Retire in Costa Rica Archives - La Terraza Guest House

The Amazing Race!

Admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 02:36:38 +0000

Im sitting on my veranda looking over the tropical grounds this evening; it suddenly crossed my mind how crazy our innate desire to quickly complete stages in our lives can be. If you take a good look back into the past, you will remember that when you are about 4 years old you can’t wait to advance to five years old so you can go to kindergarten. Once you arrived at kindergarten you couldn’t wait to get into the first grade. Then as nature would have it, after the first grade, your scholastic dream is almost immediately set for high school with the “Big Kids”. In our minds we always want to start out by doing “per say” all the things the big kids are doing. Finally around the age of 16 we felt we had arrived. We felt like grown folk simply waiting to be launched out into the adult world. Hey remember… that’s not the end. Don’t forget that after high school graduation when everyone continued referring to us as babies, we wanted to rush to the age of 21 because by then and only then would we arrive at that first grade ideal of our final destination. At that point, if you do something serious to truly embarrass yourself or taint your social standing no one is going to call your Mother! Hopefully!

But of course life’s race is never ending. Our rush against the time is now driven by our desire to finish college/grad school, start a wonderful career search or sometimes, simply to start a family of our own. Just when you think you have it all together your buddies are ribbing you about celebrating your 29th birthday. What feels like only a couple months after that party and race for more time, you find yourself celebrating you’re the big “40” birthday. At this point for most of us, is the time when we began to dream and even focus more about the dream to eventually retire. Miraculously, we understand a lot of language that involves the stock market we could not comprehend 5 years prior. We began conversing more about saving money for retirement along with the financial push to assure college tuition for the kids.

Around the time that we have only been in the work force twenty years and now are striving to keep the kids in the house for their safety but at the same time trying to get them out of the house. That little island paradise or big valley where we will quit working begins to whisper your name and appear in our dreams more frequently.

What a race! It’s as if we spend most our lives speed reading, flipping through the book of life’s pages determined to finish first. The funny part of it all is the fact that we all have to age to reach retirement. The realities of aging never really occur to you while your racing.

My husband and I married very young and in hind sight we hurried a lot of our lives away but eventually there came a time when we started trying harder to back track. It was almost as if one morning we looked into a mirror only to find out that all the while we were racing against time, time was racing against us as well. What seemed to be infallible tight areas of skin on my body started sagging? Areas I had no fat in began to hold what seemed like a warehouse of fat..lol. Okay, I don’t want to be negative or scare you but let me finish. Lol. Your bones start squeaking, joints begin to pop and one of the biggest surprises is that instead of growing as when you were young you began shrinking!

A few months ago I went to a doctor and he measured my height, he said that I was 5’3″ and I know I’m 5’4″. I said “please measure me again,” the turkey had a smile on his face when he said, “Jeanetta you are shrinking”. I thought to myself humorously, Dear God, where are you? When the Doctor and I sat down for a talk, can you believe I asked him if growth hormones would be effective?

Now instead of racing forward a lot of us began visiting the health food store checking out with a cart full of youth rejuvenation lotions, longevity potions and vitamin pills. Oh my Lord! All I wanted was to get to be five years old and make it to kindergarten! It is hilarious watching seniors back peddling, that are racing to turn the clock backwards. Now days you can get everything sucked out tucked up and zapped, that’s all good but your internal clock is still ticking into the ibis.

At the age of 85 my Uncle Paul asked my husband how old are you Charles? Charles at the time was 62. Charles also had just received a couple of his social security checks and was feeling real good about it until Uncle Paul lovingly said ,” man it is all downhill from here”. Uncle Paul, as our elders like to do (inform us..lol), elaborated and begin to tell my husband Charles the things that would start coming with aging as a senior. Uncle Paul went on the tell Charles about his teeth, hair, eyes, joints, muscles, balance, memory and a few other things I won’t mention (use your imagination) lol. Why did Uncle Paul through in this line? “Charles my boy, when you are young money is spent on spare parts for a car but when you get older, you are in need of a few spare parts.” Man the expression on Charles face was priceless after that phone call. I could have picked that face up off the floor and handed it back to him.

Its funny when I was younger its seemed as if everybody was graduating, pregnant or getting married. Now that I am older sometimes I feel as if we did all that racing to push the clock ahead to retirement just to eventually attempt just as hard to move it backwards in vein.

Don’t laugh, but I stopped wearing a watch in the hopes that by not wearing one I would slow time down. To be honest, some nights I don’t like to go to bed because when I get up, I’ll be a day older. Then I remember that if I don’t get up I’m not alive, man that is the pits.

Moving to Costa Rica does not change life’s natural progression. I don’t care how slow the pace of life is here or the beauty/tranquility of your final destination. That sucker we call a time, keeps on racing. Please don’t feel that you have to race to retirement!! Don’t wish your life away!!

Hey!! I’m having a great time with this retirement life. I eat well, travel often and exercise daily. I’m feeling blessed, meeting good people and loving it!! When you get a chance to visit Costa Rica, stop by, have lunch, sit with me on my tropical Veranda. My Veranda is one of the few places you can sit that makes you feel as if time stopped!!

