What is Lifestyle?
“It’s all about lifestyle.” This is the most common phrase used in Costa Rica, second to “Pura Vida”. Like most of you, I get caught up in work and my daily responsibilities of dad, employer and primary breadwinner and I forget why I moved to Costa Rica. Thankfully my wife gives me a swift kick in the *ss and I take some time to enjoy what my community has to offer and to enjoy that lifestyle I moved 3,500 miles to enjoy.
I never understood what all the hoopla was about lifestyle until I moved to Costa Rica. Being here 10 years, I can’t imagine my family anywhere else. Below is a brief description of my weekend to get a glimpse into why.
On Friday my daughter had a day off from school. We decided to change up her regular riding routine and went 25 minutes inland to the San Juan de Dios Valley. My friend has a 50-acre ranch and invited us for a morning ride. We brought a few clients with us so they could enjoy a non-tourist activity. They had so much fun! We were stopping to pick water apples and guava, eating along the way while crossing rivers and watching horses and cows graze. It was a beautiful day and breathing clean air was a definite bonus. For our clients, it was an opportunity to see and experience life the way most of us living here do.
Saturday and Sunday was spent in Dominical watching a surf competition. Dominical is a well-known surf town, which attracts surfers from all over the world. The best surfers from Costa Rica showed up to compete and they were not disappointed. The swell was big and the principal sponsor, The House of Marley, did an amazing job. Being able to host a National Surf Competition is a very special event for the community and brings everyone out to the beach. We spent all of Saturday and Sunday cheering local kids that were competing and also to enjoy the music and fun vibes. This was the first time Dominical saw such a well-organized event that kept to schedule and moved along perfectly.
In between surf heats we found ourselves walking over to The Surf Shak. It is the first of its kind in Dominical offering food and smoothies with organic and locally sourced fresh ingredients. They even have raw and gluten free options. It definitely caters to a healthier crowd and having been a healthy eater all my life, I am in food heaven!
Surf Shak is located right on the beach in Dominical. You will enjoy the food and walk away knowing you did something good for your body!
It was a special weekend full of activities for the whole family. Horseback riding, surfing, exercising outside and eating healthy… lifestyle just cannot get any better.
Jdub