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gcrtexas4
  9/9/2014 10:53 EST

I know this topic has been beaten to death on every forum but I am going to ask anyhow. I will initially going to be living on $1500 monthly - just me and my pets. Next fall Social Security will start so that amount go up a bit. I know living costs depend on you lifestyle and expectations but I won't be living extravagantly. I will need a single family home though since I have 2 large dogs that need an enclosed space to run around in (one of the dogs is a runner since she is part greyhound). Does this sound doable?

Kohl
  9/9/2014 11:00 EST

$1500, should do you nicely although it will depend on your chosen location...and how much your dogs eat!

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PuraVida
  9/9/2014 11:19 EST

Speaking of dogs, I used to buy Purina in the supermarkets then I heard great things about a brand called Kirkland. Pricesmart sells it, half the price of Purina and my dog likes it.

Kohl
  9/9/2014 11:27 EST

Kirkland is a 'Costco' company.

whitewolf007
  9/9/2014 12:10 EST

Regarding bringing your dogs...have you checked out the restrictions and prices importing your large dogs?...We had Ibizan Hounds similar in size to Greyhounds......the only way to bring them because of crate restrictions was with an importer. The dogs required a 700 crate..only a few flights come here from USA that accommodate these crates.....with the costs and customs fees to bring them was over $3,500 each dog....and we checked around. If you are looking at living by a jungle as we do, having a running breed is not safe for them. Our choice was to leave our girls very reluctantly with the co-owner...a difficult choice, but we ain't in Kansas anymore...no,...... we have crocodiles, vipers and everything else....

Kohl
  9/9/2014 12:31 EST

Good point, whitewolf!
Our dogs have been bitten by a 'big cat' and by snakes...and have had multiple Bot flies 8-(

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gcrtexas4
  9/9/2014 12:40 EST

Well, they are basically indoor critters and I could do a "snake" run of the yard before letting them out. I'm thinking if I can catch and release rattlesnakes that I could manage to remove them there. They are both about 13 years old which is not young for a larger dog. It would probably be hard to find someone to take them and hard to leave them. Fortunately they are both on the smaller side of large. Except for weight on the lab mix...she pushes 80 lbs - thyroid issues. :)

Kohl
  9/9/2014 12:47 EST

Any animal over 100lbs including crate. is required to travel as 'Cargo'

More varieties than rattlesnakes here....

AttorneyKearney
  9/9/2014 16:10 EST

$1500 a month you can live very confortably, You should get started on residency as soon as you can, the process is slow but you should have no problem.
Lic.Gregory Kearney Lawson.
[email protected]

gcrtexas4
  9/9/2014 16:17 EST

I am retiring at the end of February but won't start drawing retirement until the next month. I plan to use some of my massive amount of leave time to spend a week in February to find a place to live and take me and the critters down in March. You can't start the residency process until you draw retirement, can you?

Kohl
  9/9/2014 16:46 EST

Yes, you have to be in receipt of a pension to apply as a Pensionado.
Don't rush to make a choice, since you first thought that Nicaragua was for you.
It will possibly take a year to get your cedula, so you will not be covered by the healthcare system until then.

Some additional information:
http://www.costaricalaw.com/Immigration-and-Residency/residency-general-information-and-summary.html

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reneeabc123
  9/19/2014 04:21 EST

Oh Gee - What kind of "big cat" bit your dogs? Also, what kind of snakes bit your dogs? DId they survive? What a shame.

reneeabc123
  9/19/2014 04:28 EST

I applied for residency BEFORE retirement. I had my employer write a letter indicating that my pension would be at least $1000. per month
if I retired today.

Kohl
  9/19/2014 08:10 EST

Ah...but has your application been 'approved' and not just 'accepted for consideration' by immigration? It is not 'usual' for immigration to accept a 'letter' for either Pensionado. You are required to included documents Apostilled or certified depending on your country of origin.

The 'big cat' that caught one small dog, was a Jaguarundi, from the quick glance we had of it.
One large dog was bitten by a rattlesnake and another was bitten on the throat by an unidentified snake that left a 3" hole in the neck which didn't show for 4 day, until the skin fell off....and the vet couldn't say for definite which snake it was.

reneeabc123
  9/19/2014 19:30 EST

We went to a reputable lawyer in San Jose and this is what the attorney advised us to do.All our paperwork was apostilled including the letter from my employer. Nothing has been approved yet since it has only been 2 months or so. The attorney was confident that all would be approved.In fact he said "when it gets approved" not "if it gets approved" We'll see in time. Remember , nothing is consistent and laws change all the time in CR.We're not worried.
Too bad about your dogs. Did they survive?

Kohl
  9/20/2014 09:27 EST

The one who received the rattlesnake bite, was taken to the vet immediately and recovered quite quickly. This was one of the same dogs who had been poisoned, previously but had recovered. She had also had been hit, by accident, on the forehead by a machete and received many, many stitches when she walked up behind a worker... so this dog is protected...!
The other snakebite victim, was off his food for a day or so, then his jaws didn't work properly,so he was taken to the vet who first though it was a problem with ticks.. Then his tongue was paralyzed, so he went, back to the vet. The next day the skin under his neck fell off showing leaving a gaping hole that showed it was indeed a snakebite. We had to keep the 'hole' open for a month and had to clean it out twice a day, by inserting a rubber gloved finger in the hole to stop it healing out too fast. So after two months he was OK and now no sign of the hole...The vet said the bite, was not from a deadly venomous snake but another with other with less poison, but he suffered more than the other one but with no long term effects.
Sadly the one who was caught by the caught by the big cat, eventually passed away.

Hope your retirement paperwork is accepted.

reneeabc123
  9/20/2014 14:06 EST

I'm glad that one of your dogs survived these horrific ordeals - being poisoned, etc.. I can't believe the other dog survived too but unfortunately passed away. Thanks for your well wishes about our paperwork being accepted. If it doesn't get approved, I will then show them that I am indeed retired at that point. Everything always works out - I am very diligent about following up and doing what I can to get things to happen. I have the CR mindset.

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