In 2013 we moved to Puerto Rico and got started working on the property. We cleared the brush and weedy trees and vines that had consumed most of it and began to make our living quarters much more comfortable. We cleaned, painted and did some minor repairs and improvements on the little cabana.
Cabana when we bought it/moved
The studio cabana we lived in for 3 years as of April 2018 is now a vacation rental unit
Interior of cabana 2018
We made the difficult decision in late 2014 to tear down the old wooden house. We quickly found that while there was a lot wrong with the house (it had been infested with rats, bats, bees, bugs and had some rain damage) the majority of the wood inside the house was in perfect/better than new condition!
Old wooden house
Demolishing
So we made another major decision: to repurpose the wood and build another cabin in the woods on “the other side” of the 4 acre property. That process was long and arduous as there is no road to that side of the property. Everything had to be hauled by hand. Everything!
One of the helpers carrying panels through the forest
The progress was slow and steady. But we were doing it! From the batter boards to the first stages of construction. And in the meantime we were still planting new trees and flower gardens, maintaining the jungle/gardens as well as adding turkeys to our flock of chickens.
Base of the cabin is built March 2015!
Construction continued at a pretty steady rate through 2015 into 2016.
Cabin progress
Looking up at cabin
We even built an 80 foot long foot bridge across an intermittent stream and poured our own concrete stairs as you can see in this How-to video.
Cabin with roofing and partial siding
Building the front porch overhang
Drywalling interior
Buried an electric line and water line and connected the house
Tiled the floor
Installed the windows
Painted
Built the bathroom
Built the kitchen
Our semi-finished (is it ever really finished?) cabin and bridge in 2018
Bedroom
In sum, it was a huge process. In early 2017 we finally moved into our little cabin in the woods. It is pretty far away from everyone since there is not even a road to it. But it is not so far that you can’t hike the hill within 3-5 minutes if need be. Plus we made it so that we can now drive about halfway down in the 4×4 truck.
In September 2017 Maria hit Puerto Rico hard. We were actually in the cabin when it came. We weren’t sure the cabin would make it through since it is made of wood. It was a harrowing time for sure.
And while many, many trees came down and the chicken coop was completely destroyed, there was no damage to our little houses. Our little concrete studio actually suffered more damage than the wooden cabin because the upper railings were ripped out of the concrete. We had to do a lot of work for many months to clean up the downed trees and debris everywhere.
Maria hit us like a bomb
We are now settling back down and doing minor projects around the property. The tropical gardens have grown into something tremendously beautiful and we sell some of the exotic fruits and flowers at the Sunday Farmer’s Market in Rincon.
Tropical gardens
Truck load of flowers for the market
Some of the produce from the farm
We love our little jungle finca!
Here is the historical page about the property written in 2011 when we bought it. Some of it has stayed the same (the location, size of the property, etc) and much of it has changed dramatically. Life is ever the evolving and shifting journey.
Our House in Rincón, Puerto Rico from the road
On May 23, 2011 we finally achieved our goal of purchasing a property in Rincón, Puerto Rico! It was an exciting day and a culmination of a lot of hard work and vision. But, just like many of our other goals, it is just the beginning. We have big plans for this property and our lives in Puerto Rico.
Our property is in Puntas near the Rio Grande area of Rincón, Puerto Rico. Rincón, just like other cities in Puerto Rico, is divided in barrios, or neighborhoods. You could think of Rincón proper (total population: estimated at ~15,000) as a county and these barrios as smaller cities within that larger area.
We live down an off-shoot from the 413- The Road to Happiness
The barrios of Rincón
We are very happy that we chose Rincón. It is a good transition for people from the mainland U.S. because it offers more of the comforts that we are used to. We traveled all of Puerto Rico -and nearly bought properties in Lares and Isabela (click links to follow those stories)- but found that we were always drawn back to Rincón for the amenities. These include but are not limited to: Internet, good food, nice beaches, other mainlanders/expats who have made Rincón home, that it’s relatively uncrowded, the friendly locals, laid back surf vibe, beautiful sunsets, animal services and care, environmental awareness, strong entrepreneurial spirit/business opportunities…and many more. When we found this property that had land and we could actually afford it, it was like a dream come true.
At the Rincón Lighthouse
Our place has four jungle acres at the end of a road -a calle sin salida. Currently there are two structures on the property, a wooden house and a small studio cabana. It has a nice ocean view and some fruit trees. In the middle of the property is a gully or quebrada where water flows when it rains. In that tropical grove there are royal palms that have to be 50 feet tall!
