I just returned from spending almost one month in the U.S. visiting friends and relatives. My first stop was Seattle where my sister Sallye lives. She retired there about 10 years ago. The area is absolutely beautiful. Everything looks fresh and green with spectacular Mont Rainier looming in the background. Seattle is a very nice city with friendly people. Places like Pike’s Place Market make the emerald city unique.

The summers in are generally warm and the days are long with the sun setting around 9 o’clock. However, the rest of the year leaves a lot to be desired. As much as I love this beautiful area, the cool raining weather, cloudy skies and long dark winter days would make it impossible for me to live there.

After being in Seattle for a couple of weeks I traveled to my old stomping grounds, San Francisco. I lived in San Francisco for many years before I moved to Costa Rica. I remember vividly discovering Costa Rica while living there. As much as I enjoyed the lifestyle of the Bay Area I felt compelled to move because Costa Rica offered so much more for me.

I make it a point to visit San Francisco almost every summer and always have a fantastic time there with my old friends. As nice as it is I feel completely out of place. I guess I have become more Costa Rican than San Franciscan. The city is a lot nicer than when I lived there and there are more things to do, but honestly I have a much better life in Costa Rica. I cashed in my chips, moved from San Francisco, followed my dreams, have been very successful and have had a fairy tale life in Costa Rica.

Many Americans who move to Costa Rica to live or retire have similar experiences. Costa Rica isn’t for everyone but if it “gets under your skin” you won’t want to move back to the States for”all of the tea in China.”.

According to the Costa Rica’s Institute of Tourism during the first six months of this year there were 10 percent more tourists who visited the country this year than in 2009. These figures are encouraging in the face of the world economic picture. Tourism is still down from what it was in 2008. People are more careful with their money and traveling due the events of the last few years.

Costa Rica still continues to be one of Latin America’s top tourist destinations, a prime Baby Boomer retirement haven and a good place for foreigners to invest. This is primarily due to Costa Rica’s stellar reputation abroad. You never here any negative news about the country. On the other hand, most of the other countries in Latin America are associated with negative events. When it comes to Costa Rica the only thing your hear about are the country’s natural wonders, lack of an army with NO external enemies, beautiful beaches and mountains, friendly people, affordable health care and the numerous advantages of retiring and living here. As I have stated before there are more Americans living here proportionately than any other country outside of the U.S.

By the summer of 2012 thousands of locals, retirees and tourists who visit the city of Puntarenas on the Pacific Coast will be able to enjoy a fist-class resort. The resort will feature a huge swimming pool, a small pool for children, restaurants, a convention center and beach access. The facility will be able to accommodate around 1,200 people at one time.

People on my popular relocation/retirement tours often ask about activities to stay busy while living here. The new resort in Puntarenas is just one of the thousands of things to do to stay busy and happy in Costa Rica.

The municipality of San José, Costa Rica recently announced a program to castrate and deworm as many stray dogs and cats as possible. This is in an effort to prevent the spread of diseases and to reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats in the metropolitan area. The local counterpart of the SPCA called la Asociación Nacional Protectora de Animales (ANPA) will also help with this project.

On my popular monthly relocation and retirement tours I am always asked questions about pets in Costa Rica. I make it a point to tell my guests that I know a lot about the subject since I am a dog lover.

Presently, I have two black male Labs. They a really good dogs and I try to take the possible possible care of them. Veterinarians are excellent and charge a fraction of what their counterparts do in the States. They are also easy to find here in the Central Valley. Almost every neighborhood has one.

You can also find your your favorite dog and cat here. We have everything from Purina to Science Diet. The are even a few large pet stores that are similar to the U.S. Chain Pat Co.

By the way, it is not necessary to bring your pet from home since there are several places where retirees can adopt dogs and cats here.

By the end of 2010 there will be a new type of map for properties in all of Costa Rica’s 32 cantones (regiones). People will be able to use maps much like those that Google Earth offers to view aerial photos of properties. The photos will show the features of the property, measurements and type of dwelling on it. In addition, you will be able to find out the value per square meter, area of farms (fincas) and if there is water and electricity nearby. You’ll also be able to know if there is a plan regulador or restrictions which can affect the purchase of property. This system will prove to be a valuable tool for the country’s burgeoning real estate market.

With this new system another layer of protection will be added for retirees and investors to ensure the safe purchase of property in Costa Rica.