HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?


Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Landline phone bill that includes excellent DSL internet service-$45

As I sit here watching two baby monkeys wrestle one another outside my window, it reminds me how lucky I am, how rich I feel. It doesn’t cost me a dime and can’t imagine how a material object can replace the feeling I have now. My life (ironically… with less possessions than ever), is so abundantly full I can’t think of anything I want. So it got me thinking…how much is enough?

Why would a billionaire—someone with all the resources to live a life of insane privilege—steal another couple million.  For example, take Tyco. That CEO made over 100 million dollars a year but had the company pay for his extravagant lifestyle. And it wasn’t just private jets with cute flight attendants serving chocolate covered strawberries. He went the extra mile. He had the company pay for a $6,000 shower curtain and a $15,000 dog umbrella stand. But just when I thought this guy really knows how to live, for his wife’s birthday (disguised as a shareholders meeting) the party featured an ice sculpture of the Statue of David urinating Stolichnaya vodka.  I can do without that umbrella stand, but a urinating ice sculpture is as close to heaven as you are going to get in my opinion.

Warren Buffet just announced he pays 17% in taxes and is asking his friends to pony up, pay more, so we can get out of this economic mess. I try to imagine where they will have to cut their budget, surely not their kids’ college fund, or refraining from getting that latte every morning. Would it mean one less Gulfstream flight? Would they have to rent out their Hamptons house for the month of August? It all feels so excessive to me, and isn’t that how we got into this mess in the first place?

Does the love from your family feel any different if you had a billion? Would these monkeys look any more playful if I had a few million in the bank? Strangely, I was the happiest in my life when I had the least. And my sweetest memories are usually small things, like that weeping willow tree in my grandma’s backyard that shaded us during those hot summer afternoons.

I live here for around $1000 a month. Some might need $2000, and some might need $10,000. Perhaps they want to take their helicopter to the farmers market.  All I know is that I love the simple life, and I’m happy with my calm mornings drinking a cup of coffee and eating a fresh pineapple. I’m actually excited to start my day. I remember those crazy mornings, hitting the alarm clock and trying to summon the strength to put my two feet on the floor to work another day in that office. I don’t take my life for granted anymore; Costa Rica has a way of reminding you of that.

People will always tell you how to live and what to own. I’m sure someone told the Tyco CEO that the $6,000 shower curtain was infinitely better than one bought at Target. But there comes a time when you have to jump into life and not into another mall.

Just look at my friend’s dog, Pelulu. He’s a little apprehensive of the water, but that doesn’t stop him from paddling. He’s ready even before he gets wet.  He reminds me a lot of when I landed here.

I was scared too, but I just kept paddling.

(Thank you to my friend Erin at www.delapuravida.com and her cute dog Pelulu for the footage. )

By | 2018-04-15T18:19:37-04:00 August 23rd, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: , |33 Comments

About the Author:

Nadine is the author of the best-selling series, Happier Than A Billionaire. Join her as she navigates living as an expat in the sometimes confusing, always beautiful, country of Costa Rica.

33 Comments

  1. marie March 18, 2015 at 7:11 pm - Reply

    I need a warmer climate for my health. I’m originally from Jamaica, however, it’s not that I don’t like my country, but, it has become too commercialized. I live a daily life of stress and I need a change so that my health can improve. Any and everything you need to kmow about me can be verified. Do you mind sharing some tips? I majored on criminal justice in college, just as I moved to Burbank CA, i fell down a stairwell and injured my back. I then developed several auto immune illnesses. The cold yearly cold weather is ripping me apart. I know much about tropical foods, cooking, etcetera. I need to get back to nature. Please share tips. Thank you!

    • Nadine Hays Pisani March 22, 2015 at 9:31 am - Reply

      Hi Marie,Sorry to hear about your illness.

      Sounds like you are in need of a vacation. Perhaps you need a tip back home to Jamaica to decompress a bit. Sometimes going home can help. Many times I have found a change of scenery was all I needed to get my energy back.

  2. Mike May 12, 2013 at 8:25 pm - Reply

    How is the cell service there?

    • admin May 13, 2013 at 8:29 am - Reply

      It’s pretty decent. If you are visiting, you can’t get service with a cell phone from the states. You have to have it unlocked before getting here and buy a card to insert into it.

      Other than that, I occasionally lose coverage, but overall, it’s good. It’s such a relief that Costa Rica has really been catching up in the technology department. It was so much different 5 years ago.