Next to a HUGE royal palm tree on our property
Looking up towards the house from the lower 4 acres
From the road looking toward the house you can see the cabana (in white) and the main house
From near the quebrada looking up toward the main house
Studio cabana
Cassie on top of the cabana
The drive in
The Ocean view and the four acres of land
From the upper bedroom looking down toward the deck that overlooks the ocean
Upstairs bedroom
Studio cabana bedroom area
Looking over at the house from another neighborhood
Here are a couple of videos we took of the houses and area. We plan on fixing them up and adding more cabanas and eventually make it a guesthouse property that we can rent out to people who visit or live in Rincón or Puerto Rico! We are very excited about this and have already started thinking about our first steps. Follow along on our adventure as we transition from Greeley, Colorado to Rincón, Puerto Rico!
-Cassie and Britton, LifeTransPlanet
Hello readers, I’m looking for a place to semi-retire. I do believe I want to be in the Caribbean. I am trying to figure out if or how Puerto Rico’s financial instability might possibly ruin the infrastructure of PR. I know that it could not ruin it’s natural beauty, which is a big part of the reason of my wanting to relocate there. Ultimately, I just want to say I appreciate this blog. I follow Expat Exchange but the Puerto Rico exchange has about nothing for the last couple of years. Thanks Dan
Dear Dan,
Although there is much bad news in the press and, for sure, the government is in the stinker…there is much positive activity taking place in Puerto Rico. Now IS the time to come to Puerto Rico…more than ever. People are reinventing themselves and coming into their own…creating thriving small businesses, young people are getting into agriculture, people are taking more time to do things they enjoy, bicycles and skateboards have had a resurgence, local food trucks and street festivals are on an uptick and, honestly, people seem happy. At the same time, oceanfront properties are selling and MANY people are moving to Puerto Rico…from the States and other countries too. Here a good place for ya: http://puertoricosothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/310-l-2519-523ckm/waterfront-villa-at-a-waldorf-astoria-resort-fajardo-pr-00738
Come and see for yourself, you will not be disappointed. In fact, you won’t want to leave! All the best to you!
Hi Dan,
Puerto Rico is great for people who want to try and live with a little less of the “system.” I, for one, am happy trying to figure stuff out without always looking for some system way to solve it. It is much more community focused here and sharing is much more common. If you are looking for a “pampered” life, you can find it in PR, but you will be having a very strange existence in comparison with most Puerto Ricans. If you are willing to live a little simpler and can appreciate life without constant air conditioning, perfect roads, completely consistent water and electricity, and like a lot of randomness, you will do fine here. If those things will bug you and especially if you are super Type A, it might suit you better to look elsewhere where the system and infrastructure are stronger. I feel I found my home and my tribe in Puerto Rico. It is generally not pretentious and the things that really matter like friends, family, food, nature and life balance are more important than all the other fake stuff.
I agree with you Cassie. There is a famous quote “The richest man is not he who has the most, but he who needs the least.” I have type A tendencies but PR has somewhat forced me to slow down and live in the present. I don’t have to always have to be on schedule and on top of things. I don’t have to micro manage. I don’t need all this “stuff”. Life on the island is simple In many ways. When power and water are cut off I just roll with it. It seems like all the lines for stores, banks, CRIM (ugh!) you name it always move slower than in the States but that’s okay too, I’ve had many pleasant and interesting conversations with the people waiting in line with me. I’m actually grateful for the relaxed pace because at the speed I’m accustomed to I see it shortening my life. We’re almost there. We’ve been going back and forth for ten years now. We have less than two years before we finally relocate. In the meantime, we enjoy yearly every single minute while vacationing there.
Hi
Great blog you have going. My family and I are buying a home in Aguadilla. My oldest is in college in CA and our youngest will be coming with us who is 13. I appreciate all your information. I’m an electrician by trade in San Francisco, I’m hoping to semi retire and live a quite slow life. I know Aguadilla is close to Rincon any idea how easy it is to start a small business in PR ?
We’ll guess what. Ha ha We made it! We didn’t sail the boat and are looking to have it either shipped or chartered Over. Staying in San Juan fora few months. We got lucky and were able to get a condo right on the beach at a moments notice. We are still planing on going to the west side, but we love it here in San Juan. A little overpriced but hey, it’s a tourist destination. We hung it all up. We RETIRED and all we’ve been doing are keeping our toes in the sand. People here are truly great and they have helped us out more than what we could’ve imagined due to the circumstances. But hey we’re here and that’s all that matters. For those that are planning on moving here but have second thoughts, just do it! That’s what we did. All we want to do is sit our butts on the beach and just relax! Don’t ever work till you die. You’ll miss to much. Enjoy yourselves nothing better than doing nothing! But always remember this. It’s not how you got there but whom you were able to share the journey with. Oh and on a last note. I did find Miller Lite. Lol
Just a thought…there are more places than the West.
