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[quote=”sueandchris”] We are just three weeks away from our move to Costa Rica. I guess I feel that the pleasure of living and being challenged by a different culture will probably outweigh my few concerns. But those concerns would be:
Theft….it seems to be pervasive and we will take some steps to secure the things we would not wish to have to replace. We too hope to become good neighbors in our little town and perhaps folks will help us with good advice.[/quote]
One thing to remember is that theft, much of the time, is self inflicted.
Living in a community of expats invites the professional thieves. They become familiar with the communities and watch for an opportunity.
The drunks and drugies are thieves of opportunity looking for their next fix and usually steal what they can find, carry on foot and sell.
The former are apt to have firearms but not the latter. Good neighbors and dogs, big dogs, are a deterrent but bars and gates not so much. Lock your doors at night and when you are away. Try not to set a pattern in your absences. Realize that the crime rate is probably less than in the US.[quote=”sueandchris”]Another friend who lives there advised to accept the reality and then stop dwelling on the issue. Good advice for probably most thorny problems.[/quote]
Thorns are a part of life. Patience is necessary and I am still learning that.[quote=”sueandchris”]Language….to work on becoming at least conversational so as to have a deeper experience with life in Costa Rica.[/quote]
Professionals and those who sre well educated usually speak some English but day to day I still have a helper along who understands my particular version of Spanglish. The Spanish language is spoken too rapidly and many Ticos do not understand the concept of “despacio” (slowly).
[quote=”sueandchris”]To accept the extreme challenge (and long-desired dream) to “learn to be still”.[/quote]
It does require a sense of adventure and life is lived at a slower pace but, for me, there is always something else that prohibits the “be still”.
[quote=”sueandchris”]Making new friends, ex-pat and Tico.[/quote]
Friends and patience are two keys to enjoying a beautiful country and its friendly people..
[quote=”ltchida”]We are not yet in CR. and we look forward to embracing the enchantments of this place, our concern would be…
incidental, unexpected expenses related to ourselves and children in the USA. For example if one of our children wanted to visit and they are short on money, will we be in a position to help them out. More realistically, can we handle some of the major tragedies that come in life.[/quote]When my wife and I first visited Costa Rica we knew we were home. Nothing else mattered.
As Maravilla pointed out, 40% find that they can’t deal with Costa Rica and go back within 2 years.[quote=”maravilla”]i hate cucas. they get in no matter what! and if you leave your clothes on the floor, well, just be sure to rustle them before you put them on or you could be in for a big surprise. i don’t have a clue where they come from or how they get in, but they do, even with all the boric acid balls i leave around and the stuff i spray outside the doors. i wish i had cats. my dogs are useless.[/quote]
We’ve seen many adoption ferias for dogs but never cats. If you are serious inquire at the local agrocentro.
[quote=”maravilla”] if you mind cohabitating with insect life, you better not move here. it’s you against them, and if the cats eat a few thousand thumb-size cucarachas, so what?[/quote]
The down side is they bring them into the house to dine and we are left with cleaning up all the left over legs.[quote=”maravilla”]every day is a spanish lesson in costa rica. do not underestimate the importance of being able to communicate in spanish. without the language, you are missing out on the very essence of living here.[/quote]
This is the Tico society and we make every effort to fit in. Concern for domestic animals is something that sets us gringos apart from the majority of Ticos. Too many times we have seen dogs confined to a yard too small or tied to a one ft chain and, along with cats, underfed or in obvious need of veterinary care. Most Ticos look at them as possessions rather than companions. The payback is the incredible loyalty of the animals.
[quote=”maravilla”]my biggest worry about living in costa rica is that there will be way too many gringos which will change the fabric of the culture, as i have already seen it do in the 5.5 years i’ve been here. the only encouraging thing is that 40% of them hightail it home in less than two years.[/quote]
The 40% are those who find it too difficult to fit within the Tico culture. We are still left with many who rather than tring to fit in are intent on making this culture conform to them.
