Ditching the Rat Race for a No Stress Life in Costa Rica

A perfect elevation, a garden that grows everything, and days that feel unhurried again.

DAILY POSTCARD  | SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2026 Dear International Living reader, David and Nancy didn't just move to Costa Rica—they stepped into a lighter way of living, where sunsets linger, the air runs cooler, and the days feel more like yours again.  In today's IL Postcard, follow the winding path to a hidden sweet spot in the Southern Zone—and see what happens when you choose a life that fits… Read on… P.S. Most people miss life's Sweet Spot. Will you? These Sweet Spots don't announce themselves. They whisper. The chance to hear—and act—comes only once. Ditching the Rat Race for a No Stress Life in Platanillo, Costa Rica By Kathleen Evans Back in the US, David Krueger, a nuclear engineer in the medical field, worked grueling hours, spending much of his 36-year career on the road.  "I remember I was at a Hilton and they celebrated my 220th night at one of their properties that year. Realizing I was never home really bothered me," says David, 61. "I was sick of working so much," adds his wife Nancy, 65, who comes from South Padre Island, Texas, and used to build pool tables that were manufactured and sold through Sam's Club at road shows. "But that was before the great recession and people just stopped buying them," she recalls. David first came to Tambor, at the bottom of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, in 1997. However, it was in 2015 that he made his first "discovery trip" as he calls it.  "I went to Monteverde, Quepos, and Manual Antonio. After that I subscribed to International Living magazine. I would read every issue. It gave me lots of great ideas. Colombia, Ecuador—places with good healthcare and stable governments. But I decided Costa Rica is the best. Especially with 100% renewable energy and 25% reserved land. Plus, on the road it's tough to eat well but here in Costa Rica it is much healthier."  In 2018 David attended the International Living Fast Track Costa Rica conference in San José.  This treasure trove of information at the in-country event coupled with work exhaustion, indeed, fast tracked him and Nancy to Costa Rica.  "I read the retirement guides. I had joined RETA (Real Estate Trend Alert), which is featured in IL, and really began thinking of the Southern Pacific area of Costa Rica," says David.  "I spent two weeks in Guanacaste and La Fortuna. I looked at a lot of crappy places with no views up north. I drove the road of death to San Isidro. It was 12,000 feet high and too cold. Then I stayed in Uvita and Ojochal. I loved the area and the beaches, but didn't find anything I liked. I had a couple of realtors looking for me."  Then he discovered Platanillo. Located less than 20 minutes inland from the laidback surfer town of Dominical and approximately 35 minutes to San Isidro de El General—the Southern Zone's main city of commerce.  "I was convinced this was the place. I wanted to see the sunset but wanted cooler weather. 1,300 feet was the sweet spot."  Nauyuca Waterfall near Dominical. When the couple viewed a 2,500-square-foot, open-air, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with mountain views and beautiful gardens ripe for growing literally anything—and for the incredible bird watching of which Nancy is so fond—they knew they had found their dream home.  "My realtor worked with the guy who built this house. In December of 2018, I made an offer," says David.  "We worked out the financing by getting a bridge loan and I refi-ed my home in Colorado."  They closed in March of 2019. "In April that year we came down here with four giant bags. We had to go back and bring more stuff, but we have been here full-time now for four years," he adds "We feel integrated into the community already," says David. "We have a great feria (farmers' market) here. We do go to Uvita for big grocery shopping, make our trash drop off, and go to Aeropost for packages.  "Here we have no stress. I lost 15 pounds. My blood pressure is down. I eat real food. We have 40 pineapple plants and 15 fruit trees growing. We are also living on a lot less money."  Editor's Note: Places like this don't stay secret for long. Jetsetters, developers, and retirees with vision will find it next. But today, you have a head start. Click here now to see what's unfolding—and how to get there before everyone else with our research report, Capturing The Sweet Spot. How to Live Where You Love and Profit From It. It's yours for FREE—when you try out a membership to International Living here today. Recommended Resource: What If Your Dream Home Paid You to Live There? Ronan's Cabo condo doubled in value—and earns $3,000 a month while he sips coffee in Europe. Kathleen's homes in Costa Rica and Chicago help fund her travels around the world. This isn't a timeshare fantasy. This is freedom that can fund itself. Click here to discover the hidden places where the quality of life is off the charts… the cost of living is surprisingly low… and the potential to profit is very real.     7 Reasons Why American Women Are Moving to Mexico By International Living Inbox too crowded? Don't worry—if you can't keep up with our International Living Postcards every day, click here to switch to the Weekly Best of IL Postcards instead. If you no longer wish to receive IL Postcards, click here to unsubscribe. The mailbox associated with this email address is not monitored, so please do not reply. Your feedback is very important to us, so if you would like to contact us with a question or comment, please click here. © 2026 International Living Publishing Ltd. 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