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A Carefree Beach Life in This Laidback Surf Town

A Carefree Beach Life in This Laidback Surf Town

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November 20, 2015

I’m up a bit after sunrise for my daily ritual. It starts with a long leisurely walk on the beach. Something about the sound of crashing waves, watching anchored boats bob on the horizon, and the cool weather before the heat of the day hits…it just puts me in the right mood. I live in Tamarindo, on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast. It’s a small town, popular with tourists, where life revolves around the beach. Surfing, which put Tamarindo on the map in the 1990s, is still huge here.

“I Wouldn’t Trade My Life in Sunny Spain For Anything”

“I Wouldn’t Trade My Life in Sunny Spain For Anything”

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November 9, 2015

An argument with a girlfriend was how I ended up in Spain. Having set sail on a cruise ship from Genoa, Italy, and following a tour of the Canary Islands, we were on our way home, and docked in Spain's southern port city of Malaga. In a moment of stubbornness, and after being told there was no other berth for me to move in to, I packed up all my worldly belongings and walked off the boat. My Spanish life had begun...and it was probably the best decision of my life.

Save up to 50% on Living Costs With Panama’s Retiree Program

Save up to 50% on Living Costs With Panama’s Retiree Program

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October 29, 2015

When I decided to get away from the cold winters of Colorado, Panama attracted me with its warmer climate, low cost of living, and first-rate infrastructure. That alone was worth moving for…but as a retiree here, it gets even better. One of the national laws of Panama can make the already low cost of living even lower. Law #6 entitles any resident of the country who is a female over 55 or male over 60 to receive a discount on specific services.

Rent: $225; Electricity: $30…My Low-Cost Bills in Costa Rica

Rent: $225; Electricity: $30…My Low-Cost Bills in Costa Rica

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October 23, 2015

I start each day with a freshly brewed cup of local coffee...and think about how lucky I am to live where I do, the beautiful city of Alajuela, in Costa Rica's expat favorite of the Central Valley. It's always been a dream of mine to live abroad and now I can say that it's a dream come true. Back in Seattle I worked in nursing, specifically Alzheimer's care, a career I'd had since graduating high school.

Half the Cost, Double the Freedom Living in Costa Rica

Half the Cost, Double the Freedom Living in Costa Rica

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October 20, 2015

Fed up with the harsh Midwest winters and tired of working too much to pay for a life we didn't have time to enjoy, my husband, Junior, and I decided we weren't willing to wait for retirement to see the world and enjoy life. Just before Christmas last year, we started researching our overseas options. We sold all of our belongings after New Year and at the start of April this year, we landed in Costa Rica...without ever having been here before.

Enjoy Beach Life All Year Round in Panama

Enjoy Beach Life All Year Round in Panama

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October 19, 2015

With the coming of fall, my family and friends in the States find themselves thinking of the long, cold winter approaching. It's not just the ice and snow they have to cope with, but the enormous heating bills, and not being able to enjoy the outdoors. But not me...living in Panama I don't ever have a heating bill and I haven't seen snow in years. The great outdoors is my playground all year round here in the Chiriqui province of western Panama. And that includes being able to go to the beach anytime I want.

Replacing the Rat Race with Stunning Views and Good Healthcare

Replacing the Rat Race with Stunning Views and Good Healthcare

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August 25, 2015

"In the U.S., you're always going, going, going...it's so easy to lose sight of where you're headed. Life got too fast-moving for us", explains Ray Granade. "We always needed to be somewhere, quickly, then somewhere else. It seemed like we were spending an extraordinary amount of time sitting in traffic. Now the longest we wait in the car is usually for a herd of cattle to cross the road," he adds, saying he and his wife Kim, both 63, also wanted to escape the consumerism in the U.S.

A Growing Expat Community and Affordable Living in Lake-Side Costa Rica

A Growing Expat Community and Affordable Living in Lake-Side Costa Rica

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August 11, 2015

As I came over the last hill on the road from Tilaran, a small town about 10 minutes from the shore of Lake Arenal, I could see what makes Arenal so special. The stunning lake vistas opened up before me... Most of the land here is forest, pasture, or farm—split by rivers, streams, and rocky waterfalls...natural and unspoiled. And it has that small-town feel, where strangers say "Buenas tardes" as you walk through town or wave if you drive by.

Swapping Cold Winters For a Caribbean Island

Swapping Cold Winters For a Caribbean Island

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August 10, 2015

Sipping wine sitting on the deck of his 36-foot cabin cruiser, Fish Trap, John Pasnau takes a slow deep breath of clean, salt air and reflects on his new life. He and his wife, Valerie, are getting ready to cast off for a short cruise to watch another Caribbean sunset along the Riviera Maya. "Retiring to Mexico almost a year ago was probably the best decision I've ever made...except for asking Valerie to marry me," he says.