[quote=”Conniejog”]So, your cats kill whatever they like and Nature in Costa Rica suffers for your presence.
I think that is sad.[/quote]The reference was to [b]bugs[/b]. They seem to have a special liking for the large insects primarily those nice big fat cockroaches that make a nice [b]crunch[/b].
These are cats we found on the streets in need of food and a home.:D
What we can do is catch a few of them for you and let you work on saving the species.:roll:[quote=”badi@badi.net”]I am planning to live in Costa Rica for a few months as a prelude of moving for good. Is there any relationship between the banks in Costa Rica and the US banks? Can one’s US bank account be somehow connected to an account in Costa Rica for the purpose of withdrawal and other financial functions?
Your advice will be greatly appreciated.[/quote]I have yet to feel the need for a Costa Rican bank. I bank exclusively in the US. No problem in accessing the cash I need at the ATM’s unless it is a large amount (over 500,000 colones) then it takes multiple days.
I also pay my bills through the US bank.
[quote=”sstarkey”]
1. Bugs
2. Big Bugs
3. Hairy, Big Bugs
4. Killer, Hairy Big Bugs
5. Hungry, Killer, Hairy Big BugsThat’s all I can think of at the moment.[/quote]
We have six cats that feast on all five types of bugs you mentioned…spiders too.
[quote=”1598ukusa”] :shock:To bar, or not to bar, that is one question.[/quote]
What I have found is that Tico friends are all important. They usually know who the local ladrones are. The problem with living in an area with a high population of expats is that it draws outsiders looking to rob.
[quote=”1598ukusa”] We’re in the process of selling off the valuables, even our gold wedding sets, to reduce the effect if we are targetted. I expect it, as a newbie. Everyone makes mistakes in a new place. As long as it just takes $$ to fix & not a hospital visit for GBH, it’s not much of a problem in my opinion.[/quote]
I brought a ton of construction tools with me, many of them smaller items. These would be easy to transport and sell and generally the target of local ladrones. These types do not carry guns as a norm.
When we had problems early on I walked the property at night with a couple of machetes. Now we have four dogs that we found needing homes and the Ticos are deathly afraid of them. It took months for the neighbors to be accustomed to the dogs responding to anyone who comes near the property.[quote=”1598ukusa”]No, we’re not rich. We’ll have an adequate income to live modestly & be able to buy a house.
Would it make sense to leave the house open on the edge of Grecia, say, & let’em grope around w/out needing to break something to get in & have a look?[/quote]David and Maravilla will probably respond to your questions regarding the area around Grecia/San Ramon. I am on the other side of the valley and we have no bars or gates. Locking the doors while you are away is always a good idea but the best prevention is your Tico neighbors. Make friends with them as quickly as possible.
[quote=”1598ukusa”]Other concerns- are the buses really good, or must we have a car to shop?[/quote]
In our area we can count on a bus every 30 minutes or so. We live 200 meters from the bus terminal in Colon.[quote=”1598ukusa”]Is it easy to find Spanish classes?[/quote]
Again, David & Marvilla know that area.
[quote=”1598ukusa”]How easy is it to find a non-moldy, well-sited,simple 2BR-2BA at 5,000 Ft? We’re altitude people (Denver).[/quote]
My wife and I are Denver natives with the last 19 years in LA. Ciudad Colon is at 2900ft. The temperature is around 70-80 year round but the humidity is higher than I like.
Mold is something you live with in the tropics. Bleach or a mild solution of Muratic acid is best control.
[quote=”1598ukusa”] Boy, are we sorry we weren’t ready to hop on that great farm in Lourdes that just sold! It looked like our dream place…[/quote]
As far as buying, take your time. Living here can tell you a lot more than we can. The culture is different. Americans are results oriented and Ticos are process oriented and everything procedes at Tico time…slowly. Documentation for everything must be perfect. If one i is not dotted or one t not crossed can cause a lot of problems.
