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[quote=”DavidCMurray”]
I think that if we can avoid making demands on the CAJA system it’s better for everyone, so if your BC/BS will eventually pay the bills at CIMA or elsewhere, that’s the route I’d take.[/quote]David is right. Simple testa are handled at the local clinics but appointments for things such as X-rays and other major tests ars done only in the hospitals and can be a long wait. Emergencies are handled immediately but non-emergency service takes a back seat usually by appointment within a day.
The doctors and staff are very good.
[quote=”sueandchris”]And the old saying still applies “Location, location, location!” The market in Atenas (in a certain price point) is still moving well. But I still believe that the “turn around” time is longer in Costa Rica.
Maravilla, aren’t you up on the north side of San Ramon??[/quote]
Assuming that the majority of buyers are American unless congress gets over their fear of spending and passes legislation to get job relief things may get a lot slower for sales.
A lot of people are still unsure whether the economy is getting better or not. Comapanies are sitting on more that a trillion $$ waiting for things to pick up and aren’t hiring. There are still more than 19,000,000 unemployed or under amployed.
Not being affected and with not much to contribute I’ve pretty much ignored the Paragon Properties situation.
From the little I have heard I would agree that this is a scam rather than a company folding for legitimate reasons. There seemd to be an effort to keep everyone at arms length while suckering others. If I had the resources (meaning many others involevd) I’d go after them just to see justice done.
Does anyone know where the principles of the company are? Are they untouchable by law? Court cases here are extravagently long running. It would take a pretty intense effort to find others who lost on the deal but not impossible.
Lotus is right, you might be retired before you had a resolution but somebody got rich at a lot of other peoples expense.
My opinion, nothing more.
[quote=”gzeniou”] In any event the more I think about it and read your posts it seems that the only real way to go is to get residency and get the CAJA, as the CAJA won’t deny treatment. I wonder if your willing to pay your own doe combined with the CAJA if you would get better service, like having a private room, you can just pay the difference or paying a little more and getting that MRI quicker, etc.[/quote]
[b]The CAJA hospitals [/b]aren’t able to offer amenities like private rooms due to the number of patients that they serve.
My wife had breast cancer surgery at San Juan de Dios and was in an 8 bed dorm. Upside is that she made some friends while there.
[b]For a long term stay [/b](week or more) you also have to consider that the limitations of socialized medicine means that you supply much of your own needs. Pillows, blankets, toilet paper, bottled water, fan, cup, bath soap, wash cloth, towel. There are no TVs or other entertainment so might want TV or music.
They always provide a spoon when they serve your meals so you might want a fork.[b]We did find the care to be very good[/b].
[quote=”mattn63″] Thanks for the info. I checked out Craigslist, but it didn’t show much. I will be relocating and starting a Technical Services business. I plan to apply for Pensionado residency.[/quote]
Once you get your documents in to Migracion they provide you with a document called “Expediente”. Keep this and your passport with you and get your CR drivers license before your 90 days is up.
The Expedients proves you are in process, the passport identifies you and traffic cops require that you have the drivers license. You will no longer have to leave with these docs.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]In another forum, some folks who have been playing the “perpetual tourist” game (leaving Costa Rica for three days every three months in order to get a new tourist visa) have reported that when they re-enter they’re being given thirty day visas and not ninety day ones.
Has anyone here had that experience?[/quote]
Everyone we know either has their residency or is in process so no one need go.
I dont understand the idea of the perpetual tourist. One foot in and one foot out makes it seem like they can’t make up their minds.
[quote=”jones-jones”]Buying is easier than selling.
If you don’t know where to go: RENT !
Few months here, few months there, nothing to loose….[/quote]
Unless your talking about a hotel, B&B or other short term accommodations the standard lease is three years.
However, my wife and I rented a small two bedroom casita for $300 per month in Rio Oro de Santa Ana for 6 months while waiting for our home to close. We told the owner our situation and we agreed to give up our $300 deposit when we were ready to move. This location would be out of the way for her situation but rentals can be had in areas convenient to the bus system.
Bus fares are about 60 cents and you can reach most areas of the valley within an hour by bus.
With planning you can investigate areas and ask questions about directions to specific areas here. I know that David and Maravilla live on the other side of the valley around the Grecia area while I am on the south side and west of San Jose.
Knowing the climate that you prefer would be helpful. Average temperature in Ciudad Colon is about 21 – 26 C(70 – 80F) Grecia area is somewhat cooler but others can give you specifics about the areas in which they live.
[quote=”natasha”]It is best of you hire a private teacher. Me :D[/quote]
I’ll go along with that idea. Our Spanish teacher is a Tica who has spent a lot of time in the States and Canada. For my wife and I it’s perfect. The Spanish pronunciation is correct and when she teaches our Tico friends English our correction of English pronunciation is accepted and encouraged.
