Followup to an interesting comment...
"Anonymous" posted the following:
Below is my response, I put it on the main page because I think that the question was interesting and know that most folks don't go back to read comments much.
Fair question!
Our goal is to someday enjoy spending as many as three to six months/year back in California.
We love the USA and still refer to northern California as "home" when speaking to each other.
Our decision to move to Costa Rica was partly born of a sense of trying something new and different, partly due to enjoying the weather in the tropics (usually) and partly due to knowing that there is a great big world out there and that restricting ourselves to living in just one little part of it wasn't enough to satisfy us.
Beyond that- we also recognize that the US political scene has far-reaching effects upon the economies and lives of millions of people who live outside of the USA. Just look at the economic situation in the news today if you need more evidence. Or try telling an Iraqi that the US presidential elections only affect people living in the USA.
As for Costa Rica- we are legal residents but have no intention of becoming citizens largely because the USA doesn't recognize dual-citizenship, but partly because we still consider ourselves guests in this country and *from* California. I do, however, participate in politics at a very local level in an attempt to help steer towards more sustainable development and increase infrastructure. It may not be much, but I think I help out.
I'm just wondering why a couple who has chosen to leave their country has taken the trouble to get involved with its politics? Shouldn't you be trying to gain citizenship in Costa Rica and vote there?
Fri Oct 24, 01:55:00 AM CST
Below is my response, I put it on the main page because I think that the question was interesting and know that most folks don't go back to read comments much.
Fair question!
Our goal is to someday enjoy spending as many as three to six months/year back in California.
We love the USA and still refer to northern California as "home" when speaking to each other.
Our decision to move to Costa Rica was partly born of a sense of trying something new and different, partly due to enjoying the weather in the tropics (usually) and partly due to knowing that there is a great big world out there and that restricting ourselves to living in just one little part of it wasn't enough to satisfy us.
Beyond that- we also recognize that the US political scene has far-reaching effects upon the economies and lives of millions of people who live outside of the USA. Just look at the economic situation in the news today if you need more evidence. Or try telling an Iraqi that the US presidential elections only affect people living in the USA.
As for Costa Rica- we are legal residents but have no intention of becoming citizens largely because the USA doesn't recognize dual-citizenship, but partly because we still consider ourselves guests in this country and *from* California. I do, however, participate in politics at a very local level in an attempt to help steer towards more sustainable development and increase infrastructure. It may not be much, but I think I help out.
Labels: california, Costa Rica, news
# posted by Steve Broyles @ 10/24/2008 01:21:00 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
Excellent response! The broader our experience and the greater knowledge of people is what will ultimately make this a better world.
MBGC
MBGC
# posted by 
: Fri Oct 24, 02:24:00 PM CST
: Fri Oct 24, 02:24:00 PM CST
Wow, I agree, as another Costa Rican foreign resident, with my husband! Totally. Except we don't want to spend 3-6 mos. in CA or consider it "home". However, the US is always our "home" you just can't take that away after growing up there and being an adult there. It is who we are and our culture, no matter how traveled we are.
And, more importantly, we CAN have dual US and CR citizenship. FOR SURE. It happened as a gift the US gave to CR when the US used a CR citizen in an astronaut program or shuttle program. The Costa Rican had to be a US citizen to be on the US "team" but didn't want to lose his CR citizenship... Now we all can do that.
However, being a citizen of CR to me means that we would want to permanently live in CR. Which is not our goal. We tell people when we are asked about this. We are living here long term. Not permanently. Maybe another country is in our future after several years here. Maybe back to the US for sometime and then another country. The world is wide open.
We also participate very much in local politics (for lack of a better word). Volunteering, being on committees, running a business. So we have roots here. And we like it!
Post a Comment
And, more importantly, we CAN have dual US and CR citizenship. FOR SURE. It happened as a gift the US gave to CR when the US used a CR citizen in an astronaut program or shuttle program. The Costa Rican had to be a US citizen to be on the US "team" but didn't want to lose his CR citizenship... Now we all can do that.
However, being a citizen of CR to me means that we would want to permanently live in CR. Which is not our goal. We tell people when we are asked about this. We are living here long term. Not permanently. Maybe another country is in our future after several years here. Maybe back to the US for sometime and then another country. The world is wide open.
We also participate very much in local politics (for lack of a better word). Volunteering, being on committees, running a business. So we have roots here. And we like it!
<< Home
Blog Search Engine EatonWeb Blog Directory  |
