Question From A Reader:

Hello Saratica,

I found your interesting informative blog online. My name is Georgia and I lived in Costa Rica 2001-2006. Christmas 2005, I was robbed, so I moved to another country. After this economic crises, I am thinking of coming back. I have heard enough crime reports to tell me do not come back, but I have no choice.

How is Belen? I am considering buying a home in a gated community there. How is the traffic to Belen? I wish I could get your input.

Be well, be safe, and God bless,
Georgia

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Hi Georgia,

I don't know Belen that well, although I just took a listing over there. Not in a gated community, but a cute townhome, brand new, comfortable and livable, needs to be finished (priced accordingly at $84K). Everyone who lives over there that I know of loves it. I have a girlfriend who says, if she ever moves to a new home in Costa Rica, it will be to Belen.

The traffic everywhere sucks. We don't go out much, but if you have to drive, it is crazy-making. The last time I was in Key West, the traffic got to me there, so maybe I'm just hypersensitive to it... Otherwise, life is good here.

It's not really safe anywhere in the world these days, if you ask me. You pick the safest place and hunker down till the storm passes. We think the storm is just beginning and that if Obama & Co. can stop interfering (why don't we ask the birds to stop singing, while we're at it), it will be dramatic but short. I can do dramatic. However, if they can't stop interfering, the "correction" will be prolonged agony. Just my opinion. Which you did not ask for, I now notice.

For hunkering down, we picked Costa Rica: no military, peaceful people (unless they are driving), gangs are not entrenched here like they are other places. And you can have farm animals in your yard - a big plus! This is our bet. So far, so good.

Good luck to you!

Comments

[Gina]

Were you ROBBED (things taken off your person) or Burglarized - stuff taken from house or car? There is a big difference.

[pollo loco]

I remember talking to a friend I had over there in Costa Rica before moving back here. It's pretty much general knowledge that the only way to live there is inside a gated community. Even the well off Ticos live inside high walls 24 hour security. Those that do not have family that looks after their house when they are away from prolonged periods.

Its not really a bad thing, its just reality. The faster you face it, the better your chance of living there for good. I still miss the country, I miss the challenges of speaking spanish. Just don't fool yourself and use a lot of common sense and Tico sense. Maybe someday we'll come back for prolonged visits, but probably that's about it.

[Saratica]

Yes, we live in a fortress. For us, it is still a better option than living in the U.S., from our political perspective. "Everything has a price," as a wise old friend likes to say. It's reality!

Funny, when we consider moving back to the states, speaking Spanish is the thing we'd miss the most. In fact, our Spanish teacher is coming to lunch today!