Living in Costa Rica

The complexion of retirement has changed from that of several decades ago when individuals waited until they turned 65 before pursuing some of their life's dreams. More and more, singles and couples are departing from their traditional jobs to explore other cultures and increase their quality of life.

While no longer a secret, Costa Rica continues to be a very special country and popular option for those looking to stretch their income. With modern health care facilities in major cities, a 3G network for communications – yes you can bring your iPhone, temperate climate in the Central Valley, endless beaches and perpetual summer on the east and west coasts, and kilometers upon kilometers of biodiversity in the country's jungles, there is something for everyone.

A diverse population of travelers and residents are found Samara and Carrillo from Canada, Europe, North American, Central America, South American, Eastern Europe, and Asia. In Samara and Carrillo alone, you will find many languages spoken; Spanish of course, but also German, Italian, French, Czech, Chinese, and English to name a few.

Many over the last decade have referred to Costa Rica as the "Switzerland of Central America". Yes there are similarities. Both democracies hold stability and peace as high values as demonstrated by no standing army and a commitment to progressive ideas. In Costa Rica's case, the standing army was abolished in 1949 and during the recent Arias Administration the country committed to carbon neutrality by 2021. What does carbon neutrality mean? It means reducing or offsetting emission contributing to global warming.

Other positive signs: the country is ranked 3rd in the world and 1st in the Americas in the 2010 Environmental Performance Index. This is an index developed by Yale University to measure a country's performance against its policies. Not bad for a developing country. In 2010, Costa Rica was ranked 62nd in the world. This ranking signifies Costa Rica's ranking with regard to literacy, education, standards of living, and life expectancy measuring human well being, particularly that of children.

There are some great resources to explore if you are considering a move or spending a considerable amount of time in Costa Rica. John Howell's Choose Costa Rica for Retirement, 9th Edition: Retirement, Travel, and Business, Erin Van Rheenen's Moon Living Abroad in Costa Rica. With Costa Rica becoming more and more popular, additional books and online resources are readily available. Many of the books on living and investing in Costa Rica can be found through Amazon.com and can even be downloaded to Kindle and other devices.