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Recently I had the pleasure of leading  a  group of potential residents on week-long trip around  Costa Rica.  I would venture to say their ages  ranged from 45 to 60 years old. Most came here to explore the country  with the goal of eventually relocating.  After a week of traveling all over the country, viewing  mother nature's wonders and attending a series of informative seminars,  the majority of the participants had decided they wanted to live here for at least part of the year.  After reading this you may ask yourself,  "What would anyone find attractive about living in another country?"

Let's look at why a tropical paradise like Costa Rica is so appealing to  North Americans . The most obvious reason is the weather. People are tired of freezing winters,  scorching summers and the high utility bills that go with them. There are only two seasons in Costa Rica the dry  and the rainy.  Both times of year are blessed with an abundance of sunshine.  According to National Geographic, Grecia - one of the towns in Costa Rica's Central Valley - purportedly has one of the  the best climates in the world.

Even those who are fortunate enough to live in warm weather areas like Florida or Southern California dislike the fast-paced lifestyles of both  places.   Costa Rica  really fits the bill for anyone  who is  sick of hustle and bustle  and wants  to live in a country with a more laid-back way of life. One of the participants on our tour remarked, "Costa Rica reminds me of the U.S. about 40 years ago when everything was unspoiled, unhurried  and uncrowded."

Another plus to living south of the border is that you can get more for your money.  This  seems  to be the primary concern  and determining factor when contemplating  making  the move to another country.  In Costa Rica, a favorable exchange rate  and lack of mega-inflation enable you to stretch your dollars.  The cost of  medical care, food, utilities and entertainment are  substantially lower than in the states.   Housing in most areas  is  a fraction of the cost you are accustomed to paying.  A full-time maid may even be hired for for as little as $200 monthly - a luxury reserved for only the wealthy back home.

Equally enticing  is the myriad of business opportunities awaiting creative hard-working individuals. It is also relatively easy to run a global business from abroad taking advantage of easy Internet access, fax machines, cell phones and other improved means of communication. Small time entrepreneurs are enamored with the prospect of being able to start a business on a shoestring. They could never dream of doing this  back home. There are even tax breaks for U.S. citizens residing in foreign countries. While living outside of the United States those people with proof of permanent residency status are permitted by law to make almost $80,000 tax free.   Passive investors can find higher yielding C.D.'s, second mortgages and other  lucrative investments that don't exist in the U.S. or Canada.

Others choose to move outside  of the U.S. to start over and  seek adventure in an exotic land.  Fitting into this category are people tired of being stuck in dead end jobs  and  the 'rat race' who want new challenges, the chance to pursue their dreams and to achieve greater personal growth.  Whatever their motives,  moving to a  another country will afford them these opportunities and much more. People will most certainly make  new friends since  foreigners tend to gravitate towards one another when living overseas. Expats are also afforded the chance  to immerse themselves  in a new culture and  enjoy the rewards of learning  a foreign language.

Initially living in another country can prove be difficult. Adjustment to a new way of life can sometimes take many months  for those who are very set in their ways.  However, with an open mind ,  positive attitude and the willingness to seek out new experiences the transition can be relatively painless. Countries like Costa Rica and Mexico have come a long way in the last decade and to a certain extent have become microcosms of U.S. culture. There are cable TV, malls, imported U.S. food products, brand name  American clothing and English language movies and bookstores - all of which facilitate  living abroad.  Improved telephone service,  the availability of both  satellite and Direct TV, private  mail service and the internet make it easier to stay in touch with relatives, close friends and keep up with what is going on back home, virtually  eliminating homesickness.

Nevertheless the expatriate  lifestyle  is not for everyone.  It is best to test the waters and try  living in the country of your choice for a trial period before you make the big move. If you are the type of person who is used to all of the comforts of home - efficient bureaucracy, first-class service, punctuality , etc. -  then living in a country like Costa Rica will probably prove to be a frustrating experience.  However, with a little more patience than usual, an understanding of the culture and people of  the country  and an open mind, you will surely enjoy all of the rewards  living abroad has to offer.  Wayne Davis, an old friend of ours and 20 year resident of Costa Rica, once remarked when questioned about his lifestyle here,  "My days are so jam packed with  exciting activities and interesting experiences that each day  seems like a whole lifetime . I really feel like I have discovered the fountain of youth here."

Living abroad will open the door to a new and exciting lifestyle. Unfortunately many of us never consider it as an alternative.  Who knows? If you decide to take the plunge you may never want to return home.

Christopher Howard , is the author of the perennial best-selling travel/retirement/overseas investment guide book, "The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica." (IBSN 1-881233-37-5).  He also writes for  "Central America Weekly" newspaper, the award winning "Costa Rican Outlook" newsletter and the Costa Rican Residents Association's bimonthly magazine, "El Residente."  He is the only author of any of the guidebooks about Costa Rica who actually lives there full-time. 

To purchase this guidebook contact the ARCR or most local bookstores carry this title.  If  not, they will be happy to order it. He currently conducts monthly relocation and retirement tours  to Costa Rica in conjunction with Live in Costa Rica Tours.  For additional information we urge you to contact by calling 506-257-6646 or email us.   Mr. Howard's most recent literary endeavor is  the visionary one-of-a-kind guidebook, "Living and Investing in the New Cuba" (ISBN 1-881233-00-6).

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