Agreed!
Plus it costs less to live here. I have a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment on the 6th floor with killer views in Barrio Amon, huge, fully furnished, elec, cable, cable internet, water, washer/dryer, hot water heater, etc. for $650 a month!
The equivalent in S. Florida would be easy $1500 and that would be on the low end, more likely closer to $2k with the high a/c expense.
I just had a colonoscopy and "gastroscopia" at CIMA, a top hospital that can compete with any in the USA with a top Doc in the field, $550!!! Expect $3,000 to $4,000 for that in the USA. Another time I had to go to the emergency room years ago for dehydration. Total cost there, $300, and my Tico friends insisted I got ripped off...if I went to the public hospital instead of CIMA they said it would've been $100.
I have two stunning gorgeous favoritas who visit me without a timer in their hands and deliver mind boggling magnificent gfe for $80 and are sweet, intelligent and don't steal...IF you could get that in the USA, and that's a big "IF", expect to pay $300 or more.
Also in my twilight years, it's exciting to be learning a new language, experiencing a new culture, learning to navigate a totally different system than what I'm used to. Oddly, most of my friends in the USA are still married and I have more single friends here!
Yea, yea, yea, I hear the naysayers wail that things aren't what they used to be and various things, mostly imports are more expensive than the good old days but if you know how to shop and do your own cooking and avoid expensive gringo trap restaurants, you can live on a lot less.
I can easily afford to be here on my social security and savings, but luckily I can still work via internet so I put in 15 to 20 hours a week, I couldn't do that in the USA and live comfortably and certainly not get weekly poon tang!
Some things here are more difficult than the luxuries we take for granted in the USA, but sometimes finding out how to get around the aggravation is fun, challenging and rewarding.
I always meet guys and strike up conversations with total strangers, I know millionaires and I know guys living off $1500 a month social security. Pretty much everyone seems friendly and it's interesting to meet fellow non judgemental mongers from all over the country and make new friends. Back in the USA we mostly stick with our family and friends we've known since David slew Goliath and seldom want to make new friends.
It's not perfect here and many times just routine things in the USA are a headache here and we all know "manana" means "not now", but these minor aggravations are endurable when you think of the positives.
I've been coming here since 2003 and lived here two years, 2007-2009, and decided long ago I wanted to retire here and I just did this January. I'm from S Florida so getting "home" to visit relatives and do whatever is a 3 hour flight away.
Sometimes when I go home I look at my suits, dress pants, dress shirts and ties I just can't seem to give up that I left with a friend and I miss wearing them and working and hustling, but normally no more than 5 minutes...that's a part of my past now.
I hear some crybabies can't take it and go running home, not me, I've applied for residency, this is my home now until I find myself tap dancing, sweating and making excuses to St. Peter...