So many people have asked so many questions – which isn’t at all surprising. Two people, years away from retirement age, with a flourishing business in one of the hottest, booming US cities, pack up and move to Costa Rica for a year. That’s bound to cause some head-scratching.

In an effort to answer most of the common questions, here is a list of things you might be wondering.

Where did this idea come from?

Dave and I have been trying to figure out just when this idea was first hatched. We aren’t positive, but it was very early on in our marriage – maybe 2003 or so. Likely from reading a book or an article in Forbes or something about saving for retirement – we learned that moving to a Latin American country was a great way to make your money go further. From there, we began looking into various countries and the pros and cons of each, and began saving our pennies so the dream would someday be a reality.

Costa Rica bubbled to the top of the list pretty early on and it’s kept it’s position, despite the fact that prices have gone up and up since we first considered a move.

Why Costa Rica?

Many reasons, really. Here is the short list:

• Costa Rica is a peaceful nation and is one of only 23 countries with no army. (It was the first to country to disband its army – back in 1948.)
• When you don’t spend money on a military, you have more money to spend on healthcare and education. Last I checked, the infant mortality rate in CR was on par with the US and the literacy rate (depending on who you believe) is better in CR. ***The CIA World Fact Book claims the US has a 99% literacy rate. Hmm…I’m not buying that.
• Costa Rica has a similar climate as Hawaii and there is very little variance. Average high is 80 and average low is 64 – every month of the year. The real variance come from area of the country and not month of the year.
• The entire country of Costa Rica is about the size of West Virginia. But yet it has several very distinct geographical regions.

  

  The Central Valley is a large and fertile land surrounded by mountains. 70% of the country’s population resides here. If you explore these highlands you will experience many diverse micro climates.

  The Northern Lowlands are known for their picturesque villages that welcome many tourists year round. The small town of La Fortuna is a favorite among visitors due to its proximity to the Arenal Volcano (about 6 km).

  The Central Pacific extends across the Pacific Coast, from Guanacaste to the border of Panama. The Central Pacific region has a climate that is both dry and wet dependent on area.

  The North Pacific has some of the most spectacular and unique beaches in the country.

  The Caribbean Coast is where the Caribbean Sea and the rainforest come together. There are several white sand beaches and clear crystalline waters. Around a quarter of the Caribbean coast is protected.

  The South Pacific is a fundamental part of Costa Rica’s geography in terms of biodiversity due to its maritime topography.

• The people of Costa Rica (who proudly refer to themselves as Ticos or Ticas) are, by in large, very warm, friendly and accepting of foreigners.  Even those who speak Spanish like a toddler (thank goodness!).
• Even though the prices are climbing, it is still possible to live on less than you can in the US, assuming you are willing to make some changes (aka – sacrifices).
• Healthcare here is extremely affordable. We can visit a doctor here, without insurance, and the visit isn’t likely to cost more than $50. X-rays, tests, procedures, while we hope to avoid them, are also significantly less expensive. After the sticker shock we had when Dave left HP and we were on our own for insurance, this was a huge plus for us!

Why now?

The health insurance bill was a defining moment for us. We were toying with the idea, as I said, for years. But all along, our goal was to be here when I turn 40 and Dave turns 50 (a few years off still). But one day I said to Dave, “Let’s just go to CR now. Give it a try for 6 months and see if we really want to live there.” To my surprise, my level-headed Leo hubby agreed the idea was a good one. Then the insurance quote sealed the deal.

Why are you house-sitting/care-taking/running a B&B?

Our friends Mike and Lisa (who were our first friends to come see us in CR) have done some housesitting and raved about it. Last Christmas, they spent 6 weeks in CR doing just that, and I decided we should have dinner and talk shop.

The four of us dined, chatted, and the following day, Lisa began sending emails about house sitting gigs in CR that weren’t right for them, but might be right for us. The second one she sent was for a year. I asked Dave if we should go for it and he said, “Why not?” I sent an email and told our story, figuring it was a long shot, and got an email back just moments later saying they liked us and wanted to hear more. After a phone call, all four of us were excited and it was off to the races from there.

For us, house-sitting is perfect because it allows us to experience living here, with far less expense and very little risk. Experienced, responsible and flexible house-sitters are in far greater demand, all over the world, than I ever realized. But once we started digging into it, we found ample opportunities. In fact, if we continue to enjoy this nomadic lifestyle, we could carry on for much longer term than just a year. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

What did you have to do to prepare for the move?

