Greetings from sunny Costa Rica.

[RichardBlank]

After reading a few threads,I wanted to introduce myself to this community and look forward to sharing ideas with other forum members.




Best regards,


Richard

[HolyMole]

Originally Posted by RichardBlank

After reading a few threads,I wanted to introduce myself to this community and look forward to sharing ideas with other forum members. Best regards, Richard

Considering the numbers of US and Canadian expats, I'm surprised there isn't a forum on this website exclusively for Costa Rica.

My wife and I are on the verge of applying for a residential visa for Mexico, but have always thought we should check out Costa Rica before making any final decisions. We have never visited there.

(We were booked last winter to spend 3 months in CR and 3 months in Panama, to check out each of those countries as a retirement location, but had to cancel for medical reasons. As far as Panama is concerned, it was just as well, since their US dollar economy can wreak havoc against the Canadian dollar. At the time we booked, the US and Can $ were almost at par...now our $ is only about 88 cents US. Our modest pension income can't stand those kinds of fluctuations.)

Mexico's well-publicized problems with crime and corruption are certainly making folks in our situation think twice, no matter how soothing the comments from expats living there. Although safety concerns should trump economic considerations, we will probably meet the income requirements for full-time residency in Mexico, whereas Costa Rica's previously more-than-reasonable requirements may become many times more restrictive, to the point where we would not qualify. Of even more concern is the suggestion that folks who qualify for pensionado status now, under the existing rules, may find themselves unable to renew their visas when the new rules come into effect....the changes might not be "grandfathered". That would, of course, be disastrous for those who had sold their homes in Canada or the US to retire in CR. How the CR government could contemplate such a ridiculous situation is beyond me.

In the absence of a Costa Rica forum, maybe the Mexican forum would be an appropriate alternative?

[Fatbrit]

If you guys think there will be a demand, we can always open a Costa Rica. Don't want empty forums though, as there's nobody to water the plants or take the trash out and they get to smell like old people's homes. Let me know if you want me to wake admin up and consider opening one.

[HolyMole]

Originally Posted by Fatbrit

If you guys think there will be a demand, we can always open a Costa Rica. Don't want empty forums though, as there's nobody to water the plants or take the trash out and they get to smell like old people's homes. Let me know if you want me to wake admin up and consider opening one.

I appreciate your concerns about an empty Costa Rica forum. My interest in CR can probably be satisfied through the International Forum, but...again...there are so many expats living full or part-time in Costa Rica that I'm puzzled why there isn't more demand for their own forum.

[alabbasu]

Is it really true that Costa Ricans are the happiest people on earth?

[HolyMole]

Originally Posted by alabbasu

Is it really true that Costa Ricans are the happiest people on earth?

All those happy Costa Ricans are apparently too busy to want to bother with participating on this thread, or to weigh-in on the possibility of a separate Costa Rica forum.

That could be an indication of just how happy they must be. I've always wondered at the number of expats who seem to spend an awful lot of time on-line. I have an excuse....I'm an expat wannabee living in a country with 8 months of winter.

(Well, that's a bit of a stretch).

[MayaBeach]

Originally Posted by Fatbrit

If you guys think there will be a demand, we can always open a Costa Rica. Don't want empty forums though, as there's nobody to water the plants or take the trash out and they get to smell like old people's homes. Let me know if you want me to wake admin up and consider opening one.

Why don't you start a Central American Forum. Lot's of us expats in Belize too.

[alabbasu]

It is a weird coincidence that while I was reading the new posts on this forum, the Brazil vs Costa Rica match was going on live on TV.

[Drastic]

Originally Posted by HolyMole

I appreciate your concerns about an empty Costa Rica forum. My interest in CR can probably be satisfied through the International Forum, but...again...there are so many expats living full or part-time in Costa Rica that I'm puzzled why there isn't more demand for their own forum.

Huh! I'm surprised as well! Yes, there are lots of expats in CR and, your general forum site was 2nd on the list when I did a search on "expatriate forums".

I'm not sure if I'm doing any of this correctly; this is my first post.

I'm interested in living and WORKING in CR. In fact, I'm interested in moving anywhere out of the USA! The economy is broken and its going to get a lot worse.

I have a valid passport and am willing to go just about anywhere.

I hope you get this post. I'm still trying to figure this forum out. I'm a regular on Craigslist forums.

Thank you! Hm...now how do I see if I get a resonse to this?

[Suenneil]

Originally Posted by Drastic

Huh! I'm surprised as well! Yes, there are lots of expats in CR and, your general forum site was 2nd on the list when I did a search on "expatriate forums".

I'm not sure if I'm doing any of this correctly; this is my first post.

I'm interested in living and WORKING in CR. In fact, I'm interested in moving anywhere out of the USA! The economy is broken and its going to get a lot worse.

I have a valid passport and am willing to go just about anywhere.

I hope you get this post. I'm still trying to figure this forum out. I'm a regular on Craigslist forums.

Thank you! Hm...now how do I see if I get a resonse to this?

Hi Drastic ..... anyone responding will show just here! Good luck!! Sue