It’s the middle of February and I’m posting my goals for 2013. It’s not procrastination, it’s pura vida.
1. Redesign De la Pura Vida website.
haha I already did this. I still have some tweaks (mainly fix squished up thumbnails), but for the most part I am done. I also have plans to organize it better, make an ebook and add more content about living a location independent life. If you are reading this from your inbox or rss reader, it won’t look different, so hop on over to www.delapuravida.com to check out the new design and let me know what you think!
2. Transition from working for someone else to 100% working for myself.
haha I already did this one, too! I enjoyed teaching English part time, but having to be in a certain place at a certain time every single week was majorly cramping my style. My traveling style, that is. I am now free to travel around Costa Rica as much as I want and I have been totally taking advantage of that. The difficult part is going to be the discipline that it takes to be a full time freelancer.
3. Surf.
I’m embarrassed to say that I have lived near the ocean my whole life and have never surfed. Well, I’ve body surfed or boogie boarded, which I LOVE, but I’ve never surfed with a surf board. I think it would be fun. I’m just a big wuss when it comes to deep water, though. This year, I will conquer that fear and at least attempt to surf!
4. Start drinking coffee without sugar.
I eat healthy, but when it comes to coffee, I pour like 1 or 2 spoons of sugar in each cup. I’d rather eat that sugar in a dessert. I think if I just stick to primo coffee, like Doka, I can drink it black. It’s expensive, though, so I hope the freelance gigs keep coming in.

I eat my fair share of fruits.
5. Eat more dark green things.
ok, so my diet is lacking here. I started this week by adding broccoli to my meals. I wish the spinach here wasn’t so bitter…
6. Minimize my stuff.
My 3-year living in Costa Rica anniversary is in March. In the 3 years I’ve been here, I’ve accumulated 2 cars packed full of stuff plus a mattress, computer chair, and a table and chairs. UGH – just typing that out made me feel weighted down. I feel better, though, knowing that at least 1/4 a car load of junk is English teaching supplies and I can go ahead and get rid of it! Any ideas for what I should do with them?
7. Make more videos.
I WANT A GO PRO VIDEO CAMERA. I do soooo much cool stuff that I could share if only I had that awesome camera strapped to my head… or my car!!
8. Visit Tortuguero.
One of the few places in Costa Rica I have not visited yet.

Bocas del Toro is a string of islands off Panama’s Caribbean coast. Clear blue waters, an abundance of wildlife, and a bohemian calypso vibe = yes please!
9. Visit Bocas del Toro, Panama.
I’ve almost made it there 3 times, but got distracted in Puerto Viejo. I have too much fun in Puerto Viejo!
10. STOP getting distracted by Facebook!!!
I have business on Facebook, but every time I go there to conduct the business, I get distracted by the notifications or messages or whatever someone’s puppy is doing or the latest Costa Rican meme etc etc etc and then I forget why I came to Facebook in the first place, so I’ll get on chat or Skype and the next thing I know, 30 minutes has passed. This. Has. Got. To. Stop.
Like the new design.
There is a Facebook group Expats in Costa Rica and somebody was looking for teacher school supplies OR Hogar de Vida in Atenas would be glad to take the stuff off your hands and maybe even find somebody to come to your place or meet you to pick it up.
Good luck on your freelancing.
Thanks for the tip. I stopped paying attention to that group when people who don’t live in Costa Rica started asking questions about vacations etc. :/
I have to do a visa run next month. Wanna go to Bocas? 🙂
Hey! YES. I want to go in March. Apparently there is less rain in March there than in any other month. Also, Nature Air is doing a 2 for 1 sale if you are interested in flying down there it would only cost $154 for both of us. We have to buy by tomorrow, though. How many days will you have off?
Can you tell me more about the 2 for 1 Nature Air promo?
I don’t really know much except that it ends today and the flight has to be in March. Sign up for their newsletter. THey send out promos a few times a year.
I’ve been in Costa Rica for about a month and want to rent an apartment (away from a city if possible) in the northern cooler areas like La Fortuna or Monte Verde. I keep getting gringo prices when I show up somewhere. Any online newspapers, in English, or other sources you can think of. I’ve tried brokers and word of mouth but so far nothing in the $400 a month range.
La Fortuna is actually hot. You are looking in 2 very touristy areas so you will have to look outside of town to find something in the $400 a month range. The cooler areas of the country are the mountains surrounding the Central Valley. You can find studios and one bedrooms there for $400 a month or less. If you are looking at ads in English, then of course the prices are going to be geared towards gringos. I’ve had some luck on Craigslist, though. If you learn Spanish, the bulletin boards at grocery stores are a great place to find decent rentals.
You can give your teaching supplies to me!
…also, whom have you freelanced for?
Writing: I put up a few links here: https://www.delapuravida.com/articles-interviews/
Design: I’ve been doing that for 10+ years, so tons of people and businesses. Most notably, The University of South Carolina, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and the Arthur Agatston Research Foundation.
teaching supplies: I have a lot of books for mostly advanced levels, including a lot of print outs focused on writing. I think there are games and warm ups, too.
Sweet! I only get Friday off of work though, and I might get someone to cover my Thursday night class, just so I can get there Thursday night. Let me know when you want to go so I can request it off! 🙂
Flights are in the AM and we need to be flexible… would you be able to miss a MOnday too? I’m texting you…
Where are the supplies located?
san isidro de heredia.
love the new layout 😉 and goodluck on your decision to become a full time digital entrepreneur 🙂 hope everything works out fine…
Thanks!