  3. Emily October 14, 2012 at 8:40 pm - Reply

    I finally joined the band of retirees, a bit apprehensive, somewhat excited and of course …scared! We will be coming to Nosara Dec 2012 to see all we have been hearing and reading, and then…decision!!
    Where in Costa Rica are you?
    Looking forward to more…
    Emily

    • admin October 28, 2012 at 2:10 pm - Reply

      I live near Tamarindo. Love love love Nosara. Really beautiful there, a little hard to get to but so worth it. It’s probably the reason it has stayed so lovely!

  4. Rory March 22, 2012 at 2:24 pm - Reply

    Hey,
    You are right on with this post. These CEO’s have no concept of what life is. Their minds are completely corrupted by money and power. Money can certainly make life easier to live but happiness is up to you. The union has been redefined by greed and control. I’m jumpin ship. I’ve got a plane ticket with my name on it and it leaves next week!

    • admin March 29, 2012 at 12:37 pm - Reply

      I agree. Certainly, a couple million has to be enough in life. Why cheat for more?

  5. Fay Mcguire February 17, 2012 at 11:26 pm - Reply

    And it’s a great metaphor for the rest of the day. What a metaphor for life.

    • admin February 19, 2012 at 8:48 pm - Reply

      Thanks Fay. Sometimes you just have to wonder, why do they need so much? Does 50 million feel that much different than 100 million? Perhaps it does, and that is such a shame.

  6. Noreen Workman December 8, 2011 at 3:03 am - Reply

    Getting them didn’t make my life any more rich and fulfilled. The lushness of the rain forest and the sparkling ocean and beaches are a sight to behold. Peace cannot help but wrap it’s warm arms around your soul.

  7. Carla Rountree September 15, 2011 at 12:21 pm - Reply

    A friend just sent me your blog, and after reading this post, I felt like I was reading my own thoughts! Only you organize them much better than my ADD-wired brain 🙂 The things I buy don’t make me nearly as happy as the family I have, the people I meet, and the experiences I’ve had. Well, unless what I’m buying is a plane ticket to go travel somewhere new…

    I’m really happy to have discovered your blog, and I look forward to reading more!

    And I don’t even want to think about how many fresh pineapples you could trade that $6000 shower curtain for… yeesh!

    • admin September 15, 2011 at 9:15 pm - Reply

      Thanks for stopping by my blog. Yes, can you believe a $6000 shower curtain. It sounds like a joke doesn’t it?

      I’m glad that I have left that materialistic urge I used to get behind. I am happy for the small things now and enjoy everyone of these gorgeous Costa Rican sunsets. I hope you come back and read more of our ridiculous stories.

  8. andy palak August 31, 2011 at 4:43 pm - Reply

    Loved the story. Agree that possessions are not the answer. Faith is important as is giving – will complement Gratitude and thanks.

    • admin September 1, 2011 at 5:16 pm - Reply

      Absolutely!

  9. Nadine August 28, 2011 at 12:05 am - Reply

    people who yearn for that one more object or possession to make them happy… they’ll always need something else. it’s never enough.

    just like when I thought I’d be happy having a laptop… an iPod… a designer purse… all the possessions other people had that I didn’t. Getting them didn’t make my life any more rich and fulfilled.

    I might not see monkeys wrestling on a daily basis, but you’re right – it’s those little moments that no amount of money or possessions could possibly change that make life worth it. Along with watching cute puppy videos on the internet 🙂

    • admin August 28, 2011 at 8:22 am - Reply

      I have a theory, everyone should watch a cute puppy video every morning before work. Make in mandatory, like something North Korea would do.

      I believe people would be so much happier going to work.

  10. Lesa August 25, 2011 at 9:43 pm - Reply

    I am coming in late October. Thinking I might never leave. Really want to step into your shoes. I love your blog!

    • admin August 26, 2011 at 10:03 am - Reply

      I hope you have a great time. Where are you going? My very first trip here was in October, and even though it was in the rainy season, I was in awe at what I was seeing. I believe my life changed on that trip.

      • Kelly October 21, 2011 at 10:31 pm - Reply

        We, too, traveled to Costa Rica for the first time during rainy season (just a mere month ago…missing it sooooo badly!) because we wanted to see it at it’s “worst”…I will take a BAD day in Costa Rica ANY day over a good day here in the states…time can’t pass quickly enough for us to get there permanently!

        • admin October 26, 2011 at 2:31 pm - Reply

          Once you get through a rainy season, it’s all gravy from there. I hope you do come back!! It’s a great place to live and discover a whole new side of yourself you never knew existed.