After the phone call with Edmund and Gwen, we had to move quickly. The call was on May 28th and I landed in Costa Rica on June 21st. 3.5 weeks to make a radical life change. It was a challenge, that’s for sure! Especially considering we had a business to run at the same time. But obviously, we made it happen and to be honest, it’s all a blur.

It helped that Dave was 2 weeks behind me and could wrap things up. But here are the things we had to do/take care of before leaving: list our condo for rent (which included arranging a photographer, listing it various places on the internet, keeping the place clean for showings, setting up a property manager, and finding someone to move in), sell our two cars, empty out the condo (though we rented it furnished, so that helped, but it still ended up being the largest portion of work and included listing 30 or so items on Craigslist and approximately 15 trips to Goodwill), set up a mail forwarding solution, find a home for our dogs (our awesome neighbor Elsa offered to keep them for us for the year and we are SO grateful!), hand over our real estate business, pack for a year in CR (I’m proud, and still astonished, that we each only took 2 suitcases and a carry-on), and say our good-bye’s, which was hands-down, the hardest part! And puts a lump in my throat just typing it.

Where are you, exactly?

Going from general to most specific, this is where we are: Costa Rica, Gunancaste (the province, which is like a state), Nandayure (the canton, which is like a county), Pueblo Nuevo (the closest town to the B&B). Some other geopraphical notes: we are on the Nicoya Peninsula (one of just 5 famous Blue Zones – which I will write about more very soon!). We are in the Pacific Dry Forest – which is characterized by a very wet rainy season followed by severe drought and is a very unique environment for Central America).

There is a mostly gravel and pothole filled road that connects the beach towns along the Pacific coast of the Nicoya Peninsula and the Rhodeside Bed and Breakfast is along this road. On a busy day, I’d estimate 15 cars pass by, mostly locals. We also have buses and huge trucks that come by, and sometimes get stuck. We also share the road with  cattle, oxen, chickens and dogs. The howlers stay off the roads themselves, instead preferring the power lines or the trees.

What is close by?

We are a 30 minute walk to the closest beach (Playa Bejuco), a 7 minute drive to a better beach (Playa San Miguel), a 1 mile walk to the closest store, but you will pay a premium shopping here and it’s pretty sparse. We do all our big shopping in Carmona, which is an hour drive over 3 mountains, or some folks make the long drive into San Jose from time to time to really get stocked up and to find better prices at PriceSmart (like Costco). It’s a 4 hour drive (on a good day), so most of the time people ride together and make a full day of it.

Gas is expensive and so are cars. Locals are smart and generally ride a moto (motorcycle or dirt bike). If I were a braver woman, I might consider this mode of transportation. Perhaps my courage will build with time. The bus is a very affordable option. At 2:30am, the bus passes by our house and we can hop on, make one transfer and in 7 hours, we’ll be in San Jose. It’s a much longer travel day and perhaps not as comfortable. It’s hot here and air conditioning is positively not happening, but if you get lucky enough to sit by a functioning window, you’ve hit the lottery! Why would anyone opt for this? It’s $10. And beyond that, it’s interesting and it’s what the locals do, so if you have the time, I say, why not?

What do people and tourists in the area do for fun?

Going to the beach is a big one. The beaches in our neck of the woods are gorgeous and very unpopulated – usually beaches only match one of those two criteria. White sand, great waves, warm water makes it ideal for any beach lover. People love to surf here and on neighboring beaches.

There are mangroves you can kayak through, trees you can zipline between, lots of nature to enjoy, learn about and take tours through. A highlight for us was the Butterfly Tour, which is hosted by our neighbor and friend Butterfly Mike. It was the most interesting two hours we have spent in ages – so much to learn! I’m positive I could do that tour every week for a year and learn something new each time and never get tired of it! The area also has opportunities for yoga retreats, guided hikes and tours, ATV rentals, mountain biking, horseback riding, and there is a Macaw sanctuary close by where you can watch an afternoon feeding and learn about the beautiful birds.

Once you’ve been here for a day or two, you begin to slow down. Your breathing quiets, your mind get calm and suddenly you find you can just sit on the porch in a swing or a rocking chair and spend hours simply watching the world move around you. The birds, the chickens, the horses, the lizards, the howlers, the coatimundi, the geckos, the butterflies, even the spiders are good for an hour of entertainment as they spin a web with delicate and precision execution.

