One Sunday morning as I sat in the real estate office waiting for the phone to ring, I kept thinking about that casita in Atenas. With our combined social security income, we could pay the rent, buy food at the farmer’s market, and still have money left over.
We made the exploratory trip to Costa Rica in May; we pulled up stakes in California in July. We gave away most of our worldly goods, packed a few suitcases and started our new life as American Expats!
And guess what? My husband got a job after we moved. Because of us living here, a California based company hired him to cover the Central American portion of the business. Although he travels more than we would like, it provides us with a good income and luxuries we would not otherwise be able to afford.
We are happy living in Atenas. There is a strong expat community mixed in with the Tico culture. We eat healthy food purchased at the farmer’s market that was harvested just prior to being loaded on the truck. We enjoy “the best climate in the world” (this according to a study done by National Geographic some years ago), and we are less than an hour away from the city of San Jose where we can attend the theater, visit museums, and enjoy fine dining at restaurants from all over the world.
Should you move to Costa Rica? It’s not for everybody! We are expats living in Costa Rica. Could you move here and live happily on your pension and/or social security? Maybe. The answer is different for each person. It’s best to visit, spend some time traveling throughout this diversified country and decide for yourself.
Pura Vida!
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February 27, 2014 at 9:49 pm
GREAT !!!!!!
February 27, 2014 at 10:01 pm
I very much enjoyed reading your post Carole, it made me, “kinda wonder,” if I could live there? I have a friend from high school who moved there several years ago. She loves it. Anyway, I’m happy for you and your honey. See you next post.
Maggie
February 28, 2014 at 1:01 am
Maggie. I KNOW you. YOU can do anything!! Come on down. The weather’s fine!
February 28, 2014 at 2:11 am
Another brilliant piece of writing. You really do make it all come so alive! I want to visit Atenas one of these days. Keep writing!
February 28, 2014 at 2:50 am
Thanks for a more realistic view of retirement/living in Costa Rica. It’s not for everyone and since the “days” when your parents went there,built, etc. the cost of land, building and living has escalated. The Ticos are not so gullible now.
Artenas sounds like a reasonable retirement community for folks fleeing the high cost of living in Calif. and elsewhere .
February 28, 2014 at 3:58 am
I like this piece very, very much. It is fun to read and I am now considering a visit to Costa Rica!
February 28, 2014 at 3:44 pm
Carole ~ Read this while having my morning coffee in FL. This wonderful Blog piece is vibrant, especially for us “visual” folks, & made me really, really homesick for Costa Rica in general, & for our beautiful Atenas in particular! There is one theme that runs throughout this piece–OPTIMISM!! When we change our lifestyle, move–especially to a different country, where we need to be able to merge with a new culture–do anything that many would consider to be “off the charts,” the one main ingredient in the onset of our NEW ADVENTURE must truly be OPTIMISM! You & DonnyK exude it! Thanks for this terrific Blog! C U next week!
March 6, 2014 at 4:30 pm
Hi Carol I finally put the date of my retirement in……end of March…..who knows I may see you before the Reunion in Oct…ha-ha…..love your blogs …..can you add a photo of the casita one of these days……
May 31, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Hi Carol.
Enjoy reading your blog!! DId you end up living in the casita with the pool in Atenas that you saw? If not, did you find a home in a gated community? We are moving to CR soon. I did some research on the climate. National Geographic did not make the claim that Atenas has the best climate in the world. A real estate agency coined the phrase to attract buyers. I have heard that it gets real hot in Atenas. Is that true? We want to live in an area where you don’t need A/C or heat. We’re thinking of Grecia? Do you need A/C in Atenas? Am I right or wrong that A/C is needed? Thanks for your interesting blog!
March 12, 2015 at 7:38 pm
Renee
Check Lake Arenal, you love it here, the weather is so good all year around ,, no need of A/C. Long lasting Tropical Spring!!!
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