The guy who runs the theoakstamarindo.com website asked me to write a long article on how to buy real estate in Costa Rica. The longer the better, he said. But, no. The sales market is good. You may need that article (probably not), but I don’t. You can find all you want on my YouTube channel, The Oaks Tamarindo, from a couple of years ago.

What I do want to do is to share some words from Uncle Bub, who passed away four years ago at age 91. Uncle Bub lived a full life in New Orleans with his wife and family, was a Navy Captain and an officer and a gentleman. He told my mother once, “You know, I really had nothing to complain about health wise until I was over 70 years old. Oh, to be 70 again”.

Oh, to be 70 again. I am approaching 70. Instead of advice from my 70-year-old self to my 20-year-old self, this is advice from my 91-year-old self to my 70-year-old self. Exercise, eat well, sleep well, do well (and do good), be with people you love or at least like, enjoy your health while you can, enjoy every day. Do more of what you want to do and do less of everything else.

I have found the right location. I have found a second life, maybe even a third life, outside Tamarindo, Costa Rica, with Rox, my wife and love now for ten years, family, friends, owners and guests at The Oaks Tamarindo.  I am trying to heed the words of Uncle Bub to enjoy life while I have health. I enjoy time with pleasant people, of whom there are many, and do my best to avoid the few unpleasant ones. Does this apply to your life?

I am inspired by Bob and Sheila, snowbirds from Edmonton who live here when it is cold up north. Their first few years Bob golfed almost every day, then took up scuba. Sheila does charitable work for children. I am inspired in a different way, not planning to do it myself, mind you, by Bud, who came here from North Carolina at 81, newly divorced from his 50 something “trophy wife” (for you ladies, he may have been a “trophy husband”), probably not, respect. He rides horses and flirts with every skirt. Harmless until he’s not. Definitely found a new life. I am inspired by Kris and Ed, who are working because they want to, and who spend their time here with their horses and friends. I am inspired by Bill and Jackie, younger than me, who moved their work life from Pennsylvania to Costa Rica and are doing what they did before, just happier doing it here.

By happy coincidence, I found this article about yoga Saturday morning in The London Times; its essence is that a gentle form of yoga is good for you. Since my rowing machine is a fine clothes rack, I am giving this a try. Costa Rica is the country of the future, so I am starting manana. Mary, a fantastic yoga instructor, lives about 200 yards away. Rox and I will see how it goes.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/magazine/the-times-magazine/anna-murphy-how-my-midlife-yoga-fix-is-transforming-my-body-blnl7hbsq.

That is Plan A. Plan B, already in progress, is to travel more, and to help others do the same, should that appeal. We start with Pasadena, where Sophie, my daughter’s first child, will be making her entrance in April. Then Edinburgh in August for Festival. Which leaves much more. Family in Virginia, Madrid in October (jala Madrid!) and tickets not yet bought. And always returning to Costa Rica. Time is wasting.

Should you come to Costa Rica? If you are reading this, quite possibly. Where we are in Guanacaste, you will find warm to hot sunny weather, partial showers (not yet), friendly people, a slow pace of life, beaches and nature. Also an international community.

If you are reading this and feel the urge to get up and go, you should vacation in Costa Rica. Vacation is a small word. Once you have tried it, you will find yourself coming back, perhaps to live, perhaps not, but coming back. If you become a part of our community, we will show you how to make some income while you are not here, though that should not be your main goal, and how to use your home here to expand your travel everywhere else.

Are you interested? It starts by getting up and going. Contact us and start the rest of your life. We offer you The Oaks Tamarindo as your base. With a two bedroom, two bath condominium and a safe community to come home to, you can make yourself at home in a strange land. And if Costa Rica is not your first choice, that is fine. Get up and go where you want to go. Best wishes, and Pura Vida.

Robert Irvin, former Miami lawyer, former banker, former developer, innkeeper of a sort, semi-retired in Costa Rica, Robert@theoakstamarindo.com