Some people have a hard time relaxing. I know this because we are in the business of assisting individuals and families with their move to Costa Rica. We help with the paperwork, the residency process, the documents, the questions, the logistics, the fears, and eventually, the exciting day when they finally arrive. And then we keep in touch. We check in. We want to know how they’re doing, how they’re settling in, and whether they’re beginning to experience the Pura Vida lifestyle they dreamed about.
Sometimes, six months later—or even a year later—we discover something that makes us scratch our heads. “Wait a minute… you moved back to New York City?” Yep. Back to the traffic. Back to the noise. Back to crowded sidewalks, packed schedules, expensive everything, and probably paying $8 for a sandwich that somehow requires a second mortgage.
So what happened?
Well, here’s something I’ve learned: relaxing is a skill. You can move to Costa Rica, but you can’t necessarily leave your old lifestyle behind at the airport. Some people arrive in Costa Rica with a beautiful home, tropical weather, monkeys in the trees, spectacular sunsets, and a view that belongs on a postcard—and then spend six months worrying because someone hasn’t answered their email in fourteen minutes.
They miss the hustle. They miss the schedules. They miss being busy. They miss that constant feeling that if they’re not accomplishing something every 11 seconds, they’re somehow falling behind.
But Costa Rica doesn’t really work that way. Costa Rica whispers, “Pura Vida. Slow down. Look around. You’re here.” And for some people, that’s the hardest part of all.
Moving to Costa Rica isn’t just changing your address. It’s learning how to change your pace, your expectations, and sometimes even your definition of what a successful day looks like. Because if your idea of relaxation is checking your phone while sitting in traffic, Costa Rica may have a little work to do with you.
And that’s okay.
Pura Vida isn’t something you simply move to.
It’s something you learn to live.
And sometimes, that’s the real adventure.
Adapt or perish. .
Skip Licht
The Costa Rica Good News Report
costaricagoodnews@gmail.com
WhatsApp: 1-754-423-8823
Visit our websites at www.costaricagoodnewsreport.com and at
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