Your Guide to
Casa Sunshine

The Eero mesh network covers the entire property:

• Kitchen — directly connected via Ethernet to fibre modem
• Living Room
• Bedroom #3
• Pool House — connected to kitchen via Ethernet

Catalina Cove is a lovely neighborhood and security issues have been few and far between. The following measures are in place:

• Tall fence topped with barbed wire at the rear, with thorn plants along the outside
• Motion-activated solar lights at the driveway, front patio, pool deck, and side garden
• 6 Eufy security cameras covering the perimeter — controlled via the Eufy mobile app
• Eufy alarm system with outdoor & indoor motion sensors and multiple sirens — controlled via keypads or the mobile app
• Keypad in the master bedroom with a red panic button for emergencies
• Every window and door is lockable; PVC pipes prevent sliding panels from opening
• 24/7 access control at the front guardhouse
• Patrol officer 7 nights per week, 9 PM – 5 AM

For local fauna: monthly organic fumigation is included. It is rare to find scorpions or spiders inside, but as a best practice keep bedsheets off the floor. The laundry area is in the garage (outdoor) — close the door behind you to keep critters out.

There is a fire extinguisher under the kitchen island sink and a smoke detector in the kitchen.

• Municipal water is potable straight from the tap. A carbon filter at the fridge provides clean, cold filtered water and ice via the door dispenser.
• Costa Rica has hard water. An electronic descaler is installed in the garage on the main water line — please do not unplug it from above the washing machine.
• All toilets run to a large septic tank. Only human waste and limited toilet paper should be flushed. No wipes, feminine products, or contraceptives ever. Hold the flush button down on low-flow toilets for optimal results.

• Whole-home surge protector connected directly to the panel in the garage laundry area
• Surge-protected multi-plugs at major appliances (fridge, microwave, TVs) — please don't relocate these, but feel free to use their outlets and USB ports
• Brownouts are common; blackouts can occur in windy season
• Large ACs and the dryer are the most power-hungry appliances. Turn off AC in unoccupied rooms.
• The home has a roof extraction system to supplement ACs — it pulls hot air from the ridge and vents it outside. The switch is by the front door, clearly labelled.

• A skimmer is provided for quick surface cleaning before use. During windy season, skim multiple times per day.
• The filter basket is on the far side of the pool — empty it every couple of days into a trash bin given the surrounding foliage.
• Keep pool water level adequate using the nearest garden hose so the skimmer can function properly.
• The pool has no fence or cover. Please be vigilant with toddlers or non-swimmers at all times.

• Wrap water hoses neatly on their holders when not in use
• BBQ propane is provided — clean the grill after each use and cover it once cooled
• Use the turquoise Airhood countertop fan when cooking on the stovetop. If staying longer than a week, disassemble and wash it weekly.
• Before starting the dishwasher, run the hot water tap in the adjacent sink for one minute. Clean the filter at the bottom weekly.
• Keep the kitchen sink strainers in place to avoid clogs
• Never pour grease down the drain. Let it cool, soak with paper towel, and discard in the trash or a jar.
• The oven works great but takes time to preheat — be patient
• Empty the dryer lint trap after every load
• Leave the washer door and detergent tray ajar after use to prevent mold growth
• Tide pods go directly inside the drum, not in the detergent tray

• Be respectful of noise levels, especially in the evenings
• Keep dogs on a leash at all times on the property
• Absolutely no smoking anywhere on the property
• No campfires or burn barrels
• Please report any issues or needed repairs to Mike or Julia right away

Trash pickup: Tuesday and Friday mornings. Roll the two large bins from the garage to the street — do not leave them outside permanently. Cardboard is trash here, not recycled. Dog waste must be bagged and contained in a larger trash bag.

Recycling: Drop off at the guardhouse, cleaned and separated into plastic, metal, and glass.

Mike handles most small repairs personally. If something breaks, let us know right away.

Groceries

• Super Conchal — at the community entrance, most convenient
• Super Massai (Flamingo) — best for North American brands and produce; note the gringo prices
• Super Compro (Huacas) — largest local grocery for household staples
• Super New China (Brasilito) — grocery, hardware, and dollar store in one, across the bridge toward Huacas

Health

• Hospital Metropolitano (Huacas) — 24 hrs, emergency, urgent care, pharmacy — under 10 min away
• Pharmacy — Plaza Bohemia on the way to Flamingo, about 6 min

Restaurants

• Patagonia — great for steak and seafood
• Anders — fresh fish, excellent
• Shogun (Brasilito) — Asian food, great takeout
• La Forketta (Surfside) — Italian takeout

Hardware

• A's Ferretería or Colono — both in Flamingo