I'm glad I found your channel. I appreciate how you stay positive and recognize that you are living in a blessed place. In the end, every day is a new day. As the sun rises, and you look around, you can find the power to go on and start over. I think this autumn, we will opt for a fresh start in Costa Rica. We explored the country for two months last year and really felt connected with the places we stayed, experiencing life moving much slower than where we come from, and the Canary Islands already embody a slower style of living. For me, Uvita was the place I liked the most, though I also like Guanacaste, which is still kind of too dry, but I miss the morning and afternoon light in Nicoya, which is unreal. I like the Arenal area, but I still want to be close to the ocean, at least to see the ocean, and then the Caribbean side is another beautiful world. I´ll keep watching your videos:) Thank you!
Thank you very much, I never know how it will be received when I talk about my life,, but I have gotten nothing but support, which is pretty awesome. I got that shirt in Panama and as a bargain hunter am proud to say I got it for only $3 😆🤣
I was going to recommend melatonin but I see others have already... Another helpful tip for me which works magnificently is meditation before bedtime. You can listen to nature sounds or guided meditation works really well for me. Just know you are NOT alone. I just started watching your videos. Because my home is for sale. I live in canada.. And was playing with the idea of moving somewhere tropical.. So I really related to your earlier videos of trying to sell your house.. And all the stresses that come with it.. That's where I'am at right now 😅 Costa Rica looks so BEAUTIFUL, Ideally I would like to be a snowbird as I feel like I would miss my home Country of Canada. What are the mosquitoes like there are they terribly bad? I live in British Columbia. And we are exceptionally lucky with that as we have all the mountains...I've heard they can't fly over apparently.
Mosquitoes definitely vary from place to place, at my house they are not too bad until I go into the jungle or woods. I have been in Sierpe and had to run to get away from a cloud of them once🤣 I can relate the transition stress you are dealing with, but this too shall pass. Just keep moving forward👍
Sleep is tricky. If you are stressed all day you will have elevated adrenalin levels. So you are tired and wired. Theaanine in a powder form helps control that response by calm focus. put the powder in whatever you are drinking, up to 1200mg a day including just before bed. Melatonin 10mg and valerian root can help relax too.
Truly love the honesty and sincerity you put into your videos. Would love to hear about your journey and struggles with the Spanish language! Oh and love your point on cars. Feel like they're always breaking down and are incredibly expensive here!
Si, aprender español es una lucha diaria, pero al final tengo que esforzarme para aprender. I cheated with the translator with the above comment. 🤣Muchas gracias
Than you very much Kyle and I am happy you are enjoying the videos and it is my pleasure to share the cool people and places here for others to experience too.🙂👍
Man, this was a very important video! One should reflect from time to time and, yes, let people know, what it's all about LIVING, not just vacationing in Costa Rica! Of course, showing beautiful waterfalls and beach life is great, and everybody loves it, but I am sure, that people out there, like myself, who are really considering a move to CR, NEED videos like this one! Great work, Ed. Topics like car issues, making a living, culture shocks or medical problems and how to deal with them is important for everyone to know. And who can tell better, than you who now is looking foreward to 3 years in paradise!
Thanks Dirk, yes I have wondered if this channel will stand as a helpful guide to those coming to Costa Rica or a cautionary tale of what not to do🤣 Thanks for your support and encouragement and sharing your love for Costa Rica and it's natural world.
Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing where you are in your life right now in paradise! This is year 5 for me, and with each passing year, the new experiences are lessons that serve me in adjusting to this new way of life. I can relate to your trials and successes! Pura vida!
Thanks Lynda, yes there are many ups and downs for sure, but I guess that is always the way in life. Well one thing is for sure, having the ups and downs in Costa Rica is more pleasant than having them anywhere else.😅
When you're in the quiet desperation part of your CR life, think of how great it is that you're just there feeding some cool random ass goats. Make those goats your permanent cohosts! Also Meditations by Marcus Aurelius may help.
Thanks Chris, I don’t need to tell you how frustrating TH-cam can be, it is nice to have the small victories along the way. Senor Don and I keep talking about a road trip to visit you guys before you leave, but I think you leave soon.
