Posted on 04/23/2024 3:06:01 PM PDT by nickcarraway
US Family Finds New Life in Costa Rican Blue Zone
CNN published the story of a U.S. family that moved to Costa Rica, and it changed their lives completely. Kema Ward-Hopper and Nicholas Hopper decided to get married in the Central American nation, and years later, they made the decision to permanently relocate. Now, they live in one of Costa Rica’s blue zones, an area characterized by longevity, a slow-paced life, and a healthy lifestyle.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months before their wedding in 2016. “[I had] started treatment and everything. If you see pictures from my wedding, I didn’t have hair, and I didn’t really look like myself. But I was sick,” she told CNN. When she found herself in Costa Rica, she realized she felt different and felt as good as she had felt after her diagnosis.
“That was the first indicator that there was something special about Costa Rica,” she added. Kema Ward-Hopper had to undergo a unilateral mastectomy and a reconstruction surgery.
Subsequently, in August 2017, their family home in Houston, Texas, was destroyed by Category 4 Hurricane Harvey. Then, they decided it was time to leave. “We ended up losing our home. So, it just seemed like a lot of bad things [happening] back-to-back,” Ward-Hopper said.
They explored different options and ended up choosing Costa Rica, as they were amazed by the country’s health care and education system, as well as the environmental protections.
The nation’s proximity to the US was also a factor that weighed in. Back in 2018, they decided to make Pueblo Nuevo, in Nicoya, their new home. They spent some time in the area and loved the feeling of adventure. The family loved the sense of community and how friendly people are. They pointed out the health benefits they’ve experienced and how wonderful it is for their kids to be surrounded by nature.
“We have noticed that we feel better when we’re here. Our cardiac health and lung health seem to be better,” she added. The family enjoys the slow-paced life and all the benefits that come with it.
While they don’t know if they will remain in Costa Rica forever, they certainly believe “it feels like home” for the moment.
My guess is that the food grown in volcanic soils loaded with minerals is the reason.
Maybe they’re fleeing the taxes.
Lot of Americans going there. I would very careful about such a move.
https://ticotimes.net/2016/05/18/60-tico-times-celebrates-tradition-reinvention#comments-93713
Lot of academics go there do to sabbatical “research,” effectively taxpayer subsidized extended vacations.
Wife and I are thinking about moving there.
The U.S. won’t be around at this rate.
Hmmmm, I’ve been looking to retire somewhere other than the US. I wonder what life down there is REALLY like. There is a gentleman who frequents FR who lives in the Philippines. He swears by it but I’m not convinced. But the way this country is going, perhaps living in another country is the way to go.
Not sure how much the natives are going to like the Gringo invasion.
Thoseother countries will foldlike a two dollar suitcase without US protection and subsidy.
Nice climate
Reasonable costs
Good med care
Friendly people
Big expat community to make the transition easier
Growing economy
Pure life
You would be best integrated if you learn Spanish
Normal mañana culture
I imagine that if the US collapses, all these little countries will no longer be so friendly, especially if the dollar goes kaput. In other words, there’s ultimately no escape.
[Not sure how much the natives are going to like the Gringo invasion.]
They’ll like it fine until the greenbacks dry up. Then there’ll be a new game in town - Get The Gringo.
Some good possibilities
-Costa Rica
-Vilcabamba, Ecuador
-David/Boquete, Panama
-Belize city
-Lake Chapala, Mexico
For those who don’t like humidity 5,000’ of elevation reduces heat and humidity. Due to elevation and mountains nearly all climates are in Ecuador. I’ve even read that around the equator ppl can just about order their climate such as “I want upper 50s at night and low 80s daytime with humidity below 60%” and it can be found.
Oh, and many of these places are on the dollar or have favorable exchange rates. Some even have Super Walmarts in town. Health care is cheaper too.
BINGO!
Those are my thoughts. There’s that age old theory called the “domino effect”. The application here is if the US falls, others will quickly fall afterwards. It would only be a matter of time before insurgents start working on places like Costa Rica.
If the US falls I do not know exactly how that will happen. We must consider the patriots and all the guns within the population not to mention hoards of ammo. I do not think the US will just fold and cease. I think there will be much civil strife first possibly bringing about a dictator of some sort that will give some level of stability.
We have no plans to move to any other country. We currently live in one of the safest spots in the country and probably the last affected by any revolution of sorts.
Ok, look, we were just there on a vacation. It’s a third world country. High taxes. All spent on health care and social system. Almost impossible to start a business because of the regulation. Import taxes on clothing and cars 30%. Form of government is about the same as far as freedoms and legislature, courts, etc. But the housing is rough. People are friendly, true. Lots of fresh fruit, flowers, vegetables, rice, coffee. Warm all the time. High cost of living—I bought a paperback book that would have cost $13.00 here—it was $25 there. So it’s not heaven. If you don’t work for the government or a resort, good luck.
Soon Central America will be a paradise. All their criminals are coming here to the USA.
Good things to know. Thanks for your insight.
I like your FR page and what you had to say. Very insightful and very wise.
There are a good number of Americans who are not blonde hair blue eyes and speak fluent Spanish of both forms the European form and the Latin American form. We don’t look nor sound like the “gringo” you speak of we will be welcome in Latin America. Most native truly native Texans fit my above description we are Latin American by blood by language and by culture. The border crossed us in the 1700/1800s not the other way around.
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