The year 2022 marked our fifth anniversary in Costa Rica, a milestone that transformed us from expats documenting our journey into established locals actively shaping our community. This was the year we became true cultural bridges, expanding our horizons beyond Sámara while deepening our roots at home through ambitious construction projects and unforgettable culinary competitions.

What started as another year of adventures evolved into something more profound—a testament to how expat life matures from survival and exploration into contribution and leadership. We weren't just living in Costa Rica anymore; we were helping define what modern expat community could look like.

New Horizons: From Resort Life to Family Expansion

2022 began with explorations that showcased our evolved perspective on Costa Rican tourism. Our return to the Riu Guanacaste demonstrated how five years of local knowledge changed everything about experiencing all-inclusive resorts. We weren't wide-eyed tourists anymore—we were seasoned locals providing nuanced comparisons for viewers planning their own visits.

The year's most heartwarming development came with adding Skye, our blue chihuahua, to the family pack. The journey to Grecia for pickup became an adventure that perfectly captured established expat life—the spontaneity to expand our family, the network of contacts to find rare breeds, and the flexibility to turn pet acquisition into a multi-day exploration.

"Three or four chihuahuas makes up like a regular-sized dog right," Shayna rationalized our growing pack, demonstrating the kind of creative logic that made expat life endlessly entertaining.

Regional Discoveries: Beach Hopping Beyond Our Backyard

Our three-day exploration of the Junquillal area represented our most comprehensive regional adventure yet. The Airbnb in the hills above Playa Avellanas provided a base camp for discovering beaches that felt worlds away from familiar Sámara while remaining within a few hours' drive.

Each beach offered distinct personalities. Playa Junquillal stretched endlessly with minimal crowds, while the mysterious dead mangroves at Playa Avellanas told stories of geological change and natural adaptation. The 2012 earthquake had transformed the landscape, creating haunting beauty from environmental tragedy.

Our sunset expedition to the old radio tower above Sámara showcased how local knowledge could unlock experiences impossible for typical tourists. "We found the way we didn't get lost we went the back way," I announced after navigating private roads to reach our mountain viewpoint.

The memorial plaque for Jorge González Chinchilla, who died in a lightning storm while working on the mountain, reminded us that every beautiful vista in Costa Rica carried layers of human history and meaning.

The Competition Revolution: Building Community Through Food

The year's defining moments came through our legendary culinary competitions that transformed Sea Casa into an entertainment venue. The jerk chicken competition in March brought together friends for an afternoon that perfectly captured the community we'd built around shared passions.

"We came up with this idea to do a jerk chicken competition here at Sea Casa I think the locals call it a jerk-off," I announced, setting the tone for an event that combined serious cooking with the humor that made expat friendships so rewarding.

Each competitor brought unique approaches—my charcoal smoker setup, Arlo's gas grill with wood chips, and Tony's mysterious preparation that "smells like cajun chicken." The diversity reflected our international community's varied culinary backgrounds.

The Great Chiliguaro-Off 2022 in April had evolved into sophisticated blind tastings with proper scorecards. "365 days... my body is ready," Arlo declared, having waited an entire year for redemption. The tie between Norm and Tony required innovative solutions, but the real victory was the tradition itself—an annual event that brought together our expanding circle for evenings that balanced serious competition with ridiculous fun.

Construction Dreams: Project Aloha

The launch of Project Aloha marked our most ambitious building undertaking yet—a 45-foot container home that pushed our construction expertise in new directions. Working with clients from Hawaii who had fallen in love with Sámara, we were creating something that represented the evolution of our business from simple documentation to professional services.

The 45-foot container presented unique challenges compared to previous 40-foot builds. The delivery day chaos—waiting two days for cranes, power lines taken down by lost drivers—perfectly captured Costa Rican construction reality while demonstrating how experience had taught us to expect and adapt to the unexpected.

"They've got the 45 foot just set on two of the foundations just for now," I narrated as containers found their permanent positions, documenting a process that had become both profession and passion.

Santa Teresa Expeditions: Discovering Costa Rica's Surf Capital

Our comprehensive exploration of Santa Teresa represented our most ambitious coastal adventure beyond Guanacaste. The Vista Loma Airbnb, managed by fellow Kelownian Peter, provided luxury accommodations that showcased how international investment was transforming Costa Rica's remote coastlines.

The house itself demonstrated innovative vacation rental design—outlets at bar stools for digital nomads, smart TVs, infinity pools with waterfalls, and container guest houses that maximized property potential while maintaining environmental consciousness.