I´m from Humacao, and to me, living there was a bless. It is a nice enough city where it has evertyhing with the benefits of not being too metropolitan. Plus, the actual Metropolitan area was just an 1 hour plus drive taking the highway.
…however, sadly, it doesn´t have enough nice places (beach for example).
I´d recommend Luquillo. This one offers what Humacao does in terms of relaxation plus great nature surroundings. And you´ll be extremely close to the National Rain Forrest and the Metropolitan Area.
Another place, if you like to just loose yourseld in nature is choose to live in the Center of the country.
Or, if you like a place with nice nature surrroundings plus historical places that gives a feeling of San Juan and don´t mind the heat) Ponce in the South. The biggest city in Puerto Rico.
There´s plenty to choose in La Isla del Encanto.
I agree, Lester! I’d say anyone who is thinking of moving here permanently should do a full trip around the island to see which area calls to them. Puerto Rico is an island of many wonders.
PS That’s really exciting, Bryan. Bienvenidos to you and your family.
My wife and I have been visiting the Island every year since 2001. When I was a young boy my mother would send be to Puerto Rico to spend the summers there, is was my Fresh Air Fund. We have decided to move to Puerto Rico in the Summer of 2017, right after I retire from my job. We are thinking of moving either to Aguadilla, Ricon or Cabo Rojo. In April of 2017 we are going there in hopes of finding a place. Your story is a great motivator it has allowed me to feel more confident in our decision to move to the island.
Raymond. We are very very happy in the decision you and your wife have made to move here. We just love it and can’t seem to get enough of the culture and the people that we have met and have have been able to share experiences with. We have stayed in a condo for the past two months we have been here right on the beach. We just sit our butts on the beach all day and just wonder what we want to eat for dinner. It’s truly a different lifestyle for my fiancé and she is trying to adjust. I call her slow mo. No worries. And she tells me you move to slow. Point exactly I continue to tell her she is on a tropical island and it always gets better as the hours go by. We no longer work and starting to enjoy the nagging of one another. Come next week we have decided to move to the other side of the island to Cabo rojo to a beach house and then from there, who knows. Maybe one day we will meet, laugh and tell jokes to each other on how bad our better half a nag. Enjoy and don’t ever give up your dreams. We didn’t and we made it here and now the fun ( nagging) begins. Ha ha. Till then
Hi, Love your site. Thanks to directing us to the recycle center. We just bought here in Los Almendros and are now furnishing and changing appliances. Do you know of places to get beach decor? We seem to get stuck and can not find anything. We had better stuff in the states. Getting furniture was not that fun. Rooms to go seems to be the place. Congrats on full time down here. We are snow birds it seems but will be back from time to time over the year of course.
Chris and Margarita
New York
Hey Chris and Margarita
Just unloaded our container from Cali on Monday and we’re about done putting everything in it’s place. We brought with us a pair of brand new in the box sea glass turquoise lamps from Pier One Imports that just didn’t work for me, wow bad timing, would have donated them to you but already gave them up. Check out TJ maxx or Marshall’s for some beach decor. There is a second hand shop on carretera 2 in Aguada if you’re into it, name of it is Thrift Shop Antiguedades y Algo Mas. Gloria is the name of the proprietor, 787- 445 – 4784.
Buenos dias Britton and Cassie!
I really enjoyed reading about you guys and I am thankful you shared your experience with the public. Have you guys been to San Sebastian or Vieques? When I was around 13 years old I lived in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. During the three years I was there I fell in love with the environment, beaches, food, and of course the women. I have kept in touch with friends and family and I still try to visit once a year. Now that I am 20 years old and taking a “gap year” from college I am interested in moving out there again. One of my favorite pueblos in Puerto Rico is Rincon and I would love to live there. That’s why I am very excited you guys chose to live in Rincon.
As I try to put the puzzle pieces together I would really appreciate your input.
One of my main concerns is where can I get employed? I am fluent in English and Spanish, but I do not have a college degree which limits opportunities. I enjoy physical labor, and I have previous work experience. I just want to live near the beaches of PR.
Thank you, Jonathan
Hey, Jonathon! I saw you had the latest response on this blog. I hope you made it and everything worked out if that is what you really wanted. If not, I know life has you where you need to be.
I have thought off and on about moving to PR especially now that my kids are becoming there own as young adults. My son, 22, wants to come with me if I do! He is adventurous like me! LOL
I do have a question, because many of the posts are “couples” that are moving from the US. Many have waited for retirement. I was a stay at home mom! In some ways, you never retire but definitely not with a retirement income. I do have a college degree in psychology and have substituted in school and would love being a teacher. Most of my background is administrative/secretarial. I have also bartended for over 10 years. I currently own my own cleaning business, both residential and commercial accounts. I feel I can make it anywhere but would like an opinion on what job opportunities could be there for me?
