What Do You Mean I Can’t Move to Costa Rica?

Quelling Fears and Making Decisions… A single woman artist re-designs the last 1/3 of her life…

It began as an errant thought… What would it be like to live in Costa Rica?

But just as soon as I voiced it aloud I got a lot of fervent opinions and expressed fears – “But what about your family? Your kids? Your future grand kids?’ Some said they would like to do it, too – but couldn’t “because I’m so close to my family” or “I love my country too much” – as if to presume that I didn’t. Or – “But you are all alone! You can’t do it!” “What about your health?”

Whew!

What an audacious act to move in one’s retirement years to a new country.

Interestingly, it was actually my health that had first whispered the thought of a move back in 2005 after surviving some very serious back surgeries that required refinancing my home to pay some outstanding medical bills.

The final wake up came with the US recession as my too high mortgage played havoc with fewer students and visitors to my New Mexico ranchito. I had to do something.

I dove into research about moving to Costa Rica, a country selected by my heart because of the animals and the colors I’d experienced teaching two watercolor workshops there in 2005 and 2007.

With an undergrad degree in zoology and a career as a watercolor artist, the country’s biodiversity and tropical colors were irresistible magnets for my artist yearnings.

But I would first have to face two big fears about retiring to Costa Rica.

Fear 1. Starting over at 66. I’d done it at 40 after a divorce and architecture school in Oregon – starting over in Seattle, WA. Then I started over in New Mexico at 50. But doing it as a senior felt like I was really pushing my luck.

Blessedly, my three sons were most supportive. And – having never had much money, the idea of limited resources didn’t deter me. It was the idea of doing it alone in a foreign country and not being fluent in Spanish that was most daunting.

Did I have the courage to do this at age 66?

Fear 2. Did I have the resources? Could my meager US$750 per month in social security support a simple lifestyle in Costa Rica? And what about a house? Where would I live? Could I attract art students?

I had all the questions and no real answers. I decided I needed to go see for myself in order to visualize what it might be like to live in Costa Rica and to start answering the questions.

Online, I found George Lundquist’s tour which fit the bill. I signed up for February, 2008 – and would extend George’s four day tour in the Central Valley to include four more days in the southern region.

I was drawn to the San Isidro de El General valley for its proximity to the animals on the Osa Peninsula and its relative wildness, so in February, 2008 I stepped off the plane in San Jose with two stated goals and a sincere desire.

1. To see the possibility of living in Costa Rica through the eyes of other ExPats who had already made the move.
2. To visit a tree house on the Osa Peninsula to see if it could be a base from which to teach a 12 day workshop the following year. I had found it online.
3. To feel and experience myself in Costa Rica. After all – it would be me alone with me there.

The four days with George and five couples were filled to capacity with sights, information and people. We visited expat couples, properties, houses for sale and Tico professionals who included grocers, pharmacists, doctors, dentists, mayors, teachers in the expat dotted towns around the Central Valley.

I certainly noticed that I was an oddity in the group – single and female.

I also discovered the painful truth that I probably did not have the financial resources I needed to buy property and build. I calmed my disappointment and continued to gather my feelings and thoughts. No one was encouraging about moving here alone.

At the end of George’s tour I met Jane and her partner Mike in a parking lot near San Jose and we headed south through the calming softness of the cloud forests over the mountainous peaks of Cerro del Muerte.

As nature soothed my body the idea of moving here once again fluttered excitedly within my heart. A morning viewing of the shy resplendent quetzal in the high mountains encouraged me. And the dazzling iridescent feathers of turquoise, green and red reminded me of my passions and why I was here.

Over the next four days we visited properties and some of the expats who had settled in the area. Full days and calm, sweet nights lulled me into the tropical rhythms.

I gathered images and feelings and looked for direction.

My two week trip culminated in a most memorable visit to a world class tree house on the Osa Peninsula where I would teach a year later – surrounded by monkeys, macaws and tropical colors.

But the most extraordinary thing? Just 24 hours before leaving San Isidro – I made my decision and bought a place! I was shown the way by a familiar saint in a most unfamiliar way.

Next… On the Trail of San Rafael

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Written by Jan Hart who is an internationally recognized watercolor artist, teacher and writer who moved to San Isidro de General from northern New Mexico, USA. At age 66, she still plans to teach, paint and write but is hoping to slow her pace in order to enjoy the incredible colors she finds all around her. For more information about Jan’s watercolor workshops and classes please email her at: jan@janhart.com

Keep your eyes open for Jan Hart’s brand new EBook about an Active Retirement To Costa Rica which should be available right here on WeLoveCostaRica.com by the end of December 2009.

If you have a serious interest in buying a home, a farm or land that’s for sale in the San Isidro area, please contact our Recommended Costa Rica Realtors: Daveed Hollander, James Drews and John Wieland, by using the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.