What Living in Costa Rica Means To Me… A glance back at the last ten years of my life in Costa Rica.
If you were to ask 10 expats from around the world what are the reason(s) that they have chosen to live in Costa Rica, you are very likely to get 10 different answers.
However, I can almost guarantee that many of the responses will be similar and overlapping….
I am asking for something deeper than “reasons”. I am asking for feelings, emotions and spirit. Personally, I need the essence of the meaning to a life lived here in Costa Rica.
I am forever in search of the answers to the complexities of life. Therefore, I will start with myself to see if by savoring the flavor, if I can detect the individual ingredients of the meaning of life in Costa Rica.
Freedom of life in Costa Rica.
Having been born in the United States, I feel extremely fortunate and blessed to have been given the opportunities that were afforded me in one of the greatest countries on earth.
However, from my very first day on Costa Rican soil, I have had a real sense of freedom that I have never experienced in my life. If I were to give real life examples of this sense of freedom the first would be nature. I am a real outdoors kind of guy and being surrounded by nature revitalizes and invigorates me to the core.
Costa Rica’s nature is so diverse and abundant that one instantly feels “put in your place” and part of the natural beauty that surrounds you.
When I take a trip up to Rincon de la Vieja National Park I am instantly surrounded by all the best nature has to offer; natural thermal baths, bubbling mud caldrons from the powerful volcano, cold mountain rivers with cascading waterfalls, dense forest, impressive mountain vistas, wide open savannas all with an abundance of flora and fauna.
To the other extreme as an example is the lack of big brother.
For example, if I am out cruising around on a Sunday afternoon, day dreaming, soaking up the natural beauty that surrounds me, get wrapped up in the moment and end up with a lead foot, speeding through the countryside, I don’t have to worry about being pulled over by the police for going 5-10 miles over the speed limit.
Now that does not mean that there are not speed limits and rules to follow in Costa Rica because there are… However, back home I am always in constant “fear” of going over the speed limit, or breaking a minor traffic law, like forgetting to put on a turn signal when stopped at a stop sign.
For the most part in Costa Rica, unless you are just unlucky or doing something crazy, there is not much to worry about.
Do you remember those car commercials with the handsome couple in their convertible, nicely dressed, sun glasses on, hair blowing in the breeze, not a care in the world? That’s the feeling of freedom I am talking about.
Green.
Having had an intimate relationship with Costa Rica for nearly 10 years, just hearing the countries name I immediately see green. In today’s world, green has become more than just a color. It has become a new philosophy of living. In my mind, Costa Rica encompasses all the meanings of green.
If we go back to the topic of nature about 25% of the countries land mass has been reserved for conservation as National Parks. Costa Rica is only .03% of the worlds land mass but is home to 5% of the planets biodiversity. Now that’s green!
Costa Rica is also on the cutting edge of technology when it comes to clean energy. Most of the power produced in this small country comes from renewable natural sources like wind, hydro and geothermal sources.
The country also has a lofty goal of being carbon-neutral by 2021.
Is Costa Rica perfect in it’s quest for “green”?
The simple answer is no. The country still has problems. Many of the rivers are polluted and there is over development in certain areas causing strain on the basic infrastructure.
Recycling is just catching on and hopefully will soon become a household habit. However, what we all need to remember is that Costa Rica is a developing country and the old adage of “we must crawl before we walk” is the proverbial shoe that fits.
Looking at the country’s progress in that light, I feel that Costa Rica is leaps and bounds ahead of most the developed world’s mentality on being green.
A ‘Tranquilo’ Mentality.
The Costa Rican people have a different mentality about life than most of us from North America or Europe. There is an overused phrase here, “pura vida” that really sums up this “Tico” mentality.
Pura Vida literally translates to pure life and I feel that is how the average Costa Rican lives their lives.
What is a pure life in Costa Rica? In my experience pure life is the essence of healthy living. It’s stopping on the street to say hola to people you may or may not know.
It’s home cooked meals with fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s free time to just sit, have a cup of coffee and enjoy an hour with your neighbors, friends and family.
It’s listening to music just a little to loud while dancing the night away. Most importantly it’s finding a reason or holiday to throw a party and celebrate life itself.
Gerardo is always reminding me that in Costa Rica we “work to live not live to work”. Those of us from most of the Western world live life just the opposite, living to work, not working to live.
We are so busy working to pay for the “things” we think we have to have that we don’t even have time to use these “things” Living in Costa Rica has brought me back to my roots.
Having grown up in a small southern town, where our customs and values were much the same as those of my Costa Rican neighbors, I am convinced that these values are what made me feel at home from day one.
Personally I find that most of us make life much more complicated than it really is. I have been guilty of this a time or two.
Living in Costa Rica has allowed me to remember to just breathe. It has also taught me to take life seriously but not so seriously that you forget to live. I can say I have tasted true freedom, which is more that just rules or laws.
The freedom I am talking about is that of a butterfly, light, delicate and spiritual. The local mentality has reminded me of the values that were the core of my upbringing in a small Florida town.
I find that more times than not, it is the small, seemingly insignificant things in life that brings me the most comfort and joy.
I challenge you to stop and ask yourself what does living in Costa Rica mean to me? Once you scratch the surface you just may find it means more than you once thought.
What Living in Costa Rica Means To Me…
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What Living in Costa Rica Means To Me… A glance back at the last ten years of my life in Costa Rica.Article ID Number 4098
Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew 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.
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