INTERVIEW: How to pick up and move to Costa Rica to find ‘pura vida’

With her husband by her side, Nadine Hays Pisani uprooted herself from New Jersey one day and moved south of the border all the way to the lush beauties of Costa Rica. At first, she was a stranger in a strange land, dealing with the unique obstacles of rainforest life. From bullet ants to rough roads to heading across the Nicaragua border, Pisani has mastered the country.

Her travels around the popular tourist destination were compiled in two books under the Happier Than a Billionaire banner. They are part memoir, part guidebook on how to live the pura vida.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Pisani about her experiences in Costa Rica today and her recommendations to other travelers who want to take the plunge.

Now a few years after you made the decision to move to Costa Rica, what are your thoughts? Was it the right move?

After living here for six years, I can’t imagine going back to my old life. This has been the most gratifying thing I’ve ever done. It has also changed [me] in ways I didn’t expect. I’m a much more patient and kind person since living in Costa Rica. I’m the one who is the foreigner, the person who has to learn a new language and navigate a different culture. So I guess you can say, the shoe is on the other foot. I [now] understand the trials others have when they move to the United States from another country.

What specifically do you love about Costa Rica?

I write a lot about Costa Rica, whether in my books or blog. There are so many beautiful things here: the wildlife, [weather] and lifestyle. But the biggest thing I love are the people. They have taught me to slow down and enjoy life. For a while, all I did was work. It’s what burnt me out and made me consider this move in the first place. Costa Rican people have a way of of prioritizing the things that are most important. When I watch the sunset on the beach, the tourists and the Costa Rican people are both sitting there, both in awe, both taking pictures. They know they live in a beautiful country, and make the most of it.

How are you able to do this financially and logistically? In the book, you talked about the difficulties of moving there. Has finding gainful employment been difficult?

When I first moved here, we didn’t have much of a plan. We sold everything and knew we could live on a tight budget for about seven years. That was it. We just thought we would figure things out when the time came. And then a happy accident came with my writing. I never planned it. There were no goals or Excel charts during this phase of my life. All I did was write down some of the funny things I saw, and how much I was changing during this adventure. It turns out that by decompressing and letting myself pursue things I always dreamed of doing, a career emerged. It was probably the only thing I have not planned in my life. Like I said, it was a happy accident that Happier Than A Billionaire was born.

Have you grown accustomed to the wildlife (in particular some of the insects you were first scared of when you arrived)?

I’ve lived here long enough to deal with most everything thrown at me: wildfire, constant water outages, no Internet or phone for weeks. And the bugs! It’s one of the most common emails I receive. Yes, there are bugs. Some are big, so big they could carry your suitcase into [the] house and turn down the bed. But I know without the bugs, there would be no dragonflies, or lizards, or birds, or monkeys. It’s all connected and I am just a guest on this planet. The sooner you learn that, the sooner gratitude enters your life.

Is this a decision that will last a lifetime, or do you one day plan to move on from Costa Rica? What’s your best advice for someone thinking of a similar move?

I hope that I can remain in Costa Rica, but you never know what your future has in store for you. I just live for today, in the moment, and know that I never want to go back to the rat race. The “race” is fine, but if I ever enter it again, I promise myself I won’t be a rat.

And for those thinking about quitting their job and going on a grand adventure, all I say is pack a good attitude. It’s more important than the right shoes or sunblock. A good attitude will attract good things, good people and an overall good experience. A lot of one’s journey can be ruined by sour people. Some will come as strangers, others may be the very ones closest to you. Be mindful of this. It’s another thing the Costa Ricans have taught me.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com