5 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Costa Rica

Here’s a new article I just read on a website that has heretofore not been very helpful, but this article is true even if incomplete:  5 Things You Should Know Before Moving to CR
 http://www.expatfocus.com/c/aid=1849/articles/costa-rica/5-things-you-should-know-before-moving-to-costa-rica/%5dhere%5b/url/  It seems to address someone who wants to work here rather than retire here. HERE’S MY SUMMARY:

1. The laid-back culture is really different from the USA and requires an adjustment!
2. The cost of living is not cheaper here unless you choose to live simpler than in states. 
3. Import Taxes are very high, making cars very expensive. Otherwise buy local!
4. Commuting to and from the city of San Jose is expensive and stressful unless you do it by bus. Reconsider if you plan to drive in and out for work!
5. Working here can be legally complicated unless you work online. See a local lawyer first.

And my more practical suggestions for a retiree that I’ve listed before:

• ARCR (Association of Residents of Costa Rica) I joined early on and they have by for been the most helpful with moving, residency preparation, medical, legal and lots of every day practical stuff plus they have a monthly newsletter/magazine with helpful articles. And maybe best of all is their monthly 2-day seminar on living in Costa Rica that I consider almost a requirement for moving here.
• Some kind of relocation tour – there are several – Though the leader is a rather arrogant know-it-all, I found the Living in Costa Rica Tour to be very helpful and it included the ARCR Seminar above
• 10 Qualities of Successful Expats I got from someone else’s blog 
• And on that same blog, 17 Reasons You Should Not Move to Costa Rica  being practical!
• And a similar list from International Living Magazine: Are You Cut Out for the Expat Life?

• Some of my early reasons for considering a move to Costa Rica
• More reasoning in my Costa Rica Decision Process  But really, you need to read the whole first year’s worth of blogs to get the whole picture of what I did and why I moved to Costa Rica
• Some initial nitty gritty questions answered by me