A few weeks ago I wrote a piece for this newspaper about Costa Rica. While most of the feedback was very positive, two or three people wrote to ask if this was a paid article for the Costa Rican government. It certainly was not. If it sounded like a tourism advertisement it was only because I, and most of the other ex patriot Americans and Canadians living here, are so enthusiastic about this country. Having lived most of our lives in North America we have become disillusioned about the way things are going “up north,” with the loss of value of our currency, the terrible housing market, and crime heading the list, not to mention the cold weather.