Casa Dharma

Casa Dharma Welcome to Casa Dharma in Samara, Costa Rica, Guanacaste Province. Casa Dharma offers Yoga, Meditation, Healing Arts Centre and more for your wellness journey.

Saturday in Samara means Farmer's Market Day!  It is a bit slow right now - still in rainy season!  We ride bikes into t...
18/10/2025

Saturday in Samara means Farmer's Market Day! It is a bit slow right now - still in rainy season! We ride bikes into town and enjoy seeing the vendors and people walking around enjoying music. There is always something to find.
I love getting a bunch of fresh basil. I leave it at the top of my backpack so I can smell it all the way home- about 2.5km ride. A little rain shower and now the sun is out again so, off I go for another round of shopping. I really enjoy getting our exercise this way! Although our lane is a bit slippery so, we have to walk down to the road first.
What is in season here now?
Mamones!!!!!!! They are similar to lychee but not quite - and I eat bags of them. Dragonfruit - I carry as many as I can and they are a deep purple/pink on the inside here and very tasty!

12/10/2025
Home.It has been a very long 6.5 months away from my home.I am very grateful to so many people for so much help in the p...
06/10/2025

Home.
It has been a very long 6.5 months away from my home.
I am very grateful to so many people for so much help in the past few months.
I got the call - you know the one. Come home. Now. Your Dad is sick.
I went home, in a hurry. I tried to pack clothes but, I did not have any far north Canadian clothes anymore. I took what I could find. I tried to pack up my home - to keep it from disaster in the humidity. I left.
Northern Ontario in March is still cold!!!
However, I was not prepared for the incredibly immense task before me - clean out all the buildings, sell everything, even sell the place where I grew up. And do it while caring for my Dad.
It was hard work. Long days. However, I had some amazing friends, even after 35 years of not seeing each other!!! They held me. They fed me. They made me laugh. They eased the burden.
My Dad transitioned from this world on August 21. I was so grateful to be with him. To see him off to his next journey.
A big regret is that he never got to see my home here in Samara. To meet the amazing people of Samara. To be warm every day.
My Dad was happy for me to be 'doing my thing' in Costa Rica. Although he always asked me if I would ever come home again. Our place in the north was so beautiful, so amazing but, it was no longer my home. I have never really felt 'at home' anywhere until I came here. I can't explain it but, here I feel like I can be me. Close to nature. Ocean. Sand. Natural/minimalist living. But most importantly, healing. Samara is a very healing place.
I choose to believe that he is here in spirit.
And now, now I am home. It did not feel like home at first - I have been gone a long time. So, I started over again. Unpacking my house. Making it home.
Finding lost treasures. I am so grateful for the friends that kept watch on Casa Dharma. That welcomed me home with so much love and kindness. ❤️
It is the rainy season here now. Not always an easy time to live in the jungle!
I am grateful to be back.
Thank you to everyone who played a part in this journey!!
Pura Vida

Today, in Canada, it is a Federal holiday.  To us, Every Child Matters extends across borders/boundaries and includes AL...
30/09/2025

Today, in Canada, it is a Federal holiday. To us, Every Child Matters extends across borders/boundaries and includes ALL children everywhere. 🧡

We could say the same things regarding Samara. This lighthearted look at life in Costa Rica may be a bit rosy but, it is...
22/05/2025

We could say the same things regarding Samara.
This lighthearted look at life in Costa Rica may be a bit rosy but, it is why so many people love Samara, the people of Costa Rica, the vibe, the nature, the food, the music and most of all, the laughter!!
Pura Vida!
We tend to take life so darned seriously that we forgot to have fun. Costa Ricans remind us to lighten up, it is good for our souls.

Here's a lighthearted look at the Top 10 Reasons People in the Nicoya Peninsula Live So Dang Long:

🌴 1. They Forgot to Die
When you're chilling in paradise, eating fresh mangoes and watching monkeys swing from trees, death simply forgets to RSVP. "Oh shoot, I was supposed to visit Jorge last Tuesday!"

☕ 2. Coffee Flows Like Holy Water
Nicoyans drink strong, sacred coffee from sun-up to sundown. It's not just a beverage—it’s a spiritual practice. Side effect? Eternal pep and the ability to out-dance their great-grandchildren.

🍛 3. Their Food Is So Fresh, It’s Still Gossiping
From gallo pinto to grilled fish caught this morning, their meals are simple, wholesome, and fresher than a teenager’s TikTok feed. Plus, no microwaves were harmed in the making of their meals.

🐓 4. They Wake Up with the Chickens
Seriously, they rise before the rooster finishes his coffee. Starting the day early gives them time to stretch, walk, work, and still have time to nap under a mango tree.

😄 5. Laughter Is Their Core Workout
Everyone’s a stand-up comedian in Nicoya. Whether it’s the neighbor’s goat getting stuck in a hammock or someone retelling the story of that time Abuelo drank guaro and tried to ride a tapir—life is funny here.

❤️ 6. They Actually Like Their Families
Multi-generational households are common, and they genuinely enjoy hanging out with their grandkids. No eye-rolls. Just love, storytelling, and a suspiciously large number of family parties.

🚶 7. They Walk Everywhere (Even if They Own a Horse)
Nobody’s in a rush. They walk to the store. They walk to the beach. They walk to see the neighbor's new chicken. By the time they’re 90, they’ve logged enough miles to have walked to Canada and back.

🌞 8. The Sun Recharges Their Souls
Vitamin D is plentiful, and you’ll never catch a Nicoyan saying, “Ugh, another gray day.” Nope—it’s sun, sun, and more glorious sunshine, with just enough rain to keep the plants and the people hydrated and happy.

🌱 9. They Have a Deep Sense of Plan de Vida
That’s Spanish for “life plan.” In Nicoya, even 100-year-olds have stuff to do. Gardening, storytelling, cooking, fixing that squeaky gate. Purpose keeps them ticking like an old-school Swiss watch.

🧘 10. Stress? Never Heard of Her
No road rage, no endless meetings, no traffic jams (unless a herd of cows counts). People here have mastered the art of the chill. Their biggest daily decision is whether to nap before or after lunch.

So, if you want to live to 100 and still dance at your great-grandkid’s wedding, just move to Nicoya, eat some beans, drink your coffee, and don’t forget to laugh. A lot. Preferably while barefoot. 😄☀️🐓

Pura Vida, Longevity Style!

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