One big reason is Costa Rica's long-standing and stable democracy. This peaceful nation does not even have a standing army. The economy is the most stable in the region and the standard of living is good. Everyone is free to own property and pursue an education and good job. Higher education is readily available in State and private institutions. The country's preoccupation with environmental concerns is well-documented. The country has some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world. For more you might like to look at Costa Rica in a CocoNut Shell.

Restrictions are close to nonexistent specific to being a foreigner.Give us a call for some helpful insight into becoming a property owner in Costa Rica.

Personal preferences aside, most people choose the Pacific--specifically the north Pacific coast. Guanacaste (the province that encompasses this area) is drier and more hospitable to human habitation. Not surprising, this is where the greatest majority of construction activity is.

You should take advantage of Cocori's NetPals list at http://cocori.com/netpals. This pen pal-like list makes it easy for people interested in discussing Costa Rica to get together.

Try the American/Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce at http://www.amcham.co.cr.

For anyone interested in moving here the first thing we recommend they do is to visit for a month or two (longer if it can be arranged). Reading about the country in TT and/or on the Internet just doesn't give one the BIG (or necessarily correct) picture. We highly recommend that you bring a camera to this beautiful, photogenic country. Theft of expensive items is rampant world wide; it isn't a phenomenon of Costa Rica. Thefts here, as in the rest of the world, most often occur to those not paying attention. Visit the Cocori Library for more information on living in Costa Rica.

To qualify for either the pensionado or rentista residency status, one must have a guaranteed income (see Living Legally in Costa Rica in the Cocori Library). To qualify for residency under the inversionista rules, a feasibility plan must be approved by both the Costa Rica Tourist Board (ICT) and the Center for the Promotion of Exterior Commerce (PROCOMER). If an investment is to be made in certain "key" segments--tourism, special agricultural products, etc.--it need not be more than US$50,000. For general investment the figure is US$200,000. Visit the Cocori Library for more about Starting a Business in Costa Rica.

Yes, you could live very comfortably here for that amount, especially if that is unencumbered income, i.e. not rent, car payment, etc. Schooling for your daughter would be no problem--there are several excellent bilingual schools providing quality education in and around the Central Valley.

The banks here will accept new accounts from just about anyone. You do not have to live here to have an account. And with Costa Rica's new banking laws, you can now open an interest bearing checking account in dollars in one of the many private banks. Your idea to come for a visit before moving is an excellent one, also.

Import duties vary with the age of the imported goods and their condition. Used computers, appliances and TVs, etc. usually enter for around 15% of their declared value.

Yes, you can deposit US$60,000 for a period of five years with BICSA (Banco Internacional de Costa Rica, S.A.).

Bringing domestic pets into the country is quite easy. Your pet must have all its immunological tasks up to date and you must have approval from the Zoonosis section of the Costa Rica health department (mainly registration procedures). All vet documents must be approved by the Costa Rican embassy or consulate closest to you, and they must be presented to immigration, along with the animals, upon arrival in Costa Rica.

Briefly, only certain people are eligible for work permits (see the article in the Cocori Library Working Your Way Through Paradise), but if you own or are a stockholder in a company, you may work in that company in any capacity.

Visit the Cocori Library if you haven't already done so. You'll find a lot of information about living and retiring in Costa Rica. As for the paper medium . . .

For reading before a "get acquainted" visit, we recommend:
• "The New Key to Costa Rica" by Beatrice Blake and Anne Becher. Ulysses Press, 3286 Adeline Street, Suite 1, Berkeley, CA 94703. It is updated annually and is now in its 17th edition. A very good guide book. You can also visit their Web site at keytocostarica.com. Order the book on the site and get a 25% discount.

For retirement reading, these are a few of the available titles:

• "Choose Costa Rica--A Guide to Retirement and Investment" by John Howells. Gateway Books, Dept. C, 2023 Clemens Road, Oakland, CA 94602
  
• "The Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica" by Christopher Howard. Costa Rica Books, P.O. Box 1512, Thousand Oaks, CA 91358. 1-800-888-4741
  
• "The Official Guide to Living and Investing in Costa Rica" published by Bob Johnston. Lawrence International S.A., SJO 643, P.O. Box 025216, Miami, FL 33102-5216. (Although the title says "Official Guide" it is not a government publication.)
  
• There is also the Tico Times guide "Exploring Costa Rica." It is an annual publication with a lot of useful information on traveling around the country and the services you'll find here.