Playa Carrillo Was Love at First Sight

They Meet

Meet my special friends Dana and Dewithz. They met in 1982 when Dana was attending a year-long language school program in San Jose, Costa Rica. Dana, a US citizen, was living the college dream. She was studying abroad. Dewithz, a Costa Rican citizen, was working on his Master’s Degree. Little did they know they would eventually marry, live in the US for over 28 years, and one day would return to Costa Rica to live out their retirement dream.

Together at Last

They had a long-distance relationship for years after Dana had to return to the United States once her schooling finished. It was impossible for Dewithz to get a visa to visit Dana in the US. Consequently, Dana returned to Costa Rica with her mother in 1986. Dana had big plans for this trip – she wanted to get to know Costa Rica better, introduce Dewithz to her mother, and take a trip to see the Panama Canal. Dana continued to correspond with Dewithz and she came to the conclusion that the only way to get Dewithz to the US was the Fiance Visa. Dewithz received approval for the Fiance Visa. He flew off to Oregon to be with Dana. Approximately 10 years from the moment their paths crossed, Dana and Dewithz were married on February 23, 1991.

Love at First Sight

They had lived in Oregon for decades, staying close to Dana’s family. Then, they began to discuss returning to Costa Rica. Dewithz wanted to be close to his family in his home country. They made a couple trips to Costa Rica and when they arrived in Playa Carrillo, it was love at first sight. They fell in love with the gorgeous beach, small town atmosphere, slow pace, and the beauty of the area. Out of the trip to Playa Carrillo was born the dream. It was important that they pray about it and they felt led to pursue their dream.

The Dream Begins

The first task was to search for affordable lots. They chose to share a large lot with Dewithz’s brother and sister-in-law. It was a big risk. They purchased the lot without seeing it. They trusted his brother’s stamp of approval.

They found an architect and builder, and chose to move forward with the construction. The plan was to build an affordable 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom modular home. Neither had any experience in construction. For this reason, they chose the modular home. They felt confident they could personalize it.

In 2019, they sold their Oregon home and said goodbye to family. They loaded a shipping container with their belongings. Then, they moved into Casa Montana de Luz. Over more than five years, Dana and Dewithz fully used their imaginations. They also used their creativity to create the most charming and special slice of paradise.

Lessons Learned

Dana and Dewithz have no regrets about their decision to retire and live a simple life in Costa Rica.

In hindsight, they would do several things differently:

1. Live in Costa Rica full-time during the entire construction project. They would be a lot happier with their home had they lived in Playa Carrillo instead of Oregon during construction.
2. Make sure there is a water meter and electricity available to ensure the property is build-ready. Dewithz had to fight with the municipality for 6 months to get their own water meter for their home. The municipality thought it was acceptable to use his brother’s water meter who lived next door.
3. Buy everything you need for your home in Costa Rica. Shipping all of their belongings in a container from Oregon was an expensive decision they would not do again. Who needs so much stuff?
4. Rent a place for a year to experience both the dry and rainy seasons. They would have explored what they wanted in a retirement home while renting in Playa Carrillo.

No Dealbreakers

Surprisingly, not having water, electricity, and internet occasionally is not a dealbreaker for Dana and Dewithz. They’re enjoying their slow-paced life in Playa Carrillo, their church family, friends, the beautiful surroundings, and their charming home.

Living Their Best Life

What’s the secret to their retirement happiness? Do what you love, with the one you love, in the most beautiful beach town in Costa Rica.