Costa Rica Forum

CruzinCostarica
Joined 2009
Posts: 181

12 years ago

What NOT to bring when moving to CR

12 years ago

Hi all, been reading this stuff about furniture and what to bring when you move, etc, etc.

I think sometimes people over complicate things.

If there was an advantage to moving here, it was (a) I had already visited many times, and seen all the other options (from Ecuador to the Caribbean to other Central American countries.) And we approached it from the mid set that Costa rica was our final destination, and mentally removed any option of ever moving back to the US or Canada.

That "you must adapt and thrive" attitude worked well for me, as you will adapt quicker if you stop looking over your shoulder as an escape rough if things get tough, They WILL get tough until you adapt.

So when we moved here full time in Dec. 2001, we essentially brought ONLY things from our life that could not be replaced, photos, documents, etc. Traveled VERY light.

We were financially wiped out in the dot com crash but pursued our dream of leaving the rat race up north. BUT, that meant that we got off the plane with 3 daughters, 2, 9 and 14, and NO job, NO savings, ($9,000 cash) and virtually no Spanish (me :-) .

We rented a place that was 80% furnished with CR furniture and appliances, bought an old used Montero 4x4, got 2 cell phones and got internet installed, and got bank accounts set up the 1st 2/3 days.

We put the girls in local public schools in San Jose the same 1st week, 2 of the 3 have now graduated HS and in University here and my youngest is just starting High School, and obviously now all 3 are 100% bi lingual.

Job was not a problem, as what I do I can do anywhere I have internet/phone and I have been self employed for 30 years, so I just formed a CR corporation and went to work doing what I have always done, Venture Capital sourcing for developments and consulting, and started learning the CR market.

When we were packing in the states before moving, I was stressing about all the same things I see here, and more.

When my Costa Rican wife saw this, she said, lets keep it simple, do things like a Tico. Costa Rica has shopping for everything you need, so lets NOT take anything, when we get there, we will buy what the locals buy and live like the locals, the things they sell in CR are more suited for CR, they have adapted what they sell there to be the best cost/quality balance for the environment of Costa Rica. Brining stuff designed for the North American environment to Costa Rica is illogical, if you can get what you need down there.

As usual, turned out she was 100% correct. You come into my home or offices, you will not feel like you are in a 3rd world country, and that would apply to just about every middle or upper class home in Costa Rica.

Everything was bought here in Costa Rica, and we've not experienced any problems that you could blame "the costa rican environment" on.

Computers, Cameras, and the like, frankly anything that is "new" technology, you can buy here, but you will pay 30-40% more, and the latest models will be 6 months delayed in arriving in CR.

But I have clients visiting monthly, so if I need something, I shop for the newest gadgets on the Internet, send them the cash, then have them bring it in their luggage, mainly because I can get a better price and I can get "the newest model" of whatever right away, as I am a tech power user.

My suggestion to one and all, is DON'T drag a lot down here, and dont over think / over analize the move, look at it as an adventure. It is likely sold here, and it's a version that does fine in CR.

Just one opinion, Any questions, feel free to email me directly.

PURA VIDA COSTA RICA..! :-)

Raymond Cruz
Skype: CostaRicaTeam
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