The country is beautiful and the people are friendly and helpful.[quote=”2BNCR”] Professional incompetence, including doctors especially lawyers, vetinarians and pharmacists.[/quote]
We have resolved all of these problems, some with luck.
We have a very good Caja doctor, pharmicist and attorney and a good vet.[quote=”2BNCR”]The gap between the haves and the have nots
Western materialism corrupting traditional values, disconnecting more and more Tico from their historic ties to agricultural, and living off the land.
US feminism and the degradations of motherhood.
Rampant uncontrolled development that has degraded the environment through unfinished inappropriate projects that stand as testimony to greed.[/quote]
I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment but lets lay the blame for these problems where it belongs.
Many of the problems that expats face are problems that are a result of the actions (greed) of those who have come before us and some who are still here. Some are self inflicted.This is a macho society and it is we who are guests in Costa Rica and we need to be aware of the differences in culture. If you don’t fit in with the community you are asking for problems that can be avoided.
[quote=”rosiemaji”] Even though we enjoy our beautiful simple farm in the mountains outside of San Isidro with spring water, fresh air and the absence of traffic noise, I have some concerns about our ability to continue our serene lifestyle in Costa Rica. You asked for it. Below are my 5 main concerns. They are the result of experience in Costa Rica not just fear of the unknown:[/quote]
Let me preface my remarks by saying that we have lived in Costa Rica for only 2 ½ years. When we first arrived we spoke no Spanish and communication was a problem. We are now able to communicate and the Ticos know who we are and treat us fairly.
[quote=”rosiemaji”]1. Security of possessions. No matter how good the locks on the doors, locals with criminal intent will find a way to break in when you are gone. We filed a police report but the police did nothing to look for him.[/quote]
Locks are, and always have been, for honest people. We have no gates, no bars and no security doors. We live among the Ticos and consider them our friends who watch for the ladrones. We had a few problems when we first moved to our home but what was taken had little value. We suspect a drunk or druggie looking for their next high.
[quote=”rosiemaji”]2. Police target gringos with parking fines carrying exorbitant fees. They give tickets (with exorbitant fines) to gringos for characteristics about a car (such as UV protective film on back windows) that has passed the state required inspection for several years in a row. They will ticket gringos for exceeding the speed limit slightly (again with exorbitant fines) and ignore the Ticos who go whizzing by.[/quote]
I have received two parking tickets since moving here. One was issued while my vehicle was unattended and the other by an officer in person. Both tickets were deserved and the fines were each 5,000 colones (under $10.00). I was treated with respect by the ofrficer.
RTV is concerned only with the safe operation of the vehicle and has nothing to do with the tinting of windows.
I do not know what the law regarding darkly tinted windows is but I have pointed out before that dark window tinting presents a problem to police officers in that they cannot know what they may face if they cannot see into the vehicle when they initiate a stop. If the back windows are tinted so that you cannot see into the vehicle I would opt for a lighter tint.[quote=”rosiemaji”]3. The legal system is set up to favor Ticos to the disadvantage of gringos and the police refuse to follow court orders to recover stolen property. Justice is not applied in a uniform manner and is not commensurate with the seriousness of the crime.[/quote]
This is a matter of perspective. I cannot judge your experience not knowing the circumstances but the use of a competent attorney is always advisable. In my experience there are many attorneys who are lackadaisical in their work or downright incompetent. It took trial and error but I was able to find one who I consider one of the best.
[quote=”rosiemaji”]4. Increased influence of drugs on crime in cities and in the countryside. Ticos and police most often just look the other way.[/quote]
This is becoming a problem in larger cities everywhere due to the transience of shoppers and others there is little sense of community. In our community there is little drug use due to proactive awareness. The closer knit a community is the less this is problem.
[quote=”rosiemaji”]5. Costa Rica is no longer considered a place to retire cheaply due to law changes that exclude those making modest incomes and exorbitant increases for various services, taxes and fees.[/quote]
Inflation is a fact of life. It is no different here than it is in the US. Property taxes and the cost of services is continually rising and we expect to pay for those increases as we did in the US. We live on our Social Security income as well. What affects us affects the family that lives with us equally. We do not see the government as “out to get the gringos”. What we do see is Ticos assuming that all gringos are wealthy and trying to charge higher rates for their work. I keep a copy of the minimum wage scale and pay accordingly. If a man is well experienced we expect to pay for that experience.
