Book Chapters for Happier Than A Billionaire: Quitting My Job, Moving to Costa Rica, and Living the Zero Hour Work Week
PINK HOUSES, CLOUDS, AND CRAZY PEOPLE
Moving in and meeting the crazy neighbors.
MARTIN THE INCOMPETENT REALTOR
What happened when I listened to my husband and our incompetent realtor. Who said this was paradise?
BUYING A CAR WITH UNDERWEAR MONEY
Buying a car in Costa Rica was a little harder than we thought.
GOING POSTAL AND MOTOR VEHICLES
Mail in Costa Rica and getting your driver’s license. It sucked just as much as in the states.
STOP…OR MY HUSBAND WILL SHOOT
This is what happens when my husband is in charge of security.
Hi, reading your first and last book at the same time. Love it! I’m planning to visit in mid December, I will still work remotely for American company. Planning to stay couple months at least and check out the situation. I’m going alone, female 30’s, completely not Martin’s type. I thought of staying in one of those cute beach/jungle places at first. Montezuma? Something not too American or touristy. I do need very good wifi and phone. And my 2 monitors to work. Any suggestions? Greatly appreciate!!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Montezuma is definitely not touristy, but not too sure of how well the internet is down there. Will you be renting a car?
I didn’t set this up to see your reply, I think. ThAnd you for your reply! I don’t know a car. Ideally I don’t want to be completely remote where I have to drive everywhere. I’m not oppose to riding something, but less driving.
Nadine, thank you again for your reply!!! And sorry for taking your time away from Pura Vida. I was thinking Montezuma as well, and wifi and phone reception was my concern as well.
I realize that my previous comment didn’t make much sense, so let me translate.
I will rent a car at least part of the time, to expore the country. Still don’t have a good picture of how far places are. If I stay in Montezuma, am I hours away from Guanacaste and other beaches and social security places?
I would prefer to live walking or scooter or bicycle distance from places. Meanwhile, my cat has never been on the plane, hope he handles it ok, and doesn’t get eaten by a jaguar once we get there.
I am also going to need some dental work once I’m there. Maybe Ill start where the dentist is, stay for a week or so, then find a longer term place.
Places are farther away from each other than it seems on a map. Montezuma is a few hours from Guanacaste, and Tamarindo is about 5-6 hours away from San Jose. When you look on the map, they look so close!
You will definitely have to do some exploring to find a place you like. ALthough Tamarindo is touristy, people love living there because everything is very walkable. Montezuma is “out there” but that is why it is so beautiful.
hey, sometime soon i’m interested in visiting costa rica for a good lengthy holiday. can someone advise me whether there are any lesbian clubs within easy reach. i plan for some good memorable experiances during my good,sweet holiday.
I have been to Costa Rica on a cruise two years ago. We came into port at Limon and took a tour with a couple Kids running a Off Road Adventure into the upper rain forests and banana plantations. It was by far the best excursion we have had ever in the 11 cruises we have been on. I was just operated on so I was looking for a light book to read while recouperating and yours struck me to be the one. Love the book and can identify with a lot of the different places you have seen there. We love Costa Rica and are going to Belize this year on a cruise to check that island out. Great book and would love to hear more from you on your experiences.
Thanks David! I hope you are well and got a couple giggles out of my dopey adventures. It’s been quite the experience living here and love writing about it. My next book will be out this November…and let me just say…my husband delivers on the funny!
I haven’t read your book, but it looks very interesting! Perhaps you can help me: My husband and I are moving to CR in less than a month. We have NO idea where we’re staying or what’s it like. We’re simply moving because we want to LIVE! Even though we like it here in the US, it’s all so fast paced. So basically, the title of your book is the story of my life. We are about to leave everything we have here to move down there. I’m currently struggling to breaking the news to boss… how do you go about doing that without them thinking you’re nuts? 🙂
Any tips in general? I would GREATLY appreciate them.
Eran
Hi Eran! When I moved here everyone thought I was nuts, so there is no use trying to convince someone otherwise. It’s your decision and you should focus on that. It was difficult having so many people come down so hard on me. But I knew deep down that I had to do this, I just couldn’t go on living the way I was.
Good luck with your journey. It’s going to be incredible. I have never regretted doing this and have learned so much about myself along the way!
