(Prefer to watch versus read? Here's a 1 1/2 minute video.) Yesterday (May 11, 2025) I came across a Mother's Day post shared by a mostly foreign-owned, exclusive community selling overpriced lots and homes in Costa Rica. I'll give them points for posting in both...
Celebrating the holidays in Costa Rica
My first holiday season in Costa Rica was a world apart from the chilly, foggy winters of Northern California. By that time, I’d been living here for about seven months. And while it was over 12 years ago, I still so clearly remember several things about my first...
On living in a collective society, and ¡que dicha!
Sharing two meaningful concepts that I encourage you to adopt as you settle into life in Costa Rica. Prefer to watch a video? Watch here. https://youtu.be/YW6sPZtrk3U 1. Life in a collective society. The first concept is the idea of Costa Rica as a collective society,...
How I celebrated my 50th birthday
How did I celebrate my 50th birthday? Well, not how I thought I would. I moved. Así es la vida (such is life).… I trust and believe wildheartedly that this move is a step towards healing my broken body, fostering a deeper sense of community, and stepping into a new...
Voting while living abroad
I come from a generation where politics, religion, and sex were considered off-limits in casual conversation. But the online world has certainly shifted that perspective for many, hasn’t it? Personally, I tend to avoid discussing politics and religion because I...
FAQ: How often do you return home?
Here's a frequently asked question that my clients ask: "How often do you return home?" Well, I am home 😉 A better question would be: How often do you return to the US? ✈️ Answer: Once in the last 12 years. September 2019. Yep, you read that right. And only for 24...
Seeing a specialist at a Costa Rica public hospital
Back in March 2022, I visited a doctor at my local EBAIS (a public clinic), who assured me she would submit a referral for me to see a rheumatologist. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, the paperwork never went through. I even took a trip to San José to follow up, only...
Gentrification in Costa Rica
I recently saw a comment from a foreigner in a group, addressing gentrification. It reeked of colonialism. And honestly, it made me a little nauseous. But what really disturbed me is that a well-known person in these groups replied, praising the comment as brilliant...
How to celebrate your home country holidays while living in Costa Rica
I know not everyone will agree with me but… at least at this point in time, I don’t recommend supporting public events that are not traditionally Costa Rican. For example, a community-sponsored 4th of July event. It just reeks of colonization, cultural insensitivity...
Book update: Healthcare & Banking
A new health insurance plan has become available, offered by Costa Rica's national insurance program, INS. What makes this one so special? It offers health insurance to residents AND non-residents who have pre-existing conditions! Previously if you had pre-existing...
Hey there, I'm Chrissy
This is my little corner of the internet where I share all things about moving to and living in Costa Rica.