Despite inflation being out of control in Costa Rica, our country still manages to attract North American expatriates, and quite a few end up staying here to enjoy their retirement. Such is the case of Jen, a published author who has kindly provided The Costa Rica Star with an excerpt of her eBook Costa Rica Chica:

Have you ever wanted to quit your job and “retire early”?

Fed up with the “more, more, more” mentality of North America, Jen and her husband Greg made the unusual choice of quitting their jobs in their early 40’s, selling everything, and moved to Costa Rica with just 9 suitcases.

Find out what made them consider this in the first place, how they did it, and why they have no regrets!

Bonus chapters include Jen’s special recipe for making bite-sized éclairs and a packing list for YOUR move to Costa Rica.

 

Excerpt from Costa Rica Chica: RETIRING EARLY, SIMPLIFYING MY LIFE, & REALIZING THAT LESS IS BEST

“Greg and I have never felt like a “normal” couple exactly… we don’t always go with the flow of society. We love living our lives the way we want to, on our own terms. It is incredibly refreshing, even though sometimes we tire of answering the tedious questions of people who don’t get it and who want to argue with us about how we live our lives.

But, moving to a foreign country? Quitting our successful careers with no plans to work? When we are just beginning our 4th decade of life? That seemed “out there” even for us!

Here we were considering moving to a foreign country, but Greg and I had never even traveled that much. I actually happened to possess a passport, but I had only been out the country a few times: to Paris with my mom, which turned out to be an incredible girls’ trip, and a few times to Mexico with Greg at all-inclusive resorts. Although, I am not even sure Mexico can be considered a “foreign country” for those of us who live in Texas.

I am not a travel-bug type of person, but my husband is (ironically I had a passport, and he did not). He’s always talking about wanting to go places, most of them out of the country; this goes back to that “dreamer” thing. It is one of those differences between us. You spend a huge chunk of money and then it’s gone. Yes, you have the memories and pictures, but you can also have cool memories (and pictures) of things that happen in the States without having to travel very far. In fact, we could just stay in Dallas.

I had so many questions to answer. Did I want to move far away from Dallas? Did I want to leave the job where I had been for 18 years? Did I want to leave my friends and family? Did we have enough money to do this?

So, I thought. And I contemplated. And I considered.

And the more I thought things over… .”

 

About the author

Jen is the Costa Rica Chica. When she’s not writing or blogging, she is either hiking, baking, yoga-ing, sipping coffee, making arm candy or enjoying a glass of (boxed) wine. She lives with her husband in Grecia, province of Alajuela. This is a quiet agricultural region located just outside the Central Valley, and it remains a secret among expats. Pura Vida!