Nine years ago, we came to the southern pacific zone of Costa Rica for a vacation and fell in love with the place. We were totally charmed by its’ unique blend of vibrant nature and sophistication that we have not found anywhere else in the world. Where else can you see monkeys, sloths and macaws from your patio during the day AND eat at a gourmet restaurant at night?
Suffice to say, two months later we bought a property and started to build a house. At first, we spent weeks, and now, months. Currently, we spend about half the year in our tropical paradise.
During our time here we have seen folks come and go. Many fall in love, like us, and attempt to move to a country that they know little about. We have noticed that the most successful transitions are realistic and have a plan.
Here is how to avoid the most common mistakes:
- Go gradually. Come and spend time here. Rent first, in different spots. Extend your stays long enough to have a taste of “the real life”. Don’t burn your bridges.
- Make sure you have enough money for your project. Expect that it will cost you at least 20 % more than planned. (BTW that is true everywhere in the world!).
- Pick your location wisely. That lot up in the mountain where you have the spectacular view might be in the clouds and hardly accessible half of the year. Your needs are not the same if you are going to spend only the dry season here than if you plan a complete relocation. Elevation will also determine the temperature and proximity to the beach. Define what is important to you.
- Have enough income to be able to enjoy life. Life is not cheap in Costa Rica and it’s not because you live in paradise that you won’t want to travel to other countries, go on a shopping spree or visit your relatives at home. Currencies fluctuate and many pensioners have suffered a loss of spending power over the years. One or two cabinas can bring you a complementary income but are not enough to make a decent living (especially that now everyone seems to be doing it). Anything related to tourism is very slow for a large portion of the year. I work online and can earn the same income when I am here than when I am in Canada. That is the ideal.
- Get involved and keep yourself busy. Chilling out and drinking beer all day is great when you are on vacation, but that will rapidly loose it’s charm if it becomes a way of life. While I work on my computer, my husband takes care of his cacao and tree plantation. We also invested in a local business, where we feel part of the community. We keep ourselves busy and reward ourselves weekly. Life, even in paradise, is one where hard work merits reward.
About the Writer
Francine Boissonault is a Canadian living every snowbird’s dream in Costa Rica. She has three grown children, her husband Francois, of more than thirty years, and a lifelong career to be proud of and one that is still in the works
