I found this softcover in this Little Free Library in Bedford NH while dropping off some books of my own. It's a mix of memoir, travel-narrative, and practical guide to relocating to a different country - with the intriguing note on the cover that it's from the "Mainers in Costa Rica" series. I checked on that, and there is a sequel, Reality Check - in which the author's family opts to move back to the US.

The book includes lots of the stresses of travel, such as a confrontation at an airport when one of their pet carriers doesn't meet airline standards - resulting in the need to split the party, adding to the tension of the trip. There are some thought-provoking discussions of the nature of Western-civilization privilege - and the misconceptions of people who think that because the locals in Costa Rica can live on a very small amount of money per year, they can too, without considering how many luxuries (including such basics as hot running water) they may have to do without.

Definitely worth reading for those considering a major relocation of this kind - even if your requirements and resources don't match those of the authors. And an enjoyable change-of-perspective for those who don't plan to relocate, too.

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

I left this book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

*** Released for the 2021 Oh the Places We Can Go challenge. ***