Hi,
Thanks for writing this book. I really appreciate it Nadine. I was really happy to read about all your travels & experiences. I’m thinking of moving to Costa and readying myself by simplifying my life here in the states to make way for the move which I’m sure will be sooner than I think.
I was wondering for your residency, although it seems like it was a pain with a lawyer do they now have different residency laws? Did you have to pay a certain amount into a Costa Rican bank to get residency?
Thanks!
Josh
Here is a link that will help. http://www.residencyincostarica.com/
Residency rules are always changing, in fact they just changed again. It can take a year to get all the paperwork done, but then you are legal and you don’t have to do any visa runs. Good luck with your plans, I hope you do make it here. It’s been such a great adventure, even with all the obstacles, I would do it all over again.
Good call on the residency website…javier is amazing.
We started the residency process before we moved here in 2006 and are now permenant residents.
He and his sister helped us through the many “tramites” of the process.
Thanks for stopping by to tell me that. It’s good that people share their experiences. Sometimes it’s hard to find good information so I always hope to give people the most informed answer I can in regards to these matters.
i just came across your book! i have’t read it yet, but was reading your blogs. I have dreamed of either living in either Costa Rica or Australia one day. My goal is to be a veterinarian…but i’d have to wait i guess until I achieved permanent status, huh? :o/
I am going to read your book. I’m a huge nature and beach lover, which is why I’ve thought for a long time that maybe another country is for me. Everyone that I have heard of that has moved to CR has been a much more relaxed person…like a Hispanic Californian lol
I can honestly say this country has a way of changing your rhythm, things are much slower and you have no choice but to go with the flow. It works for me and I have become a much calmer person.
My son is planning his marriage this year in CR, so I read your book with interest. Excellent
Cheers
Congratulations to your son! I hope you enjoy the book!
Nadine just finished you book on kindle. Nicely done.
Thanks!!! If at all possible, could you give me a review on Amazon. I’m going for global “happiness” domination. I have some more funny stories to share, so make sure you visit my blog again!!!
Hi Nadine,
Thank you so much. Reading your blogs and etc. lifted my day, cos I woke up feeling down. The weather is gloomy and cold. Can’t wait to read your book. I think I will do the Panama Canal cruise one day and visit Costa Rica. First, need to learn some Spanish. Yes, freedom and nature, what a good life!
I am glad to pick up your spirits!! TAKE THAT VACATION! Book those tickets to your favorite destination and go. Remember what it is like to be young and adventurous again, when there were no mortgages, or bills, or cranky customers.
Give your eyes something new to see….it’s like medicine for the soul.
Thanks for reading!!
Hi!! Love this blog! My husband and I are looking to move in 2 or 3 years. Where do you live and how do you make an income? How much do you pay for rent? Any advice would be great, your blog is very inspirational to us. I really enjoy the cost of living updates 😉
Thanks!
Sarah
So glad you checked out my blog. I try to give a variety of items for the cost of living update. I probably should find out how much gas is again, but I’m too scared to find out. If it is high in the states, it’s higher here.
Rent varies throughout the country. When you first get here, you will probably pay $500 to $650 for a house. But once you are here and make connections, it goes down quite a bit. I know people who are paying $350 for a beautiful house.
Making a living is tricky. As per the law, you cannot work and take a job away from a Tico. But you can open a business. I have a close friend that was a retired hairdresser but now cuts hair again. The gringos who can’t speak Spanish would rather go to her. What started out as a few clients a week has now become a full scale business for her. There is also tourism. If you move to the beach perhaps you can come up with ideas. I knew a guy who liked to kayak so started a kayak tour.
If you have anymore questions you can personally email me. As you can tell, I am incredibly happy here. It’s different, but that’s what I was looking for.
puravida@happierthanabillionaire.com
Ha! Such fun! More fun knowing that my new friend from a tropical beach on the Caribe is the scribe. I just found your blog and have only read a bit, including “Pink houses… and crazy people” relatively confident that I wouldn’t find me in there. However, I’m headed back to read lots more because it’s so entertaining. I’m playing mah jong at those neighbors of yours just below you and it would be so cool if you guys dropped in. You are way more fun than mah jong.
You never know, you might end up in one of them!!
Oh wow! What a great blog. You should be proud of your work! I can’t wait to read more.
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love your blog.