Thank you very much Lee, I am happy liked Ventanas, it really is a special beach and I have many great memories there myself. The place really has a cool vibe.🙂
That is great to hear, I got the Starlink ap and did a check for satellites which was fun. My landlord got the WiFi up and running, so not sure if Starlink will be coming here, I am happy just to have an uninterrupted connection.
For better sleep I highly recommend the foam ear plugs which are very comfortable and offer 33 dB in sound reduction (for the ones I use). I have heard that Costa Rica can be noisy with parties, dogs and roosters.
Thanks for the tip and here in Uvita where I live I hear everything from the local bar concerts, barking dogs and all the things you mentioned. The roosters don’t bother me, but some of the other stuff can be annoying. I have actually used the foam plugs back in the states when I had intense barking dogs next door, They do their Jon, but I also have tinnitus from too much rock n roll and the ear plugs make that worse in my case. My fan, white noise machine do a good job of keeping sound out, injustice need to turn my mind off.😴💤
As far as sleep goes(and I know that can be rough), have you tried listening to guided meditations for sleep? They can be hard to "get into" for some people, but it might be a matter of finding the right voice/story to listen to. I also love listening to videos of chanting (slow, repetitive ones), personally. Whether I chant along for a bit or simply listen, it puts me in a very deep place...especially when I chant or do some cycles of breathing synced with the music. Lastly, but one of my favorites, I would try listening to brainwave frequencies for sleep. Theta is the trance state right before sleep and delta is a deep sleep state. Some tracks start with theta and go into delta after a few minutes. You can find many brainwave frequencies for sleep that have music or ambient type noises overlaying the tones. Hope you find something that works! I'm a hypnotherapist, I've seen the things I mentioned help a lot of people, although they don't work for everybody. Unless it's more strictly a physical/hormonal problem, it's likely a brain thing, where your body simply isn't leaving fight or flight due to subconscious cues.
I have always struggled whenever I tried meditation, the closest I get is when I am at a waterfall and kind of sit down and zone out. I think meditation could help if I could get to let my mind go. I think the breathing could be helpful in conjunction with the meditation. I have seen some of the ads for brainwave sounds on social media, they do seem relaxing. I usually get my first few hours of sleep without trying, and usually before I go to bed, and when I go to bed or if I wake up after my first few hours, my mind has determined it is time to plan for the next day or worry about things I have no control over. Muchas Gracias for the tips🙂👍
Thanks for this very candid video. I’m a single, older female trying to move to CR. How did you make friends initially? I will be facing all those stresses, too, and want to be as prepared as possible.
As always, the farmers markets are a great way to meet people and if you have time to volunteer, there are pet rescues, beach clean ups and many other places that always seek volunteers and make for a another easy way to meet people.
Nice pep talk on reality...I am at my little place up in Santa lucia...so much to get resolved..now a a/c mini split unit needs service ,probably a freon leak..still trying to get rid of stuff in jersey and sell the house...etc...tough days but stay the course
This has been a pretty good car for me so far, but it just seems like everything major happened within a short time. Costa Rica can be extra tough on cars with its steep terrain and rocky gravel roads.
Thanks Michael and you are so right, I am happy to be where I am and every morning I look forward to greeting the sounds of the jungle with a cup of coffee.☕😁
I remember watching your videos when you were still in NY. Having just got back to Boston from the mountains above Uvita looking for properties i can say that you're on the right path We were/are negotiating for the property just below Emilio's with the shed and killer view I don't know where we will end up but it will be up in the mountains for sure! Hope to bump into you sometime in the near future🤟
Wow, that is such a beautiful place and you will have great neighbors if you move there. Here is a video I made of one of the gathers and soccer games there th-cam.com/video/_hQeKwiDMwI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=wIEN1ID5GdbW9SAf
Nice channel ! I plan to visit with my 16 year old son . When is best time of year ? . He’s going to do online study so we can explore without the limits of England school system , CR is on the list .
