Hi Mike, welcome to the forum.
You are 100% right in reading between the lines. To a certain point you should be concerned, particularly if you live in the country. You need to be aware of any dangerous wildlife, what it looks like and what not to do. On the other hand, it's not like you can't enjoy the outdoors. Outdoor living - BBQs, swimming pools, drinks at sunset - all of these things are some of the best things about living in Costa Rica and most expats enjoy them to the fullest.
Plus, you are able to choose what area you live in. Probably the Osa Peninsula wouldn't be exactly what you are looking for. If you live in a condo at Los Sueños or in Santa Ana you really won't have to contend with the wildlife.
Another way to go is to get high.
Which means get up in the altitude, where bugs, reptiles and slimy things are less common. For example, where I live is way up in the mountains above San José on the east side. We have very few bugs because the altitude keeps the population down, particularly mosquitos. Anything above 1000 meters will have this effect.
Also I'd like to address the crime issue a bit. Crime rates in Costa Rica are among the lowest in the world, particularly violent crime. What you tend to here about in forums, letters to the editor and the news is crime against tourists. I have traveled all over the world and anywhere tourists go thieves are sure to follow. Because many tourists generally make themselves targets. Not to justify stealing in any way, but the thieves are tempted. They crunch the numbers (I'm 15 and these guys are about 80 - who will win a foot race; I know all the back alleys and they're holding a map upside down) and they embark upon a life of crime.
Seasoned travelers will take precautions to make themselves less vulnerable to crime - carry small amounts of cash, know where you're going (or pick a safe place to get your bearings), and always be aware of your valuables and surroundings.
I believe that what you get with residents is that #1 they are in a foreign country, so they feel more secure in a gated community living with other expats. Maybe they have heard stories or been crime victims themselves as tourists. And the locals themselves have gotten into kind of an arms race reminiscent of the Cold War. If my neighbor has burglar bars, then I need burglar bars, otherwise I'll be the target. In the end, the crooks end up carrying crow bars so the whole investment is moot.
So I firmly believe that there is a lot more fear of crime than actual crime in Costa Rica. Not to say that crime doesn't exist, but it is not as much of an issue as you might think.
