Back to Basics: The Freedom of Choosing Over Waiting

Our latest move NYC ----> Costa Rica

After nine winters in New York, we moved to Costa Rica. The city that had been our home slowly stopped feeling like one—it turned into a burden. Suddenly, the dirt became unbearable, the polluted air, the noise, and the winter palette of grays and browns that got duller every year. And above all, the staggering cost of raising two daughters in the city—a cost that no longer felt worth it.

We needed a change, though it took us a long time to figure out what that even meant. We debated everything—from moving upstate (even New Jersey crossed our minds!) to completely flipping the script and relocating to Portugal. For almost a year, we asked ourselves hard questions: What do we really want? What’s most important to us? What kind of life do we want to create for ourselves and our family? What are we willing to let go of to gain something better? What environment will allow our daughters to thrive? How can we create a life where we feel present, calm, and connected as a family?

Gradually, the answers became clear. We wanted simplicity—a life where we could breathe, connect, and truly live in the moment. Our answers: We wanted a place surrounded by nature, near the sea, with no winter—a warm and pleasant climate. Good education for our daughters, a community if possible, and a life that was significantly cheaper than New York. We dared to say we wanted a better quality of life. That we deserve a better quality of life. What mattered most was time with our daughters—quality over quantity—and being together in a way that wasn’t overshadowed by the stress and demands of a fast-paced life.

We envisioned a life filled with adventure, creativity, and peace. A life where the outdoors wasn’t a weekend escape but a daily backdrop—where the beach could be their playground, and experiences took precedence over things. To gain that, we were willing to let go of convenience, familiarity, and the comforts of a city that no longer felt like home. We chose uncertainty and the challenge of starting over in exchange for something richer, more meaningful, and aligned with our values.

Once we made the decision, everything happened quickly. In just one month, we packed up our Brooklyn home, put everything in storage, and boarded a plane to San José.

The first few days felt like withdrawal symptoms—physical discomfort, adrenaline surges, anxiety, and that voice in your head asking, What just happened? It was strange, filled with questions about work, career impacts, and all the uncertainties that come with such a leap. And all this while we were still in the city, spending five days in San José.

New York becomes part of your identity after years there. Everything is so familiar, so convenient—right at your fingertips (if you can afford it). Then, overnight, it’s gone. You find yourself, at 42, in San José, Costa Rica, where it rains all day, there’s dirt, noise, and none of the comforts you left behind. The girls, not yet in any routine, kept asking when we were going back to their fluffy-carpeted room in Brooklyn.

After five days of discomfort mixed with excitement, we bought an old car and drove six hours to our new home by the sea in Nosara.

Nosara, a surfing town on the Pacific coast and part of a Blue Zone, was chosen for its schools. The American-Canadian community here has built excellent schools and preschools in recent years—innovative, trend-forward options paired with endless nature, the sound of monkeys in the background, and chickens darting between bare feet. Exactly what we imagined for our daughters, who barely ever took their socks off in New York.

The arrival was emotional. Suddenly, the quiet we had imagined. Suddenly, the beach we had dreamed of. Two tiny girls running wildly on a vast, empty beach (rainy season). And for the first time, we started to breathe. To let go.

Adventure time with Daddy.

It’s been four months since then, and our connection to nature and the quiet life has turned out to be the greatest gift we could have given ourselves. Our minds are calmer, our bodies more relaxed, and there’s a strong sense of returning to the simplicity of childhood.

The people here seem to have found a winning formula for balancing business and lifestyle. We eat papaya every day, drink fresh coconut water (our older daughter already knows how to open them), and enjoy fruits and vegetables picked just hours ago. Our bodies are saying thank you—and they arrived here pretty worn out from New York.

I’ll write more about our daily life another time, but the bottom line is: we’re happy. And most importantly, the gift we’re giving our daughters by living here is enormous. Even Lulu, our dog. After years on a couch in New York, at 13 years old, she now spends her days at the beach and outdoors.

As our vet here said: “Nosara is a Blue Zone for dogs too.”

The girls are happy.

Lulu is brave, living her best life at 13.