I think it is a matter of preference and what activities you want to do. Some people prefer Dec- March because it tends to rain less, I like the rainy season better myself. I have a video on this topic coming soon. Thanks for watching🙂👍
I feel ya on the sleep. Always surprised by a good nite sleep. I am doing 10mg of melatonin after years of taking it. Glucosamine and Turmeric in the morning and Magnesium at nite. 🥴😵💫🥱
That magnesium seems to be what a lot of people are having good luck with, I will have to look into the other stuff too. Muchas Gracias for the tips James.🙂👍
Hey! I like your videos, and I hope to meet up and get your good advice on rentals and real estate. I am coming in July to get dental implants. I will be in Jaco from July 9 to July 20. Gene
Hi Gene, Yes that is definitely one of the things I help people with. To learn more about my in person consulting services check out my web site www.costaricamove.com/costa-rica-story-in-person-meet-up It is best to book ahead to make sure I have availability for the date you are interested in. Muchas Gracias
I'm considering a short-term rental from June July and August with my family of fis there any. Way, you can help us with that. As far as finding lodging, it isn't airbnb.
1 hour of excercise a day , eat healthy , multi vitamin at dinner , dont use your device in bed and take magnesium glycinate 1 hour before bed make sure the lights are off
Thanks Kingjesus, I definitely have the exercise part down, better nutrition and supplements may be helpful. I have been on the phone more than I should lately prior to bed, I am trying to be more aware of that. I have heard a lot about magnesium glycinate, I think I may give that a try. Mochas Gracias for the tips🙂👍
About the Gym, go stretch, compensate for the sore rib..,go slow, if u feel it, do legs, etc..,At least you wont get bummed that you couldn't do something...Now get out there !!
I support you by subscribing and giving all the thumbs ups. You sound so stong and very wize. You will be ok. if you can make it in the usa you van make it anywhere. Inflations here are beyond crazy. Stay there, get a moto bike. Read the bible before bed. God is great you will see he is.
That was always my grandparents routine, but usually with rum cocktails. If I drink it can sometimes get me to sleep, but usually I wake up a few hors later, long before I want to.
Do you see cool stuff on your walk to the gym? Like monkey's? Thank you for not being 98% ego. After the monkey song we are going to do your day trip in the fall.
The walk to the gym is interesting, usually the monkeys are still sleeping and it is pitch dark. The coolest thing I encountered was a huge boa that literally covered the entire lenth of driveway out of my place. I had to kind of scoot past his tail to get by, then he calmly slthered away🐍 I see monkeys often when it just starts to get light, usually howlers. This morning I was watching a family of them in the tree. My internet has been out all week, so I am rediscovering a lot of the cool things I had been taking for granted . 🐒
I'm glad I found your channel. I appreciate how you stay positive and recognize that you are living in a blessed place. In the end, every day is a new day. As the sun rises, and you look around, you can find the power to go on and start over. I think this autumn, we will opt for a fresh start in Costa Rica. We explored the country for two months last year and really felt connected with the places we stayed, experiencing life moving much slower than where we come from, and the Canary Islands already embody a slower style of living. For me, Uvita was the place I liked the most, though I also like Guanacaste, which is still kind of too dry, but I miss the morning and afternoon light in Nicoya, which is unreal. I like the Arenal area, but I still want to be close to the ocean, at least to see the ocean, and then the Caribbean side is another beautiful world. I´ll keep watching your videos:) Thank you!
Thank you for your thoughtful reply MrSurfHunter. Costa Rica offers so much and I definitely share your love on the mornings here🙂
Thanks for being open and genuine. Also we like your t shirt. Great, that you’re keeping perspective & a sense of humor!
Thank you very much, I never know how it will be received when I talk about my life,, but I have gotten nothing but support, which is pretty awesome. I got that shirt in Panama and as a bargain hunter am proud to say I got it for only $3 😆🤣
Magnesium citrate powder at night has got me sleeping through the night again, got me off blood pressure meds, stopped my muscle spasms!
Another vote for the Magnesium citrate and it sounds like it comes with some additional benefits, Muchas Gracias🙂👍
Thanks for sharing this. We draw strength from our friends. I hope I’m included in that company, and always can be here for you, brother.
