Book Description

This is a true story of an American in his sixties who visited Costa Rica eight times over five years, felt very comfortable visiting the country and then decided to retire there at the age of 65. Our hero's name is Dudley Bodoh and his resemblance to the author is rather significant. The story explains Dudley's decision process that motivated the move, the initial rush of enthusiasm in making the move and how it was somewhat tarnished by a series of significant obstacles. He was determined to overcome these hurdles and eventually he was able to arrive in Costa Rica with a minimum of personal belongings. Dudley would find that settling into life in his new home on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica was a bit more difficult than he had planned, particularly when he tried to get bank accounts, a telephone and his personal residency card. He would have to assume the status of "perpetual tourist" for the first two and a half years before eventually wading through the bureaucracy of government requirements and an unfortunate relationship with a less than ethical intermediary who confounded the process. As time went on Dudley would develop the regular reports that he sent home to family and friends into a monthly newsletter he called "The Golden Gringo Chronicles," dubbing himself the Golden Gringo or "GG" for short. He chose this name as a reflection of his good fortune in choosing Costa Rica for retirement. The Chronicles had a surprising effect on him; they caused him to research and learn specifics about Costa Rica and neighboring countries in order to write more intelligently about them. He shared this research with anyone who was interested. After five years of residency in Costa Rica, GG concluded that he had indeed made the right decision on where to enjoy retirement. He found himself quite comfortable with the rugged wildness of an amazingly beautiful land and the gentle, smiling countenance of the Costa Rican people. He was indeed living "Pura Vida."