An interview portrait series featuring the inhabitants of a small beach town called Sámara, Costa Rica.
Through intimate portraits and candid conversation I weaved a thread to uncover a mystical phenomenon, experienced by expats and locals alike, that made it known as the “black hole of happiness”.
“It was just so nice to feel seen in a place that I hadn’t been before, I guess that’s what made it feel like home.”
“The Costa Rican people here, they don’t have a problem embracing you and bringing you into their community, or making you a part of it. They make you feel invited and welcome. I think that’s part of the reason why so many people get sucked into Sámara and they never leave.”
“They call it their personal paradise, coming back time, after time, after time. It’s hard for people to make a life here that they can continue to live and not have to leave for some reason.“
“Sámara offers certain basic things of nature; low tech, low stimulation, lots of human contact with people, houses, and animals. The Costa Rican people are very basic. So, it’s attractive when you are coming from a big city, where you are surrounded by cement, digital stimulation, sky rocketing prices, and competition to try to remain afloat. You need less requisites to float in Sámara.”
“You get to engage with nature in a way that I feel human beings aren’t doing the same way we did 100s of years ago. I believe there’s a disconnect with humans and nature, and that a lot of healing can come from being in nature. The people are so kind and friendly, I feel part of the community and that means a lot. The opportunity to live a more laid back lifestyle. The temptations of unhealthy things don’t exist here.”
“It really depends on who you’re talking to. It seems to me that the type that go down for the right reasons, they form friendships, they find love, and it’s an easy lifestyle especially if you bring money with you. Mine isn’t the black hole of happiness it’s the sunshine-y hole of happiness. I live in the epicenter of the blue zone, and that’s part of the longevity zones is the work habits, the air, the food, the belief in a higher being, and the way people live between neighbors.”
“Don’t ignore those things in your heart that say this is where you should be or this is what you should be doing. Do it. Don’t think about it, because we talk ourselves out of that.”
“I think there’s certain places on the planet where the energy is just right… this is one of those places where the energy is conducive to Pura Vida. It’s almost mystical, I don’t really know, it’s hard to say why.”
“…the happiness I get from this town comes from my blood. It doesn’t really have anything to do with chakras or vibrations…better living, none of that. Wifi, AC, I don’t give a fuck. It’s in my blood.”
“In Iceland there are these plates, they are the only plates in the world that are outside of the ocean. Then you realize it was a point of conquer for the vikings. If you go to Tulum in Mexico, you feel that thing, and then you realize it was a major point for the indigenous. You come to Sámara and you feel that thing too.”
“If you go to other bigger towns like Tamarindo you’ll find more people from outside who don’t identify with the place. Here, you’ll find more people living here and getting involved in the dynamic. For me, I always knew I wanted to take everything I learned and bring it back here to Sámara.”
“There’s not so much of the structure of society here, the time thing, it just dissolves. I don’t know what day it is, I don’t know what month it is sometimes, and I don’t care.”
“Everybody here is mostly very happy, very polite. Everyody says hi to everybody. Everybody is very open, people look at you in the eyes and theres no weirdness there. It grows on you, i think you realize thats the way to do it.”
“People are always asking, “Why do I want to come back here?” and I’m like “I don’t know man, maybe the gravity is pulling you back.”
“For me, it’s been great. Full of beautiful, shitty men. Lots of drinking. Happiness.”
“I feel free here. I can come here and sit on the side of this river, under this tree, and hang out, smoke a joint or whatever, nobody is going to say anything. Nobody’s going to bother me. If I want I can go walk up all through those mountains. I don’t have to wear shoes all the time. I don’t feel like I’m trying to fit a mold. There’s also the other side of it… where everyone feels so free that people just end up doing whatever comes to mind.”
“They come for vacation, or stay for three months, and its so nice. Then when they decide to stay longer they see their happiness come from nowhere, it’s not the place- it’s the people.”