Muchas Gracias Amigo🙂👍
I was going to recommend melatonin but I see others have already... Another helpful tip for me which works magnificently is meditation before bedtime. You can listen to nature sounds or guided meditation works really well for me.
Just know you are NOT alone. I just started watching your videos. Because my home is for sale. I live in canada.. And was playing with the idea of moving somewhere tropical.. So I really related to your earlier videos of trying to sell your house.. And all the stresses that come with it.. That's where I'am at right now 😅
Costa Rica looks so BEAUTIFUL, Ideally I would like to be a snowbird as I feel like I would miss my home Country of Canada.
What are the mosquitoes like there are they terribly bad? I live in British Columbia. And we are exceptionally lucky with that as we have all the mountains...I've heard they can't fly over apparently.
Mosquitoes definitely vary from place to place, at my house they are not too bad until I go into the jungle or woods. I have been in Sierpe and had to run to get away from a cloud of them once🤣
I can relate the transition stress you are dealing with, but this too shall pass. Just keep moving forward👍
Sleep is tricky. If you are stressed all day you will have elevated adrenalin levels. So you are tired and wired. Theaanine in a powder form helps control that response by calm focus. put the powder in whatever you are drinking, up to 1200mg a day including just before bed. Melatonin 10mg and valerian root can help relax too.
Thanks for the tips Ann👍
Truly love the honesty and sincerity you put into your videos. Would love to hear about your journey and struggles with the Spanish language! Oh and love your point on cars. Feel like they're always breaking down and are incredibly expensive here!
Si, aprender español es una lucha diaria, pero al final tengo que esforzarme para aprender. I cheated with the translator with the above comment. 🤣Muchas gracias
Hey there - you’re a neat guy. Glad I found your channel. Thank you for all the great knowledge share on Costa Rica and your unique experience.
Than you very much Kyle and I am happy you are enjoying the videos and it is my pleasure to share the cool people and places here for others to experience too.🙂👍
Man, this was a very important video! One should reflect from time to time and, yes, let people know, what it's all about LIVING, not just vacationing in Costa Rica! Of course, showing beautiful waterfalls and beach life is great, and everybody loves it, but I am sure, that people out there, like myself, who are really considering a move to CR, NEED videos like this one! Great work, Ed. Topics like car issues, making a living, culture shocks or medical problems and how to deal with them is important for everyone to know. And who can tell better, than you who now is looking foreward to 3 years in paradise!
Thanks Dirk, yes I have wondered if this channel will stand as a helpful guide to those coming to Costa Rica or a cautionary tale of what not to do🤣 Thanks for your support and encouragement and sharing your love for Costa Rica and it's natural world.
Melatonin is a wonderful gentle sleep aid
Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing where you are in your life right now in paradise! This is year 5 for me, and with each passing year, the new experiences are lessons that serve me in adjusting to this new way of life. I can relate to your trials and successes! Pura vida!
Thanks Lynda, yes there are many ups and downs for sure, but I guess that is always the way in life. Well one thing is for sure, having the ups and downs in Costa Rica is more pleasant than having them anywhere else.😅
When you're in the quiet desperation part of your CR life, think of how great it is that you're just there feeding some cool random ass goats. Make those goats your permanent cohosts! Also Meditations by Marcus Aurelius may help.
Gracias Blue Hen Special, the cabras are always speaking words of wisdom to me😅 I do love the Stoics and that is good advice.
Hey! Glad to see your sub count gaining at a decent speed! Keep going and keep having fun!
Thanks Chris, I don’t need to tell you how frustrating TH-cam can be, it is nice to have the small victories along the way. Senor Don and I keep talking about a road trip to visit you guys before you leave, but I think you leave soon.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the contribution and for the encouragement!😁👍
Thank you for been genuine and telling us how real life in CR is.
You are very welcome. I can only give my perspective, others may vary😉
¡Gracias!
