Recently, I saw two television commercials that really caught me eye. The first was from Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism. It seems the country have a new national motto used to promote travel there—“Ecuador, life in a pure state or pure state of life.” Colombia has also jumped on the bandwagon with there own national slogan — “The risk is you may end up wanting to stay.” Both phrases are catchy but never will approach the originality of Costa Rica’s national motto, “Pura vida” or Pure Life.
If it is all in a name, Costa Rica certainly has it. Pura vida reflects everything about this wonderful country especially the fantastic lifestyle of the people. The spirit of this national motto fills the air and is infectious. Many tourists can sense it the minute they get off the plane. Foreigners who move here become imbued with it. It is really an intangible but will overwhelm you if you embrace it. It is so uplifting and is everywhere.
No wonder Costa Ricans are among the most happy people in the word according to a recent survey. If you decided to live or retire here you will become part of this pura vida spirit.
By the way, I just purchased a fantastic coffee table book.”The Life of Costa Rica” by Gloria Calderón. It is a must purchase and filled with incredible photos which truly reflect what the spirit and life of Costa Rica are all about. I have put it on top of my living room table so that everyone can leaf through it and experience this wonderful publication.
The recent financial crisis has been hard on Americans from all walks of life even those who are more affluent. What I have seen recently is that many of the people who are taking my monthly relocation/retirement tours are trying to salvage what they have left including those who are well off.
Mark and Darlene are a good example of people from this group. They are both in their sixties, have Social Security and other assets. Their home was valued at over $1,000,000 before the crash. Now they are trying to sell in at a reduced price but without losing all of their equity like many others who want to bail out of the U.S. They also took a big hit in the stock market. With a water bill of almost $1,000 monthly, plumbers who charge over $100 per hour, changes in the United State’s health care system on the horizon and other huge expenses, they want to live for less and enjoy their retirement. They do not want to out live their nest egg in the U.S. They want to have money to travel, pursue a new hobby and take full advantage of their remaining years.
The solution: Like a growing number of savvy people they decided that moving to Costa Rica is the only way they can achieve their retirement goal.
I’ll bet we have heard that expression used hundreds of times. Well in Costa Rica many people can get back their lives.
Because of the recent financial crisis in the U.S. a large number of middle class retirees are facing the prospect of outliving their financial assets. Furthermore, even if the stock market comes back it is highly unlikely anyone will recover 100% of their loss. Fifty percent at best according to the experts. Those who planned on using the equity in their homes to help with their retirement are going to lose out, too because most of their equity of that is now gone. So what can you do?
One solution is to move offshore to a country like Costa Rica to get more bang for your buck and to enjoy a high quality life style. Nobody wants to spend their retirement years worrying about money and not enjoying themselves. In Costa Rica you can live on a few thousand dollars a month and have all the amenities of home. You will have to the time to do things that are important, such as devoting more time to the grand kids, pursuing a new hobby, making friends, traveling and in general enjoying a lifestyle you could never have afforded in the States.
Costa Rica has more foreign retirees per capita outside of the U.S. They can’t be wrong! They have discovered what life is for — living.
This is all possible in Costa Rica since the country offers year-round spring-like weather, every imaginable indoor and out door activity to stay busy and happy, low cost housing, first-world affordable medical care, high-speed Internet, first-run movies in English, theater, shopping malls, private mail services to help you stay in touch with the States and order products and so much more. The medical care alone is what brings scores of people here. In the States many people’s nest eggs have been wiped out by illnesses. That isn’t the case in Costa Rica which offers several attractive health care plans. I have had dozens of people on my monthly relocation/retirement tours end up moving here just for the medical care alone.
More Americans are drawn to Costa Rica because of the country’s excellent universal health care.
Lately, I have been following the events which are transpiring with regard to a national health care system for all Americans especially the uninsured. Basically, President Obama is committed to working with Congress to pass comprehensive health reform in his first year in order to control rising health care costs, guarantee choice of doctor, and assure high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Unfortunately many people oppose this universal plan.
After watching the debate night after night on the evening news I feel even luckier to live in Costa Rica. The country manages to offer affordable “cradle to grave” heath care for all of its citizens and foreign residents. If a poor country like Costa Rica can do this, Why can’t the U.S? Furthermore, the rest of the industrialized world gets universal health care. The U.S. gets limited access at a far higher cost. Isn’t it about time for Americans to get the health care system they want, and the savings that go with it. If America is so great, where is their healthcare?
Here you have two health care options from which to choose: the public and the private. As I mentioned above the public system is universal and available to foreigners at a low cost. If the public system is not your cup of tea and you required more personal care then there is the private system. The latter is also affordable and enables you to choose your on doctor. The yearly cost for a family of three or four is under $2,000. Some people in the States pay that per month. I have use the private system and am very satisfied with the quality of care.
Increasingly more and more Americans are drawn to Costa Rica because of the country’s excellent universal health care. However, its spring-like climate, endless natural beauty, political stability, friendly people, good investment climate and so many more intangibles are the other reasons why baby boomers and others are moving here. I discuss all of this at length on my monthly relocation/retirement tours.
The boom on Costa Rica real estate, and the good life help to make the country like one of the best places for retirees
When you think of people who relocate to Costa Rica, the first thing that comes to mind are people on small budgets or pensions who want to make their money go farther. Most everyone who moves here falls into that category. However, the other day I received an interesting call from one of my oldest friend’s brother.
He lives in Malibu, California and has been retired for around 20 years. He was able to do it because he sold a small company which he owned for several million dollars at the time. Soon after he retired, he purchased a big boat and hired a crew. Then he took his boat to Mexico where he lived the good life for many years. Eventually he got tired of the the lifestyle there and took his yacht to San Diego where he resided before moving to his current home in Malibu.
Although he does have a substantial nest egg, he is growing increasingly tired of the U.S. claims it almost impossible to maintain his lifestyle because of the exorbitant cost of living. Anyway back to our phone conversation. Bob told me that he wanted to check out Costa Rica with the idea of possibly relocation here because he had heard nothing but good things about the country. He asked a lot of questions and I recommend he read the 15th edition my guidebook, “The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica.” It covers basically everything one needs to relocate here.
I also suggested he take one of my monthly relocation/retirement tours to get an even better idea of what it is like to live here, make some invaluable contacts and to facilitate the whole process of relocating. Bill said he would following my advise and visit Costa Rica by the end of the year whether he takes the tour or not.
Bill is part of a growing number of dentists, doctors, other professionals and well-to-do folks who also find Costa Rica appealing for a variety of reasons. This goes to prove that the country really has something for every lifestyle, taste and budget.
