After two years of preparing through researching, selecting a hometown, and building our new "family compound" in Atenas, Costa Rica, Mike and I finally arrived here on December 9, 2012, with 10 pieces of checked luggage, senior citizen Chihuahua, Taco, and my mother-in-law, Nell. We were concerned about bringing Nell with us as it was a major change for her, but she seems very happy here. My dad will also be joining us next month. He loves it here!
For anyone contemplating a move of this magnitude, the groundwork and preparation should not be underestimated. There are so many details to handle at each stage. Thankfully, there have been some great websites to help provide checklists, advice, and most of all great friends both in Texas and Costa Rica who have been invaluable in making this move go smoothly.
The town of Atenas is small...only one traffic light. We have 3 grocery stores (at least that I have found), a nice open air market, and on Fridays there is a local farmer's market.
We are currently living in a very nice two bedroom Tico style (Costa Ricans are known as Ticos) located in the part of town known as Barrio San Jose Norte near the Mirador Restaurant. The property has a nice swimming pool, covered "rancho" (patio with bbq and kitchen) that also has a hot tub, and several citrus trees. We also have mango and guanabana trees.
We have spent our first few days dealing with some not so fun things that needed handled. We obtained a post office box (by the way you cannot purchase stamps at the post office!), went to the big city of San Jose to meet with our immigration lawyer to begin the process of applying for permanent residency, and went up to our house, which is currently rented, to scrounge for some personal goods to tide us over until we move there on March 8, 2013.
The weather here is so incredible...no air conditioning or heating needed. We are at about 3,000 ft elevation and about and hour away from the pacific coast. Earthquakes are frequent (had a 4.6 just two nights ago, but apparently we slept through it!), but no hurricanes, tornadoes, or snow storms! The daily highs are around 85 degrees and evenings 70 to 75 degrees...year round.
I especially love the early mornings and dusk when the Toucans, parrots and gobs of other birds are in abundance.....I will never cease to be amazed by the variety of plants and critters here. The Toucans are especially entertaining to watch and hear...sound like frogs.
I am a novice blogger so please be patient as I navigate my way through this new experience as well as a new life in Costa Rica.
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