I've gotten lots of messages asking how I'm enjoying Costa Rica and apologizing for "bothering me" while I'm off the grid. In fact, I'm still in Seattle! But in the spirit of planning ahead and knowing practice makes perfect, I've been visiting as often as I can.
☑️Milestone: Applying for a Visa
With the help of my lawyer and his assistant Cristina (who literally drove from across the country with papers for me to sign) I applied for my Digital Nomad visa. What is a digital nomad?
"Digital nomads are exempt from income tax and enjoy other benefits including the ability to open a national bank account in Costa Rica and validation of their home country’s driver’s license. Digital nomads may also waive customs taxes on telecommunications and electronic devices necessary to fulfill remote work requirements (conditions apply)."
As of today a total of 46 countries including Croatia, Iceland, and Portugal offer a digital nomad visa so if this appeals to you, take a look at the complete list here and find your dream destination.
Cristina and Oreo at Casa Bali
☑️Milestone: Getting the House Ready to Live and Work
Since I have the luxury of knowing where I'll be staying, I'm working through my list to get the house in order. Major shopping is about an hour from where I live, and this trip I got a rainy day which meant surf lessons were canceled and the kids slept in. I raced to two major furniture stores and chose some comfy outdoor furniture plus a replacement for the cracked, plastic lounge chairs by the pool.
My next mission may prove more difficult, but I need an ergonomically decent desk and chair. Working at the dining room table in short stints is one thing but a full year requires a proper workspace. I'll tackle this when I'm back in November.
☑️Milestone: Creating a Calendar
While a year is a long time, it will go fast and as we move into fall our team is going to be planning out next year's meetings and events. I'll be coming back quarterly, so I need to map out my trips and get them on the calendar. I plan to be here in person for QBRs and strategic planning. Once I share dates with my property manager, she can also rent out the house while I'm away which is a bonus.
Knowing It's a Smart Move
Every visit reminds me why I want to live in Costa Rica. The people, the climate, the vibe...I feel good when I'm there, and it's always hard to come back. That doesn't mean I don't have questions and reservations. We'll talk about those later.
Learning to surf has definitely been a highlight 🏄
Favorite moments - lots of beach time + immersion Spanish.
Top row: Girls at Walter Surf Shop, Marlin del Rey sunset cruise, kids' surf comp at Avellanas
Bottom row: Sunset in Tamarindo, Spanish with Jose, Playa Avellanas
Every month I get a note from at least one person who's decided to go on sabbatical, do some extended travel, or take a break. If that's you, I'd love to hear about it!
#remotework #workfromanywhere #digitalnomad #costarica #puravida #trysomethingnew #grownupgapyear #sabbatical #careerbreak #lifeisshort #YOLO #midlife #adventure