Sorry, this entry has no pictures... It is pure thought from the author however misguided he might be.

One the main things I miss living here is company and friends I am used to back in Canada.  I forgot that I lived in such a gay bubble in big cities and forgot there were so many people that did not share the same point of view as me.  It seemed I only read about the real "Bushie types" and felt I have for the most part was able to escape their presence.
-
It was always in the back of my mind it might be a problem about being a gay couple and going to live in a place like Puerto Viejo where there is virtually no gay community and some pretty conservative Christian attitudes with the presence of the African Caribbean community.  It did really concern me, but I thought I could deal with it.  I thought it would be a great growing experience for me.
-
Now, most people know we are gay.  I mean how can a couple like us blow into town and and not be noticed and talked about.  Roberto is by far the best groomed man on the whole east coast.  Most have been very gracious and see that we have been good neighbours even though we are different.  Now, we are not the only gay people in town, but from what I can see we are the only open couple that makes it clear that we are together therefore some people perceive we are "flaunting" our gayness.
-
Then there are others that I assume because they are from North America and lived in places like San Francisco that would have no issues whatsoever with us or our intended project of building a guesthouse catering to gays.  Wrong!  Now, I know this was not intended to be malice and only to be protective of us, but we got talking about my plans for a gay guesthouse and he cautioned me about attitudes in the area and our project might be perceived as "sex tourism" and the government has a campaign against those types of businesses.  He also thought I should just advertise "word of mouth" and not on internet.
-
To give you some history... a few years back, a German gay guy rented a property in the Jungle and proceeded to run a "naturist (yes nude) resort catering to gay men.  Well, the locals (especially the owner of the property who tells me he is not homophobic) still go on about this site of frolicking nude homos in the jungle to this day.  Now, if you asked almost anyone what was the name of the kid who was murdered recently at the local disco over a domestic dispute, very few would recall it, let alone recall the event.  But the thought that there were gay men naked back in the jungle still haunts many.
-
Well, I am too old to go back in the closet and I assured him that what we want to do does not come anywhere close to being illegal.  (I said guesthouse, not bordello) Where would the black community be if Rosa Parks did not refuse to sit at the back of the bus?
-
I have been all over Costa Rica and I have never seen any type of business that catered to older gay men looking for minors.  I have seen some locals and the odd heterosexual foreigner with someone I might perceive as underage or close to the line which in Costa Rica is 18 years.  Now, that does not say it never happens, but it is not widespread.
-
I found it disappointing that the conversation took this turn.  Had we been heterosexual and we said we were opening a guesthouse, I doubt our exchange would have been the same.  But it just reminds me that many people can not just seem see past "the sex part" about gay men.  You say "gay" they see orgy (I wish ;-).  Some locals might have an issue with us, but if they want to have a community that is open to tourists then they don't get to pick and choose what colour and what types of people will come.
-
An Encounter with The American Species
-
So, I end up getting invited to a social evening one night with people I know and some people who are visiting area.  From what I can see, everyone looks like a progressive liberal bunch.  I think... great.  Sane people, sane conversations.
-
Well, the evening was progressing nicely and i got talking with this one guy who was traveling with his wife around the world.  I thought WOW!!  How neat.  Here they are in their 50's and traveling the world via back packing.  I found it really inspiring. (and yes they were from California!).
-
Then we get on this conversation about growing number of expats in Costa Rica and I mentioned what I thought that was in part fueling that growth and that was the current government, policies and problems in the United States.  He looked very confused and said "What problems?".  I was shocked.  I did not know what to say, and just said well from what I can read and the many people I talk to, people are not very happy with what is going on.  He said, "Well, it's obvious we don't agree on this subject and maybe we shouldn't go down this road."  And then after agreeing this was not a good topic he proceeded to make clear his point of view on the current state of affairs in the US.
-
He stated quite frankly, that his big problem with the Democrats was taxes. I said, "well then you should have a big problem with the invasion of Iraq as you will be paying for that for generations to come." (Maybe why that is why he is considering a move to Costa Rica to avoid future taxes and virtually free health care)  He could not see that how he would be paying for that.  He said "well we pay for the military anyway, they might as well be doing something." (Sure... why not go invade a sovereign nation around the globe).  I agreed that much of the military might be sitting idle at the time, but there are many "added costs" to launching a war and occupying a country.  (How about "smart bombs").  I asked him how many times did he see Bush go to congress to ask for more money for the war (or was that too deep of a subject for CNN?).  It did not seem to clue with him that he would be paying for that.
-
He choose quickly to leave that subject and asked me "Where would Iraq be in the US had not intervened?"  He was now suggesting that they were now on a humanitarian mission.  My jaw dropped. What happened to WMD? I pointed out that there were countries in much worse situations with it's citizens than Iraq, but they do not have oil or allow the US to set up a military base in the Middle East.   I also asked him if he felt it was the US position to be the "world police" and unilaterally decides what governments should be toppled in other countries.  He felt they had no choice as the UN was corrupt.
-
Now, how does a middle age couple with what looks like a decent education be that ignorant about the economic realities of war?  Or am I totally wrong?  Maybe "the Coalition of The Willing" foots all the bills (I never knew Poland had that kind of cash).  What does most the rest of the developed world see that many Americans don't?
-
It has been my experience that many of the conservative types don't like the Caribbean and especially with all the Bohemian types (hippies).  They also seem somewhat alarmed with so many African Caribbeans that are roaming free and not behind a Wendy's counter.  Here Well I thought by moving to East Coast of Costa Rica I could avoid the gun-totin' Republican Texan types, but alas, that myth has been shattered.
-
So, a few days later this nice local gringa women (yes... from California) comes over to chat with us about building a house since it is known around town that we have so much experience in that area.  She is quite nice (not a Republican) and we are enjoying conversation with each other.  A little while later, she lights up a joint and Roberto and I do not imbibe.  After the joint settles in she informs us that she is gifted with the ability to speak with animals and proceeds to tell us about the conversation she had this morning with her cat.  Roberto and I dared not look at each other and listened intently.  I always wondered what my dogs would say to me if they could talk.
-
I guess this is all what makes this place so special.  It's just one huge soup pot of all types of people from many different places all doing their own thing.  If you are interested in reading more about the wacky ex-pats living in Costa Rica, check out the article a friend and I co-authored on his travel website.

