October is the worst month for weather in Costa Rica.

About ten days ago we had a few days of torrential rains which causes a lot of damage around the country. The soil here tends to be less rocky than in the States so it is more easily eroded. On top of that, because it can rain copiously during the rainy season the country’s predominantly asphalt roads fall into a state of disrepair. September, October and the beginning of November are usually the most rainy months. Whenever there is a hurricane in the Caribbean we get a lot of rain but fortunately none of the hurricane force winds.

If you decide to live, work or retire in Costa Rica there are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of being adversely affected by the rain. Don’t live near a river or in a basin (low area that tends to flood). Also, be careful where you build your home if you live in a mountainous area. Have a soil study done, study the drainage of the area and make sure access road are in good shape and not prone to wash outs. That million dollar view you have my turn into a million dollar nightmare if you don’t do your research before you build or purchase a home. In addition, be very careful when driving during rain storms. At times rain is so intense that it can make visibility difficult. Whatever you do, avoid driving at night in rural areas when it is raining hard.

November marks the transition from the rainy to dry season here. Typically mornings are very cold in the Central Valley and the days are windy. In fact, at times December and January can seem like the “windy season” instead of the dry season or summer.

Many of the clients on my monthly relocation/retirement tours ask about the weather. Like other tropical places, Costa Rica only has two seasons. The summer, or verano, is generally from late December to April with March and April being the warmest months of the year. The rainy season or invierno, runs from May to November. January is usually the coolest month. At times, there is an unseasonably dry spell or Indian summer either in July, August or September. The Costa Ricans call this pause in the rainy weather, veranillo, or “little summer.” A relatively dry period at the end of July is referred to as canícula when there is a respite in the May to November rains. Light rains mixed with sunshine characterize this period, which can sometimes extend into August.

Remember this rule of thumb in the tropics that the lower the elevation the warmer the weather. On the other hand, the higher you go the cooler the weather. The weather at Jacó Beach, for example, the markedly different from that of the mountains above the city of Heredia. The latter is cool and alpine-like with pine and cypress tress while the former is hot, humid and has tropical vegetation.

Retirees should not let the rain deter them from moving to Costa Rica. There are a variety of indoor activities available during the rainy season. The country’s many museums, theaters, malls, movies, casinos, roller skating rinks, Internet cafés and other indoor activities will more than keep you busy when it rains.

Last week I attended the Association of Residents of Costa Rica’s monthly seminar. The seminar is an integral part of my monthly relocation and retirement tours. During the coffee break I was chatting to one of the lectures who has a moving business in Tampa, Florida. He is based in Costa Rica and his daughter runs his Florida operation. Periodically my friend Charlie has to travel to Florida to oversee his business. He told me that recently his daughter got sick and had to see a doctor in Florida. Unfortunately his daughter cannot get medical insurance there, so she had to pay for the a doctor’s visit and a blood test out of her own pocket.

The doctor charged $300 dollars and the blood test cost about $800 dollars. In Costa Rica a specialist at private hospital like the Clínica Bíblica, for example, charges between $50 and $80 per visit. A complete battery of blood tests runs around $350. This is a bargain when you compare it to what my friend’s daughter had to pay in the United States because she had no insurance.

First-rate affordable medical care is just one of the magnets that attracts foreign retirees to Costa Rica. The country is also a Mecca for health tourism. People flock here for joint replacement, dental implants and cosmetic surgery because of the low prices.

Despite “official end” end of the recession more than a year ago, life remains drab for a large portion of the population: Nearly half of the people in the U.S. aren’t living what they would call the “American Dream,” according to a new survey out this week.

StrategyOne, part of the Daniel J. Edelman public relations firm, surveyed 1,008 Americans and found 48% of those polled answered “no” when asked: “Are you living the American Dream today?”

In households earning between $40,000 and $50,000 a year, just 41% answered the question affirmatively. However, for higher earning households — those at or above $75,000 annually — 71% of respondents said they were living the American Dream. That supports the notion that money might not be everything, but it helps.

The survey also suggests a lack of faith in the possibility of upward mobility: Of the 48% who said they aren’t living the American Dream, more than half said they didn’t think they ever would.

Defining the American Dream, of course, is going to vary from person to person. Though stereotypically we might think of the suburban house, the picket fence, a family, a dog and the sensible cars, that might be a long way from your own goals and reality.