Our exploration revealed Santa Teresa's character as Costa Rica's premier surf town. "Definitely for me a place if you're a surfer and you want to go ride some waves at like three or four different beaches," I concluded after experiencing the area's surfing culture firsthand.

The spread-out nature challenged typical Costa Rican town expectations but created opportunities for diverse experiences within a single destination.

Culinary Excellence: From Smokehouse BBQ to Asian Fusion

Our restaurant discoveries showcased the remarkable culinary evolution happening throughout Costa Rica. Kooks Smokehouse represented world-class barbecue created through authentic techniques and imported equipment. Owner Greg's story—from New York lawyer to Costa Rican pitmaster—embodied the entrepreneurial spirit driving culinary innovation.

"You don't even have to chew it you can just suck on it it like falls apart in your mouth," I marveled at brisket that demonstrated how passion and expertise could overcome any ingredient limitations.

The discovery of Samara Wok proved that authentic cuisine was flourishing even in small communities. Rod and Michelle's transition from demanding restaurant ownership in Chile to balanced delivery service reflected hard-won wisdom about sustainable business practices.

Their authentic training throughout Southeast Asia resulted in dishes that honored traditional techniques while adapting to local ingredients. Shayna's addiction to the Singapore noodles demonstrated how genuine quality could create devoted followings anywhere.

Island Adventures and Natural Wonders

Our day trip to Isla Tortuga provided classic Costa Rican tourism while maintaining our perspective as seasoned locals. The pricing analysis—$85 for adults including transportation, meals, and activities—reflected our role as practical advisors rather than simple entertainers.

The exploration of Cabuya Cemetery Island offered one of the year's most unique cultural experiences. The tidal accessibility created natural pilgrimage conditions, while centuries-old burial practices revealed improvised solutions to remote burial needs.

"You definitely want to plan this at the right time," I advised while navigating rocky access, sharing the timing knowledge essential for safe exploration.

Elevated Dining and Sunset Experiences

Our evening at 109 Mal Pais represented the sophisticated restaurant scene developing along Costa Rica's Pacific coast. The 109-stair climb created anticipation, while sunset timing ensured memorable settings for exceptional meals.

The menu diversity—from roasted bone marrow to fresh sushi—rivaled urban establishments while taking advantage of stunning ocean backdrops. JC's off-menu creations demonstrated the personalized service that distinguished exceptional restaurants from merely good ones.

Daily Life as Established Entrepreneurs

Our Daily Life episodes captured the comfortable rhythms of established expat existence. Morning routines of guest checkouts, laundry management, and property maintenance showed how entrepreneurial life had replaced traditional employment patterns.

"That's the nice thing about being your own boss is you can choose how much you want to work," I reflected while managing Sea Casa operations, burning yard waste, and preparing for new arrivals.

The grocery expeditions to Super New China and encounters with community members like Mariano demonstrated how five years had created genuine local connections that enhanced every aspect of daily life.

Coastal Adventures and Hidden Discoveries

The second half of 2022 brought deeper explorations of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, revealing hidden gems and strengthening community connections. Our Montezuma expedition showcased the dramatic differences between coastal communities within the same peninsula. "We're still in Santa Teresa, we're going to take a little road trip over to Montezuma," I announced, setting out for what would become another lesson in Costa Rica's diversity within small distances.

The 45-minute drive transported us from Santa Teresa's surf-focused energy to Montezuma's bohemian calm. Each beach town had evolved its own character, proving that Costa Rica's appeal went far beyond generic tropical beauty.

Our waterfall hunting expeditions revealed the kind of hidden Costa Rica that required local knowledge to access. "There's nowhere online that actually shows where the entrance to the waterfalls are," I noted while searching for La Roca, demonstrating how five years of local connections had unlocked experiences impossible for typical tourists.

Urban Sophistication and Cultural Depth

San José adventures revealed Costa Rica's sophisticated urban culture, challenging stereotypes about tropical paradise living. Our Chinatown exploration during my birthday demonstrated how international communities had enriched Costa Rica's cultural landscape beyond tourism marketing.

The Escalante neighborhood showcased Costa Rica's modern dining scene, where Lebanese restaurants operated by Canadian immigrants served authentic cuisine to international clientele. These experiences proved that Costa Rica offered metropolitan sophistication alongside natural beauty.

Container Platz in Santa Ana represented the innovative repurposing that defined modern Costa Rican creativity. Shipping containers transformed into diverse food courts reflected the same thinking that guided our own container home philosophy.