[quote=”Scott”]I can’t believe you guys are not talking about this?
Yo saw last week’s news with 46 US warships and 7,000 US Marines on their way to Costa Rica?
[ http://www.nacion.com/2010-07-02/ElPais/NotasSecundarias/ElPais2431541.aspx ]
On the 2nd July 2010 the Costa Rica Congress authorized the entry of 46 U.S. warships capable of carrying 200 helicopters and warplanes, plus 7,000 U.S. Marines “who may circulate the country in uniform without any restrictions” , plus submarine killer ships to the Costa Rican coast for “counternarcotics operations and humanitarian missions’ between 1st July 2010 until 31st December 2010.
But seriously, what do you think is going on?[/quote]
Sounds to me like the Costa Rican congress has become as stupid as the US congress.
How many Americans were involved in the last drug busts against the narco trafficers?
Misplaced is an understatement. More like the US has found out what a decent place Costa RIca is and plans a takeover.
Lets see…thats 1200 National Guardsmen for Mexican border patrol and 7,000 marines for Costa Rica. Something doesn’t sound right to me.
[quote=”jenny”]So many people have mentioned that they would like to own a B&B. This forum gives so much good information I thought it would be great to start a topic on B&B ownership in CR.
Here in CR owning a business can be expensive. In the US if you own a B&B you do not have to hire employees, you can do the work. Here in CR it is illegal for you to do the work other then what is needed for management. There are no discount supply houses to puchase supplies from, the cost of doing business is very high and getting higher, plus it is more competitive. Expedia the online reservation service is gobbling up small B&B’s. You can really cause yourself a lot of trouble by signing on to companies like B&B.com which is now owned and operate by Expedia. Online advertisement is very important and can be very costly. If you are not an expert in marketing, trying to set up online marketing can be a problem. My advice is that you should really talk to some B&B owners prior to making a decision about opening a B&B in Costa Rica.[/quote]
What a mouthful.
A friend of mine ownes a B&B 1 1/2 blocks below Teatro Nacional who does business only by word of mouth. He is listed on B&B.com and basically gets no response from them.He tells me that the package tour outfits have taken over much of the market and the economic downturn has made things worse. Additionally the market is overloaded with B&B operations.
When I first came to Costa Rica I set up everything myself (accommodations, car rental w/cellular, appointments and meetings). I imagine that the percentage of tourists who are willing to do this is not very high but that is where the B&B business comes from.
Ten years ago business was good for the B&B’s and every mothers son started getting into it. There is a lot of competition for what little business is to be had and it is a tough business to be in.
In my mind I would think that B&B owners in various areas would be better served to form a cooperative covering Costa Rica with their own web site.
[quote=”alexander69″]What are the forum members currently paying your caretakers? I know this is a broad question but I need a gauge. What is fair for a landscaper, housekeeper, pool person? I have been told everything from 900 colones to 2000 colones per hour. Any advice/input on this subject? I do not need a full time caretaker. So I may need to pay each individual for each job. Thank you in advance for your advice. Alexander[/quote]
The minimum wages are set bythe Ministerio de Trabajo and you can find their minimum wage scale for just about everything at:
[url=http://www.ministrabajo.go.cr/documentos/pdf%202009/salario%20primer%20semestre%202009.pdf]http://www.ministrabajo.go.cr/documentos/pdf%202009/salario%20primer%20semestre%202009.pdf[/url][quote=”mattn63″]Hello,
I am researching moving to Costa Rica and can’t seem to find a good listing of home rentals by area.
Thanks,
Matthew[/quote]Try this site: [url=http://avenidaclassifieds.com/?s=rent]http://avenidaclassifieds.com/?s=rent[/url]
