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.”.