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.

Some retirees are city and not country people. They like the action and activity that cities provide. San José is not a big city but it does have its share of discos, bars, art galleries, theater restaurants and a lot more.

The city is undergoing a process of urban renewal: Electric cables are being places underground; Several pedestrian streets have been built to help get traffic out of the center of the city; A new China town is in the works; The Clínica Bíblica Hospital has been expanded and remodeled; new businesses are opening; high-rise condos are spring up and a lot of other improvements are in the works.

In recent years safety has been a concern in the downtown area. The government and they municipality have taken action to end this problem. The idea is to make the San José safe for families so they can shop, attend the theater and go to the zoo or children’s Museum. There is now a strong police presence in the downtown areas with the 100 blocks which comprise the center of the city within a security ring. Johnny Araya, who is the mayor of San José, proudly boasts that, “The downtown area of San José is now the most successful mall in the country.” He may be right.

You shouldn’t get the wrong idea about crime in San José. The city has never been nearly as dangerous as most of the other crime-ridden cities in Latin America like Caracas. The latter has the highest homicide rates in the world. San José at its worst was never nearly that bad. The problem is that the city went form almost NO crimes 20 years ago to some petty crime like purse snatchings and robberies in recent years. Hopefully all of that is a thing of the past and people will continue to return to the area to shop, experience the culture and live. A lot of people only go to suburban mall like the ones we have in Escazú. While the mall is impressive it really doesn’t have the character of the inner city and resembles the U.S. too much for my taste.

Retirees should feel safe exploring the downtown area. Start by walking along Central Avenue (Avenida Central) from San Juan de Dios Hospital in the west to the Old Bella Vista Fort in the east. On the way you can window shop, visit the Central market and grab a bite to eat at one of the affordable sodas inside, check out the Plaza de la Cultural and National Theater or have a cup of coffee and people watch at the Gran Hotel de Costa Rica, El Patio or the News Café at the Hotel Presidente. Personally I like El Patio Restaurant because of its food, drink and atmosphere.