Thank you very much Mr Surf Hunter that was very generous of you.🙂🙏
Thank you for sharing Sir
And stay strong💜🌺
Thanks for the encouragement Ivy
💪🙂
I watched your Playa Ventanas guide and this year we visited Playa Ventanas. We really enjoyed the beach. Thank you for putting out such good content.
Thank you very much Lee, I am happy liked Ventanas, it really is a special beach and I have many great memories there myself. The place really has a cool vibe.🙂
We got Starlink at our house in the Montezuma area. We have had it for a month and it has been working great!
That is great to hear, I got the Starlink ap and did a check for satellites which was fun. My landlord got the WiFi up and running, so not sure if Starlink will be coming here, I am happy just to have an uninterrupted connection.
For better sleep I highly recommend the foam ear plugs which are very comfortable and offer 33 dB in sound reduction (for the ones I use). I have heard that Costa Rica can be noisy with parties, dogs and roosters.
Thanks for the tip and here in Uvita where I live I hear everything from the local bar concerts, barking dogs and all the things you mentioned. The roosters don’t bother me, but some of the other stuff can be annoying. I have actually used the foam plugs back in the states when I had intense barking dogs next door, They do their Jon, but I also have tinnitus from too much rock n roll and the ear plugs make that worse in my case. My fan, white noise machine do a good job of keeping sound out, injustice need to turn my mind off.😴💤
As far as sleep goes(and I know that can be rough), have you tried listening to guided meditations for sleep? They can be hard to "get into" for some people, but it might be a matter of finding the right voice/story to listen to.
I also love listening to videos of chanting (slow, repetitive ones), personally. Whether I chant along for a bit or simply listen, it puts me in a very deep place...especially when I chant or do some cycles of breathing synced with the music.
Lastly, but one of my favorites, I would try listening to brainwave frequencies for sleep. Theta is the trance state right before sleep and delta is a deep sleep state. Some tracks start with theta and go into delta after a few minutes. You can find many brainwave frequencies for sleep that have music or ambient type noises overlaying the tones.
Hope you find something that works! I'm a hypnotherapist, I've seen the things I mentioned help a lot of people, although they don't work for everybody. Unless it's more strictly a physical/hormonal problem, it's likely a brain thing, where your body simply isn't leaving fight or flight due to subconscious cues.
I have always struggled whenever I tried meditation, the closest I get is when I am at a waterfall and kind of sit down and zone out. I think meditation could help if I could get to let my mind go. I think the breathing could be helpful in conjunction with the meditation. I have seen some of the ads for brainwave sounds on social media, they do seem relaxing. I usually get my first few hours of sleep without trying, and usually before I go to bed, and when I go to bed or if I wake up after my first few hours, my mind has determined it is time to plan for the next day or worry about things I have no control over. Muchas Gracias for the tips🙂👍
Thank you!
Con mucho gusto!
Thanks for this very candid video. I’m a single, older female trying to move to CR. How did you make friends initially? I will be facing all those stresses, too, and want to be as prepared as possible.
As always, the farmers markets are a great way to meet people and if you have time to volunteer, there are pet rescues, beach clean ups and many other places that always seek volunteers and make for a another easy way to meet people.
Nice pep talk on reality...I am at my little place up in Santa lucia...so much to get resolved..now a a/c mini split unit needs service ,probably a freon leak..still trying to get rid of stuff in jersey and sell the house...etc...tough days but stay the course
Yeah, I guess transition usually comes with a little pain and discomfort, glad you are finally in Costa Rica.
Great updates thanks for sharing. I also had a Grand Vitara that needed head gasket work, what a nightmare.
This has been a pretty good car for me so far, but it just seems like everything major happened within a short time. Costa Rica can be extra tough on cars with its steep terrain and rocky gravel roads.
Just think back to where you were before you came to CR. I do remember your video of upstate NY with snow on the ground for months. 😂
Thanks Michael and you are so right, I am happy to be where I am and every morning I look forward to greeting the sounds of the jungle with a cup of coffee.☕😁
I remember watching your videos when you were still in NY. Having just got back to Boston from the mountains above Uvita looking for properties i can say that you're on the right path
We were/are negotiating for the property just below Emilio's with the shed and killer view
I don't know where we will end up but it will be up in the mountains for sure!
