Not your typical travel guide, Vicarious Adventures on the Rich Coast explores Costa Rica and its splendor through a heartfelt journey of love, laughter and the search for life's meaning. It will take you deep into the jungle in search of monkeys, driving down one way streets the wrong way and meeting new friends, experiencing the Pura Vida culture firsthand. Now, back in the States, Chrissy Gruninger finds herself far away from her love, the beautiful beaches and the extraordinary wildlife. This entertaining travel guide and memoir recounts her visits to the country that always welcomes her...

It's potent daydream fuel: embrace a radical change and happiness will follow. Whether we're fantasizing about a new job, a new city or country, getting married, or having kids, we devote so much of our lives trying to plan a happy life. But the truth is, these major changes may not provide lasting joy at all -- and all the planning in the world can't guarantee happiness. Chrissy Gruninger knows these fantasies well. From her 400-square foot jungle casita in Costa Rica, she should have been loving life in paradise. But she soon learned that even in the land of -pura vida-, life wasn't...