Jeanetta

“Pura Vida”

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An Ex-Pat Widow in Costa Rica

Admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:50:38 +0000

An Ex-Pat Widow in Paradise

When my husband and I first visited Costa Rica we had no plans of living life without each other. It seemed quite sudden that Charles, my husband of 47 years passed on to the next level. I believe there are three levels to our existence on earth, birth, life and death. We both envisioned a place beyond this earthly realm where our spirits would live on forever.

Charles and I moved to Costa Rica a little more than 12 years ago. Unlike many Ex-Pats who dream and plan for years about living in Costa Rica, we arrived in Paradise for a relaxing vacation and chose Costa Rica as our main retirement destination.

When Charles died, life in Costa Rica became a new beginning for me as a widow. The realities of being widowed in Costa Rica are a large part of “living” in Costa Rica. For me it’s no longer as a “paradise” for two love birds but a new beginning all alone. Some of my experiences after my husband’s death were so very challenging I’ve decided to share them.

Charles died on our 47th wedding anniversary; we were married in Wildflecken Germany on January 2nd and 3rd 1962. Charles died January 2nd I think but don’t know for sure, it may have been on the 3rd, 2009 as he passed sometime during the night. Charles wanted so badly to be married 50 years. I guess that celebration was simply not meant to be.

On Jan 2nd 2009 the morning before Charles died, we went to the gym worked out and even discussed dying in physically fit condition on the way home. During the ride home we promised each other that no matter what, we would continuously exercise and eat healthy foods. Looking back it seems as such a strange conversation to have had. Most of the time when we discuss things we are always thinking in terms of the future not knowing that the future is actually today.

That morning Charles bench pressed about 350 lbs. Yes, my husband was what you would call a gym rat at 67, still very fit and active; he often played handball and basketball with the younger crowd. There were no previous indications that he felt bad or sick. That evening after dinner and light conversation, Charles went to bed. The next morning I awoke as the alarm clock would not stop buzzing. As I reached across my lovers chest to turn it off I realized that Charles, my love, the father of my children, my high school sweet heart had gone on to his final level. In that moment I was faced with the stark realization that all that was left of Charles was his body.

As I attempted to hold his large frame in my small arms, while staring at him lovingly, he appeared to have such a pleasant look on his face. It was an intense look of peace as if he was simply dreaming pleasantly. Then “BAM!!” my next thought was “What am I going to do? I began yelling for my workers. They all rushed into the bedroom and stared at Charles with great disbelief. After we all gathered our thoughts a local doctor was contacted to examine Charles. The doctor said that Charles had been dead for about 9 hours. That means he was probably dead when I joined him in the bed later the evening before or he may have died while I was sleeping, it will always be a mystery to me. When the doctor asked me if I wanted Charles to be embalmed, I said yes, he then made several phone calls but could not reach anyone to perform the embalming. In Costa Rica death is treated quite simply, not like in the US where it seems to always be a complicated affair.

For many years I had been toting Charles’ Army uniform around with us everywhere we traveled after his retirement from the military. Charles did not know that I wanted to be sure that when he passed, where ever we were I could bury him in it. Charles’ Army uniform was hanging on the closet door the day he died. The day before, laughingly while talking to a guest Charles said he could not understand my reasoning for carrying the uniform around everywhere we went. A few days prior Charles had sent his uniform out to be cleaned as it had been hanging in the closet and it smelled very moldy. It was hanging on the door so he could put his award pins back on.

The Doctor asked, Jeanetta have you ever considered cremation. Immediately I began to stare at the uniform hanging on the closet door and thought about MY desire to bury Charles in his uniform. In my mind, burying him in his military uniform would be a continuing part of OUR story. Over the years we had spent much of our lives together while Charles was in the Army. For a moment I felt that if I cremated him I would lose the chance to recognize and acknowledge that very important part of our story. He would not have a white cross nor be buried in a Veterans cemetery. There would be no ceremonies on Memorial Day for me to attend.

Ultimately dreams are just dreams and reality sets in. It was simply impossible to bury a US Veteran in Costa Rica in US military fashion. I could have had him sent to the Veterans Cemetery in Panama but that would require a lot of details. Reality dictated that having a military burial like I could have had in the United States disappeared when we chose to live in Costa Rica. These were the type of thoughts I was tossing over in my mind while my precious husbands body lye there in bed.

I decided to cremate Charles’ remains. My Attorney drove me to the crematorium in San Jose where I signed several papers and paid for the service. After three days I received Charles’ remains along with all the necessary documents needed for the Embassy. Even though it’s been a few years now, I still find it difficult to repeat the words “he died or he is dead”.

I learned a lot about a wife’s status when your husband dies in Costa Rica according to custom and laws. Take all the thoughts of what would happen at home in the US after your spouse’s death out of your mind right now. Once again “BAM!!” The reality of “living” in Costa Rica set in. As we always had in the US, Charles and I had a bank account that I assumed was our joint account. I quickly learned that they do not have joint accounts in Costa Rica. My banker told me to take all the money out by using a cash machine. She informed me that once the bank discovers the main account holder is dead they close the account and you cannot withdraw any money until the estate is probated.