No matter how you figure it a native speaker is the best teacher.[quote=”natasha”]I contacted someone from another site he told me that the best places for me are:
Escazú y San Francisco de Heredia, después siguen Santa Ana, Moravia, Curridabat, Santo Domingo, San Joaquín de Flores, Montes de Oca
Also he said i can live with $920. Is that so?[/quote]The Migracion income requirement is $1,000 minimum.
Escazu, Curridibat are higher priced areas but there are many convenient area whre you can purchase a smaller home or condo for under $100,000. Just don;t jump too fast. Take the time you need to find what you want.[quote=”lavemder”]The scooter we would like to bring is 50cc Honda Ruckus
Do we need registration, insurance, special driver license?
We have Cr driver license for car already.
We thinking to put it into container..
Any suggestions?[/quote]The license for cars is “B” type and the license for motorcycles ia “A” type. You will probably be issues a combination license.
Just as with cars you have to pass the RTV when you arrive and each year thereafter. Marchamo is paid every year before January 1st. Insurance is highly suggested.
[quote=”lavemder”]The scooter we would like to bring is 50cc Honda Ruckus
Do we need registration, insurance, special driver license?
We have Cr driver license for car already.
We thinking to put it into container..
Any suggestions?[/quote]Sond like you are talking about a 2 wheel motor scooter rather than a mobility scooter. The two wheelers are a motorcycle and require a license plate to be driven on the roads. There should also be a requirement for an additional license type. If a definitive answer is not posted today I will inquire of a Tico friend tonight and let you know.
Our mobility scooters are 4 wheel electrics and not intended for road use.
[quote=”lavemder”]Anyone brought scooter from US or Canada?
How much taxes have you paid?
Are you using it? Is it hard to keep it safe and secure?
Thanks for all your help.[/quote]My wife and I shipped two electric disability scooters down in our container of household goods from California. There were no customs duties on them as they are personal items.
We have a small bodega (storeroom) in which we keep them and no, we are not currently using them. We both have issues with walking extended distances but have not used them on a regular basis.
[quote=”DonDiego”]
Don Diego’s comments have been deleted because of VIP Member complaints.
We would ask that you please try to use less offensive language when you decide to share your life philosophy with us in the future Don Diego…
Thank you.
Scott Oliver
Founder WeLoveCostaRica.com[/quote]Don Diego would probably be better served writing a fiction novel than spending his time here. I think most of us have heard his type of posts in bars when we were single.
As the girl said “He said……, I thought…., could you imagine..?”
[quote=”maravilla”]find something to do either together or separately. stay interesting by being interested in many subjects. develop friends separately, not always as a couple. all this retirement togetherness is overrated in my book. there is plenty to do here — there are animal rescue groups that need help; you could teach english at a local university; but what you can’t do is sit around and do nothing. it’s the surest way to kill your marriage, and die young. do you have hobbies? if not, get one. or two. or three, and i don’t mean young ticas. do you speak spanish? if not, take lessons down here from a native speaker. otherwise you will just be another gringo in a strange land.[/quote]
All that Maravilla says is true. If you have an income beyond SSI it is helpful. We don’t but we manage.
My wife and I haven’t had a lot in common for years but we do have our interests. We still talk about things that affect our lives or something new that one of us has discovered
For my wife there is a group called Newcomers with interest groups in the Escazu/Santa Ana area but they come from all over the valley. She is in a book club and she watches TV in the evenings.
.
For myself, improving our property is my main goal. I spand a lot of time on the internet doing research on whatever interests me in the evenings.Together we go out to eat at the local Tico sodas but not much more than that. Saturday mornings we have a Tica to help with Spanish.
It was much harder for my wife to adjust and I needed to be aware that she needs help in this direction with transportation and suggestions.
40% of the wives go back to the States without their husbands. Don’t let yourselves fall into that trap. Help her find and fulfill her interests.
A word of caution…every Tica out there that is willing to spend time with you has a first interest in bettering life for her and her kids. They can get into your wallet faster than a pickpocket. Nice to look at and have a conversation with but leave it at that.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]Lots of unhappy ‘temporary residents’, Pensionado and Rentistas, out here, right now, since they cannot buy a gun for the protection of their families.
And their opinion…[i]it sucks![/i][/quote]When you live in an area where there are many expats I suppose there are problems with armed invaders.
Over the last couple of years I’ve had a couple of instances of ladrones visiting the property. I have found them to be cowardly and unarmed and probably drunks or druggies looking to pay for their next fix.
I’m about 5’7″ and weigh 64k soaking wet but when I exit the house they are gone in a flash. There is a reason for this which works just as well with armed men. We have accumulated four dogs in the 25k to 30k weight range that are on the scene with me.
You may have a gun and you may get into a shootout with the invaders but I will guarantee you that a dog is more intimidating to a Tico than a gun.