  11. Rachel Kenwell August 25, 2011 at 10:52 am - Reply

    My husband and I have been talking about relocating to Costa Rica for about 5 years now… ever since our first trip there. Although we’ve only been twice we fell in love with the pura vida way of living. We are not rich, we’re not even well off but we don’t want to work till we are old… I’m 50 and my hubby is 52. We’ve been married more than 33 years. We plan on selling all our worldy possessions and scrape together all we can to make the move… hopefully in approx. 3 years. Watching that little dog paddling with anticipation before he’s even in the water made me realize to just keep on paddling! It will happen… So with good preparation and lots of anticipation we can make our dream come true… Thank you for sharing…

    • admin August 26, 2011 at 10:01 am - Reply

      I just love that video too. What a metaphor for life. You just keep paddling, and that is exactly what I did when moving here. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

      I think you will love it here, such a sense of adventure. It’s amazing when you can feel like a kid again.

  12. Sharry Miller August 24, 2011 at 11:24 pm - Reply

    I’ve been working on how to live more with less myself lately. Your delightful book is definitely good inspiration.

    • admin August 26, 2011 at 9:55 am - Reply

      Thanks. I think it’s always challenging to change. And America makes it easy to get caught up with shopping, going out to eat, etc. I slowly eased my way into it, and moving to Costa Rica made me part with so many things.

  13. bunny runny August 23, 2011 at 4:59 pm - Reply

    How long have you lived in Costa Rica? Someone on a chat group is saying that you have lived in Costa Rica since 2007, is that true. It appears from you blog that you have been her permanently for less than a year, but of course you could have started the blog recently. If you have been here full time for 4 years, you are truly blessed!

    • admin August 24, 2011 at 8:21 am - Reply

      I’ve been living in Costa Rica 4 years. I started the blog less than a year ago because I finally thought I had enough information under my belt to share. I wanted to make sure I had good tips and well thought out suggestions. It’s always dissapointing when you follow a person’s journey and they end up moving. I wanted people to know that I am here for the long haul.

  14. Erin in Costa Rica August 23, 2011 at 12:24 pm - Reply

    “I was scared too, but I just kept paddling.”
    The video and your message go so well together, it puts a huge smile on my face. I’m glad we connected and I am honored that you turned Pelulu’s video in to such a positive message.
    Extra butcher bones for Pelulu today 🙂

    • admin August 24, 2011 at 8:13 am - Reply

      Hi Erin, Pelulu deserves the praises. He’s just too cute for words.

  15. Barbie Burchfield August 23, 2011 at 11:42 am - Reply

    Thanks for sharing this video Nadine, and the wonderful thought provoking words! You are so right, possessions DO NOT make us happy. The calm and inner peace we feel as an individual is the most important. It takes many of us longer than others to mature feel and understand this.
    I finished your delightful book two days ago. It brought back many many memories of my trip to Costa Rica last summer. It is truly a glorious gem. The people are so laid back and friendly. The lushness of the rain forest and the sparkling ocean and beaches are a sight to behold. Peace cannot help but wrap it’s warm arms around your soul.
    You are so blessed! I hope you never grow to take it all for granted and live and thrive eternally in your adopted special country. I anxiously await your next book!
    Barbie Burchfield

    • admin August 24, 2011 at 8:12 am - Reply

      I try not to take it for granted. I do yoga now every morning and meditate for 10 minutes. People have been telling me to do this for years and I always avoided it. But it does change your brain, it calms you down, and takes you right into the moment. I have a theory that being imbalanced with these yoga poses, you have no choice but to be in the moment—you are stuggling to not tip over. And it’s a great metaphor for the rest of the day.

      Stay calm, live in the moment, or else you might tip over.

  16. Laurie August 23, 2011 at 11:40 am - Reply

    After 60 years of living, my conclusion is that the secrets to a happy life are gratitude and appreciation. Once you reach the level of income/spending that provides your basic necessities (food, a roof over your head, a reasonable feeling of security, a community of friends), it seems to me that excessive income works against gratitude.

    I justed finished reading your book, and loved it. Change, adventure, and a “less is more” lifestyle has brought much appreciation (and happiness) into your life, hasn’t it?

    Safe travels,
    Laurie

    • admin August 24, 2011 at 8:09 am - Reply

      Well said. It’s a strange lesson to learn. You accumulate things, then those things need to be cared for. What results is less freedom. I remember renovating my house and when it was finished, I was happy for a day or two, then thought of many more things I want to fix. It’s a never ending cycle when you don’t live in the moment.

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