Moving to Costa Rica – What do you wish you brought?

Recently (well, okay, it was a while ago), I asked some of the local Gringos here in San Ramon two questions:  “What do you wish you brought/shipped to Costa Rica that you didn’t?” and “When visitors come, what do you ask them to bring you that you can’t get here?”  Do you want to guess the number one responses to each question? Read on to find out…the lists are in order by the most mentioned items but I will tell you that good cheese figures prominently (and it’s on the top of our list too)!

What do you wish you brought/shipped to Costa Rica that you didn’t?

• Propane gas grill
• Gardening tools  (ladders, garden hoses, lawnmower,  gas trimmer, wheelbarrow)
• Rubbermaid containers  (Tip: ship everything in large Rubbermaid containers instead of boxes for extra protection and storage in Costa Rica)
• Lamps
• Large trash containers
• Electronics & electrical supplies
• Upholstered furniture
• Refrigerator
• Artificial Christmas tree
• Plumbing supplies
• Nothing!

When visitors come, what do you ask them to bring you that you can’t get here? Note that some of these items can be purchased in or near San Jose but are very expensive.

• Specialty cheeses (parmesan cheese, extra sharp cheddar, feta, etc.)
• Corn meal
• Canned green chiles
• Printer ink cartridges
• Grape Nuts Cereal
• Natural peanut butter
• Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil
• Our favorite hot sauce
• Horseradish sauce
• Peppercorns
• Flavorings
• Pumpkin seeds
• Craisins
• Hebrew National Hotdogs
• Hillshire Polish sausage
• Double Stuff Oreos
• Fat free sugar free chocolate pudding
• Dark chocolate anything!
• Guitar Strings
• Levis Jeans
• Clothing
• Size 14 shoes
• Foodsaver Vacuum bags
• Wine-making and beer-making supplies
• Makeup
• Bath products
• Magazines
• Newspapers from any town in the USA
• Wheat-free dog biscuits for our dog with sensitive skin

Are you considering a move to Costa Rica? Want more guidance about what to ship and what to expect regarding the process of moving to another country?  If so, you won’t want to miss our friend Arden’s new book, Unraveling the Mysteries of Moving to Costa Rica.  It’s the first in a series of books she is writing about what she learned from their move and transition to life in Costa Rica and how it can help you.  To find out more and download a sample chapter, click here.