Helen Dunn Frame's "Retiring in Costa Rica or Doctor’s, Dogs and Pura Vida" is a god-send. Without it, I never would have considered such things as what do I take when I move and what do I sell? Am I really going to ship my TV to CR? That's nuts, but I was thinking of doing just that. Reading this book taught me so much about relocating, whether to Costa Rica or any other country that I feel quite indebted to the author. With her first-hand experiences, it's like having a personal advisor standing beside me every step of the way. It doesn't hurt that this book is a real page-turner as well. The author's foreign adventures are extremely entertaining. If you're thinking of relocating anywhere, this book will definitely be of great value to you. B. Rhodes
KUDOS: “If you are contemplating permanent retirement or birding in Costa Rica then you’ll need this book. It’s an in-depth, comprehensive guide by U.S. ex-pat Helen Dunn Frame that provides you with a step-by-step guide for the entire process of making your tropical retirement dream easily come true.
‘Retiring in Costa Rica’ is a must have read.”
Rowdy Rhodes, Semi-Retired Freelance Writer
ANOTHER READER COMMENTS:
Helen Dunn Frame's extensive background traveling and living abroad eminently qualifies her to advise on what it takes to "do it right." Although it's been said that there's no teacher like experience, getting a firsthand account of life in Costa Rica from an intelligent, experienced, and articulate source such as this writer runs a very close second. Consistent with my own much more limited experience (I lived in France for a year), her emphasis that having the right attitude: willingness to adapt, to learn the language and to keep an open mind, is indispensable to making a success of living in a foreign country, is right on the mark. It certainly made all the difference for me. The same thing is true for her admonition that in essence moving to "paradise" isn't going to magically "fix" everything if you have problems you're trying to escape dealing with. In other words, be realistic in your expectations.
The book is exhaustively researched, comprehensive and detailed-chock full of information, with scores of references on where to go to find more. The uninitiated visitor/immigrant could stumble and fumble around the country for weeks or months and still not succeed in acquiring the wealth of knowledge contained in this book. It's a tremendous head start on understanding how life "works" in CR. In addition, there are interesting anecdotes, warmth and humor. The author's affection for Costa Rica and its people ("warts and all") shines through - tempered with a healthy dose of practicality. Reading the book is a bit like having an enjoyable conversation with a good friend over coffee. I had a hard time laying it down.
Reviewed by Margaret Hegboum
Seven Year Resident Responds:
Surprise! Surprise! (for me). I just read your book. I was prepared for dry, documentary-type reading. What a wonderful surprise for me. Your sense of humor is wonderful. Loved your book.
Margo (Donaldson)
An iUniverse reviewer wrote: “The only possible point of view to a novel of this involvement is that of the Omniscient Author . . . Frame is in control of her novel at all points . . .it is a good read.”
In October 1969, my family and in-laws went to Greece together. As part of our trip, we took a cruise to several islands. At Santorini, we rode donkeys up the Clift on soil blackened from the last eruption of a volcano near the island. My small-sized donkey swayed from side to side, sometimes quickly, otherwise more slowly, occasionally slipping. During the ride, a photographer snapped my picture. I was glad when we got to the top, where the land was flat, and I could see the sea beyond. As the streetlights failed, we all walked down in the dark, carefully avoiding stepping in dung. My memoir is “Chronicles of a Lifelong Traveler, Decades of Voyages.”
Check this out:
In October 2013, I suddenly began receiving emails with a warning message from another writer Carolyn Howard Johnson -whose newsletters I have received for years. Feeling I would want to know if my recipients were receiving such messages, I notified her. Check out her blog: http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/2013/11/author-shares-expat-ideas-from-costa.html
My review of her book, The Frugal Editor, is found here: http://bit.ly/1JDo0PG
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Ghosts and Retiring in Costa Rica or Doctors,
Dogs and Pura Vida:
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