Thanks, Sharon
Hi Cassie
It’s been a long time since the last time I wrote. Fast forward my husband retired, we bought a house in Aguada, transported a Jeep Wrangler from Miami to PR. We are very happy with our Chalet on a hill some ocean view great neighbors. Only thing is we got ripped off at the port of San Juan, taxes by the dept of hacienda, 5,000 for a 2012 jeep,transport was separate 2,000, ouch. We did not see that coming, had we known we would have bought something on the island. We did try to get a quote on taxes but we’re given the run around, now I know why. We are not yet totally moved because of renovations but we are loving the shopping on the island, for wood panels commercial Mendez in Aguada,tiles Paradise ceramic imports, Soto appliance for used excellent condition to new appliances and Home Depot, Marshals in mayaguez
Now what? You just had the devastation of one hurricane and now PR is going to get hit again. Is it possible to survive? Are your homes built to withstand hurricane force winds? Keep us posted.
Now what, well we rebuild, my house in Aguada survived and so did almost all the neighbors houses. My family in Aguadilla, Caguas,Levittown,Bayamon, Guynabo, are all ok with minimal damage to their houses. We are resilient people. If we have to wash clothes on a rock so be it. I am in Miami and my flight to Aguadilla was cancelled. I have been donating everything that is needed and sending boxes. As soon as I can go back I will and my agenda is to help anyway I can to rebuild.
That’s the spirit Roz! Glad to know everyone is ok too! Puerto Rico SIEMPRE se levanta……
Hello there! I am looking for some advice on what is recommended to start growing this time of year with the rainy season coming our way. I am in the north in Aguadilla. I’d love to meet you some day and visit your farm! Shoot me an email for reply please! Thank so much!
Hi! I’m looking into getting to know the Rincon area more then our yearly 1 week beach front vacation rental. I’d love to be able to take my family of 4 this winter for a 1-2 month stay during the months of January 2019 to March 2019. All the short term rentals begin at a 6 month minimum rental. We would love to stay longer but unfortunately our home and business is New Jersey, making it impossible to stay the minimum 6 months required. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Crissy
Hi Cassie-
Love your little slice of paradise and your blog! Your willingness to share your experience with others is so kind and good of you!
My partner and I are looking at an existing guest house property in Rincon and I am very interested in your thoughts and knowledge on wood homes. I see that the home you bought was wood and you chose to build another wood home. That is my preference and the property I’ve identified are wood structures so I am curious as to longevity of these structures in the climate and what you learned as you were deciding on how to proceed with your construction.
I also am navigating the different real estate market as a potential buyer. Lack of sellers agents is new and challenging for sure. Sellers are American and aside from remaining land loan, title is clear- or so I am told by the agent at Island West properties 🙂 Any advice on that front would also be amazingly helpful!!
Cheers if you are open to answering a few questions/sharing some more of your time and experience! If not- thank you for being a resource already with your blog!! We are, it seems, like minded people looking for a different way of life based on simpler pleasures and things than we’ve found in our life here.
Best,
Mariah
There is no place like living in Puerto Rico. It is a paradise and a U.S. territory. A pure dream living.
Hello. I am making the move. Since you have already done it in a similar fashion that I invision I’d love to connect with you. Could we chat fellow neighbor? Much gratitude.
Buenos dias B&C
Espero se encuentren bien y les deseo mucha felicidad en su vida en Puerto Rico. He vivido siempre en Puerto Rico en San Juan, y a la verdad que no he tenido la experiencia de visitar la parte oeste de PR como ustedes lo hacen. A traves de ustedes he podido ver y conocer los lugares bellos que presentan sus videos a traves de you tube. Me agrada su sinceridad y les deseo lo mejor. I’m very very happy to know you both through you tube, also you little beautiful son. God bless B&C.
Gracias Luis por el bonito comentario! Te lo agradezco mucho.
I am so grateful that I came across your post! My partner and I are moving to Puerto Rico in a few months, we just returned from Peru and are in the tunnel of transition…
We are interested in the outskirts of Rincon and to find a piece of land to build on, seeing your photos and snippets of your journey feels reassuring and inspiring on this path.
If you’re up for it, I’d love to connect with you and ask your some questions!!
Cheers!
Ember
Sure! Email us at lifetransplanet@gmail.com and we can link up when things settle down around here!
im very happy to have found your blog..i was born in Adjuntas PR.and have farm in the mountain,although for 40 years i have lived in the states ..I just retired and reside in GA..now but im planing to go to the farm after the covid19 is over..I would love to rent your Cavana and get to know you guys,perhaps you guys concider coming with us to thje farm and spend time in a new adventure,more liuke a safari thru the dirt roads …Looking forward to meet you in hopefully summer.. Nelson..