you are NOT using them. Costa Rica seems to be the land of 1000 microclimates! I was also considering purchasing an electric towel warmer, just to have a nice, crispy, warm towel and to have a toasty bathroom in the morning. Many of these units now come with a timer and a thermostat – what do you think??
We drove to San Isidro General and on to Dominical a couple of years ago. We didn’t find the road that bad, but we are from the mountains of Arizona, so…… However, if you pay attention and take your time, you should be fine. The other time we went, we took one of the tourist mini-vans, I think it was Easy Rider. The cost was about $30 ea., and they picked us up from our hotel and delivered us to our hotel which was wa-a-ay up on the Escalante road overlooking Dominical. Then we caught the bus from Dominical back. It was a regular bus with no A/C, but honestly, once you leave the beach area, the A/C isn’t an issue. Hope this helps!
hcannon: Funnily enough, I just SOLD a medium Big Green Egg because I thought the sucker was too heavy and unwieldy to ship in my container next summer. PLUS, like you, I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to find lump charcoal in Costa Rica after taking the trouble to get that wonderful behemoth there. Sigh……there is nuthin’ like an Egg.
Thanks Jan Hart and as always, David. Of course our care is rationed! My insurance companies have always “rationed” my care. What really frosts me is that under the current system most of worry if we ever will get truly ill and then have a pre-existing condition and then not be able to be insured at all. I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t worry about this and other untenable realities under the current insurance system. Further, we need to be examining costs. Holding costs in check necessarily means what I would like to call rationale rationing. The system currently isn’t rationale. Why does it seem so impossible over the last many years for citizens to quit (as my Dad used to say) “making sh*t up?!” (Scott – how to make this phrase not offensive????)
And Jan Hart – maybe you are near the north central valley – where we will “land”!
Thanks, Chetohrt, for that cogent response. My many doctor clients have told me story after story just like this one. They have been giving me the scoop on insurance companies, the administrative burden on docs and other wretched examples of how corporations are really running medicine. Yet it doesn’t seem possible right now to get any traction in discussing the real issues right now. This was a once-in-many-decades opportunity to get educated about this complex issue and we are blowing the chance.
The “screaming” I am referring to does NOT mean that I don’t always welcome debate. But debate is actually what I am after. I also have questions about the health care reform and would VERY much like to hear questions and responses from everyone. Shouting (whether by “unorganized” individuals or groups) has kept us ALL from having a reasoned discussion about health care reform. My Republican and Independent friends went to two town halls with good, searching questions they wanted to discuss and of course, all actual discussion was impossible. There are massive issues with health care in America and being able to actually HEAR the responses of our Congressional representatives in person would have been immensely helpful to the national debate.
jd: Well, we are moving to Costa Rica and are big-time Democrats and have already made many friends in Costa Rica who are the same. It has been a little disconcerting while reading these threads to think that we will be in the minority….but my actual experience while in the country has been very different. But I often read the threads and realize that any reasoned contribution that I might make would be a waste of time. I also find it amusing that there is so much screaming and yelling about the health care debate from so many who are so obviously benefiting from the health care in Costa Rica’s social democracy. Also here in the U.S., watching the “tea parties” and “town hall” screamers who are clearly of an age to be on Medicare – a HUGE socialistic health program…..go figure.