Don’t die in Costa Rica without a will. Charles’ will was just finalized in December 2008 and he died in January 2009. Don’t assume that because you are married, like in the United States, that all property would naturally go to the surviving spouse. If your property is incorporated, there will be no trouble if you have signing authority which requires both signatures. If your property is in an individual’s name then that is where the trouble begins. The U.S. Embassy is some help but not much. The U.S. Embassy gave me a certified death certificate that one of the insurance companies would not accept. The Registrar de Costa Rica gave me one original death certificate and several copies. My insurance company also would not accept those copies because they were carbonized copies. In order to get another original copy you have to submit to the Registrar de Costa Rica. It can take as long as 3 months to get another original.

Also you inherit telephone lines in Costa Rica as well. We had our telephones in our individual names and not the corporation’s name and in order to transfer the service into the name of the corporation I needed to have a will that stated Charles left me his possessions. The many reasons for incorporating became very clear. Everyone talks about incorporating to protect yourself against lawsuits but from my experience, if you have property it makes the transfer of title, especially in the event of death or incapacitation very simple. The only things that need to be transferred are the shares.

My income dropped more than 50% upon my husband’s death. One thing about death is that the person leaves but their financial obligations stay behind. If you are living in Costa Rica, perhaps by reading my story you will start making preparations for what will happen one day. If you are coming to live in Costa Rica or even coming for a long visit, check into what should be done if you or your partner dies in Costa Rica. Charles knew that one day he would leave me. I don’t think he ever doubted that he would die first. He suffered from some conditions generated by Agent Orange and I think looking back at some of his conversations and actions he knew it would be only a matter of time. I was a military wife and a good soldier always prepares his spouse for the inevitable because one day he may leave and not return home and that is what my husband did.

Charles’ remains are buried across the river in the back yard beneath a beautiful braided fichus tree in the center of several fruit trees in out central garden. He always enjoyed that garden. All and all we shared a beautiful love story and it ended in “Paradise”. As a widow I sit in my new “Paradise” enjoying what my husband provided for me. Reflecting on my life here in Costa Rica, I know we made the right choice when we decided to stay many years ago

Our guest house is growing and still going strong. Please come by and visit La Terraza Guesthouse upon your next visit to Grecia or Costa Rica. I would love to hear your story and share my experience. You can stop by and have lunch or simply book an overnight stay. I promise you I’ll be here until Jesus comes and takes me to my next level (smile).

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Costa Rica living

Admin — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:15:23 +0000

If you clicked on this blog, then you are among the millions of people looking at the possibility of coming to Costa Rica to live. My husband Charles was a dreamer, every time we went on vacation he would fall in love with the place. We were always looking for that final destination after retirement. It never mattered where we went, Charles would mentally settle there. We never realized that one of the reasons we had contemplated purchasing a home, was because we were mentally operating in the vacation mode. When you go on a vacation from that nine to five grind we call a job, everything looks good. Commitments, obligations and responsibilities bring on, attitudinal change.
When you are on vacation things look so great, you are happy, carefree, relaxed and at peace with the world.
Costa Rica is a great place to visit. As an American you have to adjust to how things are done.
Socialized government, most of us from the US don’t know what that means. We are not mandated by law to do most things. We can decide our course of life and pursue it, often without limitations or challenges. We have the freedom to be free, sure we have challenges. As Americans we have a shoot, kill and eat attitude. We are Johnny get your gun and Annie Oakleys, all rolled in one. We are from the wild, wild west. If we don’t like something we get a sign and start walking to Washington, D.C.
Costa Rica is a great place to live. The climate is absolutely the best I’ve found. The people are genuinely nice.
The biggest mistake most of us make when we come to Costa Rica is making our assumptions. You can’t assume. Their laws are different, we are not used to them and it is very important to investigate before investing. If I want to drive my van to Panama, I need to get permission.
Ladies, ladies, ladies, male chauvinism is alive and well here in Costa Rica. The law of two twentie for one forty is not a saying here, it is a fact. The women here are still washing their husbands shoes and getting up at 4:00 am to prepare his breakfast. Oh yes, plus many of them are working now.
I laugh when people call me asking questions about living here. Most of them don’t want to know the truth. They want me to paint some sort of vision from heaven picture, where everything is right with the world. Costa Rica is not heaven, the same devil running around in the US, also lives here. The only difference is he speaks Spanish.
My consultations are free, but if you come to my B&B here in Grecia, there is a charge for your room.
I’ve been living and doing business in Costa Rica successfully for 10 years, and it amazes me, how many Americans come here to live based on information on the intosta Rica we have not had a drive by shooting.
It’s been an experience living in Costa Rica. This is the only country I’ve lived in, that a stop sign means go. Costa Ricans are discretionary abiders of traffic laws.
Every year I vow not to tell people what it is really like to live in Costa Rica, they just don’t want to hear the truth.

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