I am retired and living in Costa Rica (despite my lack of Spanish-speaking ability). I live in a house in a gated community with other "Americans". However we (my wife and I) are the only house we know of where both people are from North America. (My neighbor, from Argentina, is an "American" - just a South American. Another neighbor is from Cuba. Others from Costa Rica, Boliva, Columbia, etc.) All "Americans". We get along.
I retired from a career as a Reliability Engineer, working in Tucson, Arizona. Previously I have lived (and worked) in California, Texas, New Mexico, Indiana, Illinois, and Utah.
I read a lot, too many books to record. (Over a hundred in 2012.) Right now I am on a "Urban Fantasy" kick - fiction set in modern cities where paranormal creatures exist. (I do NOT like paranormal romance books, though.) I enjoy going to Science Fiction conventions, and I have attended the World Science Fiction convention in Anaheim, Denver, and Chicago. I plan to attend the upcoming conventions in San Antonio, TX (2013) and London (2014) if I have the money. I find it interesting I read mostly fiction, but write mostly factual material. To date my only published works have been totally factual.
I am the author of "A Geezer's Survival Guide to Costa Rica", which I try to keep updated in the e-book format. The last revision was October 2012, since the paper currency in Costa Rica changed September 2012. (I have more than 70 full-color photographs in the book. I am also a semi-professional photographer.)
My wife and I do not have "resident status" in Costa Rica (due to the difficulties with the requirements) so, by law, we are required to leave Costa Rica at least every 90 days, staying out of Costa Rica for at least three days. My plan to publish a book with details of where we travel, in some order. So far I have written information on Belize (Ambergris Caye), Chicago (with some information on the Sci-fi convention), Sedona, and the Grand Canyon (both in the winter). The book will have photographs; the length of the book will be determined by the size of the files. Once it is completed I am planning to begin with the second book; we have no plans to try and get residency in Costa Rica as long we are not forced to do so.
I have a website - JayBrianSchoonmaker.com. There is a link to my blog there.
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