You're moving to Puerto Rico?

No, Costa Rica!  It's a country in Central America, not an island in the Carribbean.

No it is not part of the U.S. and no it doesn't have a dictator.

An independent democratic republic since 1827, maintaining a stable government without existence of an army since 1949 (a major achievement given the dictatorships, regime changes and civil wars of its neighbours).

Located between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is about 20,000 sq miles in area, with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Carribbean Sea.  Population is about 2.5 million.

It is a complex country of active volcanoes, lush rainforests, mangroves, mountains and beaches.

At about 9 degrees north of the equator, tropical is the only description - hot days, warm nights, ocean breezes.

The plant and animal life is nothing short of spectacular.  Toucans and Macaws in the trees, Iguanas on the ground, the call of the Howler Monkey in the air.  Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Ficus, Palms, Orchids are everywhere.

The people are the really amazing attractions.  Ticos (the name for the locals) are very genuine, friendly and open.  They often have very little, but take great pride in themselves, their homes and their lives.  With public education available through university, everyone, even in the most remote of locations, goes to school.

Along with public education, there is public health care, and a great degree of tolerance - and they even elected their first female president just last week.

Sound interesting?  We thought so too.