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David is a regular Costa Rica Living Group contributor. He and his wife, Charlotte, recently spent a month on the wild side. Yesterday, he wrote to the group about it. Since my family has not been, I was captivated by his story. Can’t wait to go – as soon as the play is over…. After you read this, you will want to come too…
Charlotte and I went to the Caribbean coast and spent a month in Puerto Viejo, and this is my trip report. First a bit of background for those of you who . . . → Read More About A Month On The Caribbean Side
Xavier’s baby sister, Megan, 41, passed away last night. At 32, she discovered she had breast cancer. They gave her four years then. HA! They didn’t know Megan. When you look up determined or fierce in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Megan. She fought with every ounce of her being, with every last breath. She’s had every operation, removal, addition, tubes, pills, shots, everything. She fought through it all with intense anger and intense good cheer.
And despite the dire predictions. We’ve been called so many times in the last couple of . . . → Read More About Fierce
Boo and Winston are inseparable, stuck to each other like white on rice. In the mornings, I open one crate door and that dog rushes to the other’s crate door. They race around all day, taking the occasional nap.
Winston naps on a pad next to my chair. Not only is he a farting, belching, slobbering male, he snores. The complete package. Boo naps (quietly) under my desk on a rug.
Boo is six . . . → Read More About Like White On Rice
Last August, I wrote about my trip to I.C.E. (EEEEE-say, the phone/electricity company here) and a little bit about waiting in line. Almost everywhere you go to do anything "official" in Costa Rica, expect a line and some type of number machine.
If you walk into an establishment and there’s a line, look for a number machine (and they don’t all look like this one) and take a number. If you don’t see a machine, ask the guard (there will be one: white shirt usually and always armed) and . . . → Read More About Take A Number
Since I posted my nightmare experience at customs, several people have let me know about their experiences. Continental Airlines wins hands down over all other airlines for ease of picking up your pet. One woman wrote to me that Continental just handed over the pet to her! So just because it happened like this for me does not mean it will happen like this for you. But you just don’t know… I would definitely use Continental, if possible. If someone in customs says they have an agente aduana for you to use, say thank you . . . → Read More About Shipping A Pet
Many people write to me about living in Costa Rica, asking what it’s like, how to move here. Mostly, they ask about schools and money. Schools are pretty covered on the blog; money has not been. A complicated topic, I’ll tell you what little I’ve learned in the past year.
Just before we moved here, we called a few local experts and asked about banking, how to open an account, buying a corporation, things like that. One guy asked where we were from. When we said, "Florida," he said, "If you are a U.S. citizen, I can’t even talk . . . → Read More About Money and Banking
Be afraid. Be very, very afraid. Backpacker Mom is having the time of her life. It can go this badly in the states, for sure. Make sure you choose your location, architect, builders and advisors carefully. DO NOT BUILD FROM AFAR. Once your new home is built (properly) and you are in, it is heaven. The sad thing is when people don't survive the hell…
"I once had a girlfriend known as Elsie. With whom I shared four sordid rooms in Chelsea. She wasn’t what you’d call a blushing flower. As a matter of fact, she rented by the hour." Sung by Liza as Sallie Bowles in Cabaret
When I met Xavier, he was the junk mail king of Key West. Of course, I fell in love with him! Since then, our policy is to happily take and read every piece of paper handed out by anyone anywhere. Keeping printers busy worldwide (sorry to . . . → Read More About Life Is A Cabaret, Old Chum
This post is so long and tedious you will want to choke someone by the end of it. Which is exactly how I felt after experiencing it. I did not choke anyone. I ate two bowls of chocolate ice cream instead. I’ll have another after I write this. Onward.
UPDATE: Please also see Shipping A Pet, a one-paragraph update.
Paper brought me to my knees today. Paper pushing actually. I am now deeply in awe of the ticos‘ mastery of paper pushing. If only they could make money at it. Oh wait. They do. Today, . . . → Read More About The Power Of Paper
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