Why Costa Rica?

Thirty years ago, while completing my MBA at Jacksonville University, I conducted a research project on Costa Rica. It was completely by random that I was assigned this country—as I recall the paper was to be a State Department type of analysis into their economic, demographic, political, and military status. I learned several interesting facts about this left-leaning Central American country.

Costa Rica abolished their military in 1949 earning them the nickname of Switzerland of Central America and redirected most of their military spending to healthcare and education. Over 98% of their energy is produced using renewable sources—predominately solar, wind, and hydro. Nearly a quarter of their land is designated for environmental protection.

Following the abolition of the military, a constitution was adopted in 1952. Since that time Costa Rica has held fourteen presidential elections with a smooth and uninterrupted transfer of presidential power. The country is considered by most to be Central America’s most stable country.

When you’re facing a decision concerning retirement planning and you have a viable solution within your grasp, it’s clear how and why we made the choice to relocate to Costa Rica. I have had Costa Rica on my radar for many years and it has only gotten more and more enticing. And while I don’t know that their leaders made all the right moves economically or politically, they seem to make wise decisions which are  in the best interests of their people.

Costa Rica is not a third-world country—it is a developing country and they are deploying their resources for the good of their people and their country—now and for the future. In many ways their infrastructure is not up to our standards in the States, but they have high quality, affordable health care exemplified by a booming medical tourism industry, they care about their land and their environment demonstrated by their commitment to Green Energy and reforestation of their land, they promote diversity with reasonable immigration policies, and they value the education of their people with a free and compulsory education system through age 18 which achieves a literacy rate two points higher than the average for Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Expats may complain that the system is full of corruption and greed that takes advantage of the locals as they try to lead simple lives in pursuit of Pura Vida.  But what nation can claim to be without greed, corruption, and self-interest? 

The reality is, Costa Rica is a development success story with a 25-year history of steady economic expansion. The question is, can Costa Rica ride this expansion into the future without falling prey to the temptation to "pave paradise and put in a parking lot."

Until this year Dallas and I had never been to Costa Rica, or any country we considered to be a retirement destination—though we had discussed a trip to see the sights and maybe pet a sloth.  It was only after assessing our wants and needs regarding life in retirement that we allowed ourselves to be open to moving anywhere out of the States.

When you put your mind to something—anything can happen.