Market Economics and Local Living

Our twenty-dollar farmers market challenge revealed the economic advantages of local living. The experiment demonstrated how supporting local agriculture provided both superior quality and significant savings compared to imported supermarket goods.

These practical demonstrations fulfilled our evolved role as advisors to potential expats, showing that Costa Rican living offered both lifestyle and financial benefits when approached with local knowledge.

Weather Challenges and Community Response

Tropical Storm Bonnie tested both our infrastructure choices and community resilience. "Another reason we built with shipping containers is because they can take a beating in a storm," I noted with satisfaction as our container home weathered the tempest without incident.

The storm's varying regional impact reminded us that Costa Rica's geography created microclimates that required local knowledge to navigate safely. Our community response—making pierogies with visiting family during the rain—showed how challenges became opportunities for connection.

Technical Adventures and Creative Evolution

The skate park road trip represented our most ambitious multi-day adventure within Costa Rica, combining sports tourism with regional exploration. Despite Lakai's injury requiring adaptation, the journey showcased Costa Rica's recreational infrastructure while maintaining the authentic adventure spirit that defined our content.

Our gyrocopter experience provided literal new perspectives on familiar territory. "Carl is here with me and he invited me to come fly with him," I announced, accepting an opportunity that elevated our understanding of Costa Rica's geography beyond ground-based exploration.

Culinary Artistry and Restaurant Evolution

Villa Bosque exemplified the elevated dining emerging throughout Costa Rica. Chef Jonathan's fusion approach challenged traditional soda expectations while maintaining Costa Rican hospitality and value. The demonstration of ceviche preparation provided master class moments that transformed restaurant visits into culinary education.

Cantina de Baco represented the international tapas revolution reaching even small beach towns. Carla's establishment proved that sophisticated global cuisine could thrive in Sámara while maintaining the personal service that distinguished small-town dining.

Cos-Ita Pizzería Romana brought authentic Italian technique to Costa Rica through Federico's professional expertise. The 48-hour sourdough fermentation process created pizza that rivaled Rome's best while adapting to local ingredients and Costa Rican hospitality.

Pool Construction and Property Evolution

The completion of our pool project represented the culmination of our property development vision. "Good morning it's been a while since i've said that in the intro," I announced as excavation finally began after months of planning and saving.

The construction process revealed both Costa Rican building realities and the value of experienced local contractors. From dealing with unexpected water tables to managing weather delays, the project demonstrated why building in Costa Rica required patience, flexibility, and strong local partnerships.

The finished pool transformed Sea Casa from accommodation into destination, providing the luxury amenity that elevated guest experiences while creating new opportunities for community gatherings and content creation.

Looking Forward: Established Leaders

As 2022 concluded, we'd accomplished something remarkable. We'd transitioned from documenting our adjustment to actively helping others create their own Costa Rican stories while building businesses that supported our local community.

The culinary competitions had become anticipated annual events. Project Aloha represented our growing construction expertise. Our regional explorations provided comprehensive guides for visitors seeking authentic experiences beyond typical tourist offerings.

The pool project's completion symbolized our permanent commitment to Costa Rica while creating new possibilities for hosting the growing community that had formed around our shared love of this remarkable country.

Most importantly, we'd proven that long-term expat content creators could evolve from cultural observers into community leaders, supporting local businesses, facilitating cultural exchange, and creating traditions that enriched both expat and local communities.

The adventure was far from over—it had simply matured into something more meaningful than documentation. We were actively shaping the future of expat community life in Costa Rica, one competition, one construction project, and one authentic restaurant recommendation at a time.

Our journey from wide-eyed newcomers to established community builders demonstrated that the best expatriate experiences came not from escaping your previous life, but from building something better in your chosen home. Costa Rica had given us the freedom to create the life we wanted—and 2022 proved we'd learned to use that freedom wisely.

The Journey Continues

As we look back on years of construction, countless challenges overcome, and dreams transformed into reality, Sea Casa stands as proof that impossible is just another word for "not yet achieved." Every tile laid, every wall framed, every problem solved brought us closer to understanding that we were capable of far more than we ever imagined.

The journey from empty land to thriving vacation rental business taught us that the best adventures aren't always about going somewhere new - sometimes they're about building something lasting in the place you've chosen to call home.

Experience our complete building transformation through our Season 5: Costa Rica Adventures playlist, where shipping containers became homes, impossible dreams became daily reality, and construction became the foundation for a life we never knew we could create.