Cost of the War in Iraq

(JavaScript Error)

To see more details, click here.

Comments

[Dougdo]

Hmmm, interesting rant Colin; It is interesting how when we go somewhere small we can unexpetedly encounter a much more diverse crowd than we would have expected after living our lives in liberal city centers. Even Puerto Viejo i guess where'd you expect a certain type of person to be attracted to its counter-culture carribean atmosphere.

And the next time so yankee gives you that nonsense about the Iraq war not costing anything (the army has to be somewhere...jeez), respond that so far the Iraq war has cost each American over $2000 each. That's extra appropriations above and beyond the normal cost of maintaining their giant military. As John Stewart remarked the other night, that's enough to "buy every American a speedball of coke and a night with a high class hooker"!

[Tropical Adventures]

It's funny how I made an assumption (always a bad idea) that people who have moved here to Costa Rica from the US are more open-minded and "enlightened" about global issues. How wrong I was!

I guess we have a little microcosm of the US / Canada in our tiny little Costa Rica: the good, bad and ugly!

I, for one, have experienced less of what you're describing having lived in the San Jose area since I moved here 2 years ago. But I remember what you said about the kinds of people who move here: They are the "Most Wanted" and the "Least Wanted." And that couldn't be more true! (I just wonder what category I fit into?)

[Connie]

Hello there, I just wanted to let you know, I have enjoyed reading your blog very much, great pictures and great stories!! I found this post really funny. Here in NJ I come across people all the time that are oblivious to how "broken" our government is right now. It is really sad:(

[Chuck]

I read your site with great enjoyment and support you in your endeavors. Your writings resonated highly with me because I am a soon-to-be ex-pat from the US who wishes to get off the current "North American treadmill" also for more reasons than I can count. I love CR and have visited several times in the last few yrs however never have made it to the Caribbean side because so many either said there was "nothing going on there, nothing worthwhile to see, too dangerous, too "dark," lack of adequate infrastructure, too far" and on and on. I have been all throughout the Caribbean and Afro-Caribbean culture I have enjoyed many times, I speak Spanish more than good enough to communicate successfully in CR. I will be heading back to CR soon to continue my search of which area I want to live in and may very well make it out to Puerto Viejo as I have wanted to explore the area and it's vibes and also to relax a bit at the beach. I'll be needing lodging and am currently looking to see what is available in the area and trying to decide if I'm going to Guadalajara first or back to CR first. I may be seeing you in PV soon but in any case, enjoy your new life in CR and good luck with the business and inetegrating well socially and culturally!

[Heather]

Gawd why do these ppl insist on giving us all (Americans, that is) a bad name?! Why can't I be Canadian like you?
I've been reading your blog for hours now and I really wanna come stay at your guesthouse. Do you accept gay friendly heteros?

I lived in Costa Rica in 2000-2001 with my bf. It was one of the best years of my life! We left to get married in Spain and then ended up spending the next 8 years living abroad - Spain, Toronto, China. Now we are considering moving back to CR. I loved PV - my kind of ppl. But then, I am an American-reject hippie girl who cringes at the thought of the things you have had to listen to.

[runes of magic gold]

reject hippie girl who cringes at the thought of the things you have had to listen to.