David is a successful entrepreneur and businessman in Heredia, Costa Rica, and is well-regarded there as such. However, he enjoys more than just a professional reputation in an area of the country that's popular for its coffee, eco-tourism options, and cosmopolitan feel. The Ticos and their culture have taught him to become more relaxed and stress-free.	David S. Anderson

August 04 2006

-Where were you born?
Pulaski, Virginia, United States

-In which country and city are you living now?
San Pablo, Heredia, Costa Rica

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my wife and three children.

-How long have you been living in Costa Rica?
Five years in September

-What is your age?
46

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Costa Rica?
Five years ago. I had originally come to Costa Rica in 1994, and founded the first outsourced Call Center in Central America. I had many contacts here in Costa Rica, and was respected and looked at as one of the "fathers" of the technology industry in Costa Rica. I was working as a high technology executive in Silicon Valley, and when my last start up went bust, I took a chance, came back to Costa Rica and founded The Utopia Group.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No, I am married to a Costa Rican.

-How do you make your living in Costa Rica? Do you have any type of income generated?
I founded my company with my own savings and with local investment. Since I had a certain level of fame in Costa Rica, it was a little easier for me to get started.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I do speak Spanish, and I think it is extremely important for expats to learn the language and to respect local customs. In some cases this can be difficult, because of our own prejudices. For example, it is very frustrating the amount of holidays Costa Ricans have, and some things are complicated beyond need, but if you learn to relax and go with the flow, you will have less stress and be more successful.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss some things about the US. 24-hour supermarkets, variety of social activities, American sports, FOOD! But in reality I am pretty happy with the trade-offs. Here there are so many things to do: night life, ecotourism, beautiful beaches. It is a mini-paradise.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I intend to expand the Utopia Group outside of Costa Rica. We specialize in consulting for call centers and other types of startups. We recently completed a project in Guatemala, and are negotiating one in Honduras. Eventually we will expand and have offices in those areas.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We own land, and eventually intend to build on it; for now we rent a modest place for $200 a month. Rents vary in Costa Rica pretty wildly. It depends on where you choose to live. In an expat community like Escazu (which has a huge number of Americans) rents can start at $1000 for the same quality of house I pay $200 for in Heredia.

-What is the cost of living in Costa Rica?
Again it depends on lifestyle. If you choose to live like an expat, and buy from the "American brands" grocery store, etc., it can be pretty expensive. If you adapt to native style living, i.e. shopping at farmers markets, etc., you will live better and less expensively. The real expensive things here are imports. Cars can be twice as expensive as in the US; high-end electronic and electro domestic items can also be expensive because of tariffs.

-What do you think about the Costa Rican people?
I love Ticos. They are the most loving, kind, generous people I have met.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Costa Rica?
Positives are a beautiful country with great people and a quality of life that is hard to beat. Negatives are typical Latin American bureaucracy (seems like you need a lawyer to conclude almost any business transaction), and high import taxes -- which lead to some things being expensive.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Costa Rica?
1. Learn at least basic Spanish
2. Remember you are not in your home country; things will be different. Get used to it and don't stress over it.
3. Find a decent lawyer to help you with the details of immigration, taxes, etc.
4. Don't fight the culture, immerse yourself in it. You will enjoy it much, much more.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Costa Rica?
In Search of Utopia is my personal blog.
Grupo Utopia Home Site is my company's Web site.