The Lived Experience of Enough: Building Bodhi Before the Internet

When Pilar and I moved here in 2008 to embrace the Pura Vida lifestyle in Costa Rica, we did not arrive with a glossy five-year vision board or a folder full of architectural renderings. We arrived with a suitcase, a newly-minted marriage, and a whole lot of uncertainty.

At the time, I was working for a nonprofit in micro-finance and Pilar was teaching yoga part-time. We were not trying to “disrupt” an industry or build a world-renowned retreat. We were just trying to make it work.

We lived on the very same street where Bodhi Surf + Yoga eventually took shape, but the house we called home back then was what you might call “unfinished.”

The Tin Roof and the Open Air

The walls of our first home were a makeshift combination of concrete and wood that did not even reach the ceiling. There was no insulation. We had a corrugated tin roof that amplified every tropical rainstorm until it sounded like a frantic drum solo. We had no ceiling fans to move the humid air, and air conditioning was a luxury we could not even fathom.

But the biggest adjustment was the digital silence. We had no internet.

In 2008, there was no Wi-Fi to tether us to the outside world. If we needed to check an email or connect with family, we had to drive 15 kilometers north to the town of Dominical to find a dial-up connection. It truly felt like we had stepped back in time. That drive was slow and dusty, but it taught us something about the value of a single connection.

Finding the Rhythm of “Enough”

We did not have much money in those days, and we certainly did not have much space. But as the weeks turned into months, something strange happened: we realized we were not missing anything.

Without the constant ping of digital notifications, we found a different kind of rhythm. The morning light through the open-air walls served as our alarm clock. Quiet meals became the center of our day. Neighbors would drop in unannounced, replacing the scheduled meetings of our old lives.

Time outside was not a break from work. It was the work. In that unfinished house, we had nature, we had each other, and we had an overwhelming sense of belonging. We were exactly where we were supposed to be.

Why We Refuse to Impress

This period of our lives is what I call the Lived Experience of Enough. It is part of the foundation upon which Bodhi Surf + Yoga was built. It is the same philosophy that led us to choose meaning over metrics when I first started hauling trash as kids to help others.

Often, in the world of high-end travel, there is a race to impress. Resorts compete to have the most luxurious amenities, the fastest internet, and the most climate-controlled environments. But our time in that first house taught us that luxury is not about what you add. It is about what you preserve.

We did not build Bodhi to be a place that impresses you with its stature. We built it to be a place that feels like something: Natural. Honest. Grounded.

Watch: The Essence of the Bodhi Way

When we tell our guests to take the yoga practice off the mat, we are inviting them into that 2008 rhythm. We want you to experience the same sense of belonging and enoughness that we found when we had nothing but a tin roof and the jungle. This is why we have made the hard choices, like being a “quitter” when it comes to standard corporate paths, or the decision to not build more bungalows on our neighbor Walter’s land.

The Legacy of the Simple House

Even now, as we have evolved into a Certified B Corp, we try incredibly hard to hold onto that essence. It informs every decision we make. It is why we reject the urge to scale beyond our capacity. It is why we ensure our guests have space for silence and reflection, even in the midst of community and connection.

The default path says you need more to be more. The Bodhi Way says you already have what you need. This perspective shift is what we call the anthropology of business: viewing every transaction as a chance to protect a way of life rather than just a way to make a buck.

Conclusion: Ready to Find Your “Enough”?

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the noise of a “more is better” world, come join us in the jungle. Let the morning light be your alarm clock and the ocean be your guide. 🌊☀️

Are you ready to experience the Pura Vida lifestyle? Book your surf and yoga retreat today and discover the sanctuary of enough.

Frequently Asked Questions about Radical Simplicity

What does “Pura Vida” actually mean in daily life?

While it literally translates to “Pure Life,” at Bodhi, it represents the lived experience of enough. It is the conscious choice to find satisfaction in simple rhythms, such as the salt on your skin after a surf or the morning light through the trees. In a world that constantly asks for “more,” the Pura Vida lifestyle is the radical act of being grateful for “this.”

How does Bodhi Surf + Yoga balance modern comfort with its simple roots?

We call this Intentional Comfort. We have come a long way since the days of driving 15 kilometers for dial-up! Today, we provide the amenities you need to feel held: comfortable beds, nourishing food, and yes, Wi-Fi. However, we intentionally designed the “Bodhi Rhythm” to encourage you to put the phone down. We provide the comfort so your body can relax, but we keep the experience grounded so your spirit can wake up.

Why is “belonging” a core part of the Bodhi experience?

In our early days, belonging was not a marketing term. It was survival. It came from neighbors dropping in and the lack of digital walls. We have brought that into the retreat by capping our guest list at 10 people. This Small is Beautiful approach ensures you are not just a number. You are a member of our Bodhi Family. Belonging happens when you stop performing and start being seen for exactly who you are.

Is a “radically simple” vacation right for me?

If you define luxury as space, silence, and authentic connection, then you have found your home. Our guests often find that the “luxury of enough” is far more restorative than the “luxury of excess.” It is about trading the noise of the busy world for the song of the jungle, the ebbs and flows of the tide, and the true Pura Vida lifestyle in Costa Rica.