Hope to bump into you sometime in the near future🤟
Wow, that is such a beautiful place and you will have great neighbors if you move there. Here is a video I made of one of the gathers and soccer games there th-cam.com/video/_hQeKwiDMwI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=wIEN1ID5GdbW9SAf
Nice channel ! I plan to visit with my 16 year old son . When is best time of year ? . He’s going to do online study so we can explore without the limits of England school system , CR is on the list .
I think it is a matter of preference and what activities you want to do. Some people prefer Dec- March because it tends to rain less, I like the rainy season better myself. I have a video on this topic coming soon. Thanks for watching🙂👍
I feel ya on the sleep. Always surprised by a good nite sleep. I am doing 10mg of melatonin after years of taking it. Glucosamine and Turmeric in the morning and Magnesium at nite. 🥴😵💫🥱
That magnesium seems to be what a lot of people are having good luck with, I will have to look into the other stuff too. Muchas Gracias for the tips James.🙂👍
Hey! I like your videos, and I hope to meet up and get your good advice on rentals and real estate. I am coming in July to get dental implants. I will be in Jaco from July 9 to July 20. Gene
Hi Gene, Yes that is definitely one of the things I help people with. To learn more about my in person consulting services check out my web site www.costaricamove.com/costa-rica-story-in-person-meet-up
It is best to book ahead to make sure I have availability for the date you are interested in.
Muchas Gracias
I'm considering a short-term rental from June July and August with my family of fis there any. Way, you can help us with that. As far as finding lodging, it isn't airbnb.
Hola Danny ,You can Send me a message in private for more about that www.costaricamove.com/find-a-rental-costa-rica
1 hour of excercise a day , eat healthy , multi vitamin at dinner , dont use your device in bed and take magnesium glycinate 1 hour before bed make sure the lights are off
Thanks Kingjesus, I definitely have the exercise part down, better nutrition and supplements may be helpful. I have been on the phone more than I should lately prior to bed, I am trying to be more aware of that. I have heard a lot about magnesium glycinate, I think I may give that a try. Mochas Gracias for the tips🙂👍
Cool goats...baaaahh
One of them has the freakiest Baaah sound
About the Gym, go stretch, compensate for the sore rib..,go slow, if u feel it, do legs, etc..,At least you wont get bummed that you couldn't do something...Now get out there !!
Thanks KW, I am back at the gym again now and taking it slow, but it is great to be back in the routine again!💪🙂
Add calcium and magnesium supplements
I support you by subscribing and giving all the thumbs ups. You sound so stong and very wize. You will be ok. if you can make it in the usa you van make it anywhere. Inflations here are beyond crazy. Stay there, get a moto bike. Read the bible before bed. God is great you will see he is.
Thank you for your support
😁👍👍👍
A beer before bed makes me sleepy. Two beers and I sleep all night!
That was always my grandparents routine, but usually with rum cocktails. If I drink it can sometimes get me to sleep, but usually I wake up a few hors later, long before I want to.
Do you see cool stuff on your walk to the gym? Like monkey's? Thank you for not being 98% ego. After the monkey song we are going to do your day trip in the fall.
The walk to the gym is interesting, usually the monkeys are still sleeping and it is pitch dark. The coolest thing I encountered was a huge boa that literally covered the entire lenth of driveway out of my place. I had to kind of scoot past his tail to get by, then he calmly slthered away🐍
I see monkeys often when it just starts to get light, usually howlers. This morning I was watching a family of them in the tree. My internet has been out all week, so I am rediscovering a lot of the cool things I had been taking for granted . 🐒
Hey Ed, PURA VIDA AMIGO, Hey to sleep better take ASHWAGANDA HERB, YOU WILL SLEEP LIKE A BABY 😊
Thank you very much for the tip🙂👍
My suggestion for getting to sleep better is to stay off all the meds and chemicals. You are getting in sync with nature full moons are restless 😂
I agree that is the best route and try to avoid relying on pills, but still do sometimes.