Looking back on my retirement and witnessing the retirement of others here, I think that one of the more important things to consider about your retiring is what will you do once you're here?
It may sound like a simple query but in reality it's not. Yes, when you first come down there's the beach, the mountains, zip lines, whitewater rafting and just touring the country; however, this will not keep you or your mind occupied for long. After a few years you may have built or purchased a house and your'e just enjoying the serenity of doing nothing. Depending on the type of person that you are, you may find this very difficult, as I did, to adjust to the realization that you have “nothing to do.” I enjoyed working and only retired due to a severe car accident in 2006. If I had the option, I would most definitely go back to work.
It's important to think about what you might do to occupy your time. If you choose, there are Gringo groups to get involved with in many if not most communities. There are many opportunities here relative to volunteer work - projects helping endangered and non-endangered animals, working with the poor, helping at the schools, teaching English, as well as many others. These can be easily found on the internet by a Google search, Craigslist, Ecuentra24 and others. (Be advised that with many volunteer programs here there may be a fee. This is done to help support whatever program is being offered.)
Personally, I took up welding to help with my daughter's parrot rescue project. It keeps me busy not only physically but in helping to design whatever is going on, mentally as well. More important than you think. You might be surprised once you retire how inactive we get mentally. I also read a lot as I've done throughout my life. But now I get to sit on my deck overlooking the mountains and the Gulf of Nicoya as I read. 
Just to throw it in, please, please, please start learning español now. I can assure you, if you do not speak the language, you will not enjoy the experience to it's fullest extent. And the added benefit once again, exercising your mind!
Exercise and stretching will help immensely with your mental and of course physical health. It's easy to do nothing and get into a habit of doing just that - nothing at all.
I have seen many Gringos come down and fall into a rut of doing pretty much nothing. Literally, sit in front of the TV, drink and waste away. If that is what you choose, no judgment, but I am amazed how many retirees have come down and within a few months or years have died.
Planning for your short-term future is important but just as important is to make a long term plans that will keep you occupied physically and mentally for the years beyond. Discover what makes YOU happy!
And no matter what - have a great retirement!
- Expat Dave
Plan Ahead for Retirement
Good advice ExpatDave. Before retirement, I read a book "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free", which put a lot of emphasis on planning on how you will spend your time in retirement, (e.g. don't expect to golf all day, every day). We wanted some adventure in retirement, and I knew that retiring in the same town that we had lived in for almost 40 years would not provide much new adventure. So retiring to Costa Rica was a big part of our plan. Learning to live in a different country and culture and working on learning Spanish are important parts of the adventure. Tourist type activities can be fun at first, but after a while they are less a part of your daily life.
After our initial move, we took "almost daily" walks on the beach, and we went to our condo swimming pool to cool off almost every day. Now after almost 4 years in CR, our beach walks and pool visits are much less frequent. We now seem to have slipped into "enjoying the serenity of doing nothing" to some extent. For me, I probably spend too much time on the computer vs other activities. (Perhaps I should stop writing now, and go for a walk!)
I do still participate in a professional society related to my career and attend conventions twice a year in the USA to keep my mind active (although I plan to start cutting back on this activity in the coming years); and I enjoy participating on Expat boards online to share experiences with living in Costa Rica. I have also been an active Board member of our condo Board of Directors for the past three years. But I have not kept up with my Spanish as well as I would like, and I have not done so well on maintaining as much physical activity as I need.
So a healthy retirement does require some planning and commitment - it does not "just happen"!
What! No casinos? No football stadiums? No skiing? No drag car races? Shatter my dreams. I bet you've got no gun ranges!
I don't have a TV. I usually have no idea what anyone is talking about. I don't get a lot of contemporary cultural references.
On my latest birthday, my eldest shared with me, Don't worry, Mom. When you get very old, I'll put you in the BEST nursing home. I replied, That's fine with me, as long as you bring me lots of books. Then I thought, What if I go blind? Books on CD!
So I can plug in my CD player? Most of the time? I can stay up all night teaching English to Chinese children (you can hear their parents breathing tensely)? Or I can Skype with American teens and tell them that yes, Jane Eyre the movie and Jane Eyre the novel are actually THE SAME STORY!
I started to learn Spanish. The first dialogue was between a plastic surgeon and a patient who had MY NAME. Eject CD. I have something else but haven't started it, too consumed by my full-time job of leaving voice mails for elected representatives, or writing angry emails to McConnell and Ryan, both of whom have unplugged their phones.
I have before me years of mother-hovering which I am skilled at doing even long distance, especially if it involves semi-colons.
Unless the temperature is below freezing, I've been walking a dog every day, a mile, for over 15 years. Because I believe in allowing a dog to sniff to her heart's content, this can take a looooooong time.
I am immensely pleased that I found a Buddhist Zen Center on CR. It has programs six days a week! It seems a little "do it yourself," but it is a lot more than I was expecting. http://www.casazen.org/index-e.html. The center is in Heredia, and several of the schools we will be visiting next month are in Heredia. And we would choose to live near the school of course, if we find a nice place.
My biggest concern is books. We own a lot. Someone told me that my books will rot. So I'm worried. And new books in English? How are the libraries? How hard is it to order from Amazon?
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” --Oscar Wilde
Hola Celadon!
Thanks for the laugh (...first and fourth paragraphs).
I think that you and your family should fit in well here by what you've said in your writings. I had no idea that there was a zen retreat here. That may be something I will have to check into.
Re books, that is dependent on where you end up living. I live at a higher elevation with a creek that run through the property year round. Needless to say, very humid. Books last about 3-5 years at best where I am. Better example, I have a 5 year old stove that I bought new in the States and it will need to be replaced in the near future due to "rust."
One option might be to keep your books in a closet with a dehumidifier. My books I keep as long as they last. I don't own "valuable" books so not a concern. Maybe others have had experience with this one???
New books: I purchase a bunch of books every time I go to the States or I have others bring them back for me. There is no longer a cost-effective, reliable shipper in CR that I am aware of.
- Expat Dave
I am an avid reader and have many, many boxes of books and over the years I have donated a few dozen boxes towards fund raising projects for different groups. Two years ago, my son bought me Kobo e-reader and loaded it up 1500 books...with more space remaining. Finding new releases of English language books is very difficult....and libraries are few and far between. Easy to order from Amazon, but will get expensive and depending on where you live, you may be required to travel quite a distance to pick them up and pay duty on them
Earlier books were ruined by termites that ate the interior of the books leaving enough space to hide your keys, and the exterior in perfect condition. Insects will create a home in anything with a hollow space for them to get in. If your electrical items do not work...check for insects.
Continuing with your hobbies will help keep you sane... 
Thank you Expat Dave and Kohlerias!
Kohlerias you are quite a reader! There is no way my husband will part with his library. His books will need a separate room and a dehumidifier. Fingers-crossed. I completely forgot about Kindles [head slap]. Problem largely solved.
Jungles, crocodiles, snakes, humidity, insects that devour books, no 2-day Priority Delivery/free shipping? Just remember, Pura Vida.
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