Are there snakes?

Yes, we really were asked this question. More than once. Yes, there are snakes! This is the jungle, friends, and it is full of all sorts of critters. Some are venomous and dangerous (or peligroso – a very good Spanish word to learn!) but others are benign. All are to be respected and for the most part, if you do this, they will keep their distance. They aren’t crazed serial killers, on the hunt for their next victim. But if you sneak up on them and give them a scare, you will likely regret it. The world is not a zoo. The animals here are in their natural habitat – which they are kind enough to share. I try to remember this, and it seems to help.

Is Costa Rica what you expected it to be?

The answer is, no. I had no idea what to expect. Nothing in our life here resembles life in Austin. It’s a complete 180. Which is precisely what we were looking for. I’ve learned an incredible amount in just three weeks. About life, humanity, myself…chickens. 🙂 Every day offers something and someone new. Not all the surprises are awesome, but they all offer a lesson. Which I believe is true wherever you are on the planet. I’d say Costa Rica has been a great training ground for surrendering and letting go. The idea that you can control anything, is an illusion. One that was causing me more stress than I even realized. I was fairly certain that if I worked hard enough and kept all my ducks lined up, that things would always go just as I wanted them to. Putting yourself in an environment where everything is new is the perfect place to release the need to be in charge. And guess what, it’s tons of fun living in the moment and embracing whatever happens to be around the corner. Our daily life and our environment are totally new, but I’d say the mental shifts have offered the biggest changes.

How can you afford this adventure?

This question, or some derivative of it has been asked by everyone – out loud, or in their heads. 🙂 The short answer is, we have lived the last 12 years of our lives, essentially, preparing for this. I know, super vague, right!?!

OK, here is the longer version. Dave and I were blessed to have each had successful careers with jobs that paid well. Not CEO salaries, by any stretch. But we have always enjoyed an abundance. (If you really get me going on this subject, you would be in for a very long earful). Not to get too woo woo on you, but we believe that abundance is a mindset, first and foremost, and that you get from this life precisely what you expect to get. Having said that, I also COMPLETELY believe in the African proverb that says, “When you pray, move your feet.” It is not enough to just believe in abundance, you must live your life in a way that allows your dreams to be realized.

For us, that has meant getting rid of all debt (besides mortgage) and living as far below our means as we comfortably could. We have saved and invested a sizable portion of our income since we first were married and got the credit card and student loan debt paid off. We agreed, early on, that we did not want to work forever, and as I said earlier, it has been our goal since day 1 to “semi-retire” by my 40th and Dave’s 50th birthday. So there is perhaps another big clue into what worked for us. Having a goal we both agree on and structuring our life and decisions around that point.

I can hear those of you with kiddos yelling…AND YOU DON’T HAVE KIDS! True. And therefore we don’t have the associated costs that come from modern-day parenthood.

And finally, the million dollar question:

Do you think you will come back after a year?

That is a very good question. The truth is, we have no idea! But after less than a month here, I can tell you that life is good! So good! I loved our life in Austin too! We both did! We had a great business that was really only getting started. I have no doubt we could have built an incredibly successful real estate business and made a ton of cash. But here is the thing. When I really think about the reasons we worked so hard and were willing to put in the long hours and put up with the constant hassles and frustrations that running any business involves, I can honestly say I wasn’t motivated by the money itself. I don’t know about you, but for us, money equals freedom.

Being in Costa Rica has redefined freedom. We work harder here than we ever worked, but the work is different. It’s difficult to put into words – I discover as I sit here trying to explain this. I am reminded of this story of the Mexican fisherman who is visited by an American investment banker. Do you know this one? If not, here you go:

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.  Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna.  The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.” The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos.  I have a full and busy life.” The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”

To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”

“But what then?”, asked the fisherman.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part.  When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions!”

“Millions? – then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire.  Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

That story really resonates with us, and is precisely why we will continue to live modestly while enjoying the riches around us. Good friends, good conversation, breath-taking sunrises, cooling rain showers, exotic wildlife and daily life that will never be dull or easy. That is how we define paradise. This is freedom. Or as the locals say, pura vida!

That doesn’t answer the question, I realize. I guess you’ll just have to keep reading the weekly blog to see what’s next for us!