What is it that draws us to the seashore? What is this power that attracts us and increases real estate values? I have traveled much of the coast of my adopted home country, and quite a bit of the world. The beaches always entice. Whether to walk, meditate, do yoga, jog, surf, wade—you will find humanity drawn to the shores for a mental reset. To better understand, I asked an expert.
I no longer make resolutions specifically for the new year. After all, you can decide to do something better for yourself any time, not just on January 1. I have found, however, that making resolutions or reaching goals of any kind is easier in Costa Rica. Whether it's for the mind, body, or soul.
Living in a foreign country has its challenges—any expat will tell you that. Most of us downsize when we move to Costa Rica. You don't need a lot of "stuff" here. There are some things, however, that you don't want to live without—items that add a little comfort, and essentials you need for survival.
One of my annual to-do's Stateside was to have my teeth cleaned with my long-held dentist. I've done that for the last five years. After all, he had all my records and was inexpensive by North American standards. I also—thankfully—have not had any dental emergencies that required me to seek out a Costa Rican dentist.
As another hurricane season nears its end, Mother Nature's awe-inspiring (and occasionally deadly) acts remain top-of-mind for many. The good news is, in Costa Rica hurricanes are not a major concern. Although we have a Caribbean shoreline, it is extremely rare to see a tempest weather maker this far south below the "hurricane belt."
One marvelous example of a native heritage that can be known is found in the Boruca. This indigenous tribe is located in the far south Pacific corner of Costa Rica. About 2,000 of these indomitable people remain there on protected, reserved lands.
In the near decade since Madeline traded her home city of Portland, Oregon, for the sunnier shores of Costa Rica, she’s used yoga to sustain herself physically, emotionally, and financially.
When Jeanne Cordes discovered Costa Rica, she was living on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina with a successful real estate business. As a single parent raising two teenage boys, the family took adventure vacations at Christmas break and trips that fed their love of surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, sport fishing, tennis, golf, and horseback riding on the beach.
Anecdotal stories are fun, but facts and actual numbers are the real deal. So, I did a big comparison of the cost of groceries, so I would know the truth of it. I did it just for me, since, well...I'm a nerd about these things. However, I'm going to share my findings with you—as it really is "insider" information.
While working at a small architecture firm in the U.S., Trevor Berkowitz had no idea that one day the job would bring him to Costa Rica. But when a job opportunity to design a housing community arose there, he jumped at the opportunity.