Not surprisingly, an official unemployment rate near 10% — and worse by broader measures — and the collapse in home prices have created considerable uncertainty.

The Costa Rican Dream

Many Retirees from the U.S. and Canada and immigrants form other Latin American countries have discovered the “Costa Rican Dream” and are living with dignity in this country. Even young entrepreneurs from the States have come here to set up businesses many of which are Internet-based. Costa Rica isn’t the solution for everyone but for many it provides an opportunity to start over, to live with dignity and realize your dreams far away from the doom and gloom of the States.

The Costa Ricans have one of the highest longevity rates in the world.

I have lived in Costa Rica for going on 31 years and the longer I am here I realize that I made the correct choice by making the move. I am fortunate to have had the foresight and vision to move here at an early age. I feel so blessed to have lived here for such a long time. I have an American friend, who just retired here, tell me, “Chris you have had the life I wish I had. I regret having been stuck living in the U.S. for so many years.” Well, better late than never. At least my friend lives here now. By the way, my friend is a millionaire and obviously idolizes the lifestyle I have enjoyed over the years.

About a year ago one of my childhood friends visited Costa Rica. He contacted me prior to his trip and said that he was fed up with the States and wanted to check out Costa Rica as possible retirement destination. Shortly after my friend arrived I picked him up at his hotel. At first I couldn’t believe my eyes. My friend had aged so much! I guess the U.S. lifestyle had taken its toll on him. Really there is no reason my friend should have looked so burnt out. He retired over 20 years ago after selling a very successful business. He made about the equivalent of $20,000,000 million in today’s currency. Quiet a nest egg! He has traveled the world, owned yachts and a slew of upscale homes including the mansion where he currently lives in Malibu, California. Despite all of this he seems unhappy and dissatisfied.

On the other hand, I have been very successful but have never been nearly as wealthy as my friend. But I do feel much richer because of the incredible lifestyle I enjoy in Costa Rica. My friend even remarked, “Chris, you look fantastic. It must something in the water here.” Furthermore, when my friend saw my young and beautiful lawyer girlfriend, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He said, “With all of my money, I could never get a woman that attractive in the U.S.”

The night before my good friend returned to the Sates we had dinner together and he remarked, “Chris, you really made the right choice by moving to Costa Rica.” I said, “I know, you are not the first person who has told me that. Many people on my monthly retirement and relocation tours eco your sentiments.”

The bottom line is that Costa Rica isn’t for everyone, but if you fall in love with the place and decide to retire here you can enjoy an incredible lifestyle and be very happy like me.

Costa rica offer more places tolive and a lifestyle

As most people who speak a little Spanish know, Costa Rica means ‘rich coast.” Although not too many riches were found here, Christophere Colombus couldn’t have chosen a better name for the country. The name makes Costa Rica stand out from the rest of the countries in Latin America and serves as a lure for people around the world who want to experience all of the wonders the country has to offer. Many fall in love with the place and decide to live or retire here.

More and more people are choosing the country for retirement, just to relocate or simply to get away from with what is wrong in the U.S. most of the world. Costa Rica has more American residents proportionately than any other country outside of the Untied States. They can’t be wrong!

Let’s look at what the country offers: Located only two hours by air from Florida, Costa Rica has been called the “Little Switzerland of America” because of its unparalleled natural beauty. Year-round spring-like weather; pristine warm-water tropical beaches, friendly people; Latin America’s oldest democracy with NO army, no terrorism (the country has no enemies), a reasonable cost of living; inexpensive world-class medical care; excellent cheap transportation and communication systems; good housing options; opportunities which allow foreigners to start a business on a shoestring; tax savings for U.S. residents (make up to $91,400 a year tax free); plus a government that makes relocating as easy as possible—all combine to make Costa Rica tops on the list of expatriate retirement havens.

Costa Ricans have a fantastic sense of humor and often refer to their own country as “Costa Risa” which means “laughter coast” but really refers to the fact that almost everything here is a joke in the good sense of the word. The message is that it is far better to take things with a good sense of humor and not be bitter about life.

Costa Rican men often call the country “Cosa Rica.” Which literally means “rich thing” but is used to refer to all of the county’s beautiful women.

Costa Rica is not rich in the monetary sense but is in many other ways as I have mentioned above. Don’t get me wrong! The place is not perfect. What country is? Utopia doesn’t exist.