Jan 2013 Ex pat living

Expat living Jan 2013 Perfect weather. Sunny, blue skies, hot but not too hot. Tourists below on the beach. We are 500 feet up enjoying the breezes coming up from the Ocean and from the valley. It is gorgeous here. Gardens everywhere and jungle beyond that. We are 10 families up here now. Or 9 depending on how you count. We hardly see anyone but we always know who is on the mountain. Like we all have our own luxury campsites, our homes, in the middle of nature. Joe and I went to the market today—to Rusvel’s. I go myself at least twice per week to shop and to see people. Our friends the fab four were there today. These are two couples from California who moved down around the same time we did. Seven years ago. We have been here long enough to see changes, people growing up, people leaving, new people coming all the time. We told them about our Black Sheep Anniversary Party Feb 9th. We have been here long enough to learn how to live here. We finally had shelves made for our bodega and now we have a place to put boxes for storage. We found a contractor to do our odds and ends jobs at reasonable prices. We have a very good gardener and housekeeper. I am thinking of what we should plant in the rainy season. We have about an acre of land going down the back of our property. Joe wants to make it into a nature trail again. I would like to plant some fruit trees.. We are going to Arenal next week to look at property. The weather is different there. 60’s and 70’s. We will have a fireplace when we move. It is also rainy and windy—not all the time—about two months of wind we are told. And it rains year round which may make yard maintenance easier though there could be some damp days. During the dry season here, Nicho spends half his time watering. There is a lake there- a very large lake, man made and a lot of houses around the lake. No immediate tourists. And the town, Tilaran is supposed to be very clean and very Costa Rican. I think I will use my Spanish more. I am getting interested in improving it again. My goal is to get a telepsychiatry position so I do not have to leave so much. I have two possibilities but nothing is definite. I keep thinking that we will sell the house and I will get the job at the same time. I have a good internet connection here but there are better ones which I would need. People are coming up to the pub. We let it be known that we will open for small groups and we would like notice. This is fine. We don’t have to wait and wonder if people are coming up. They call and make a time. Our neighbor, Tim, comes down and bartends for us. Joe and I usually socialize with whoever comes up. And the pub is great, as usual. Joe is always redoing it and it is a work of art. Or a working pub museum as someone called it. We have several great reviews on Trip Advisor. I have resumed offering breathwork sessions. I may put an ad up but actually low-key word of mouth is best. There are so many holistic offerings here, and holistic retreats. Structured ways for people to connect with themselves and with nature. I like breathwork the best. Though I do work on my Yoga. And what I like the most here is the clean air and clean water and the muy tranquilo lifestyle. Somedays all I actually do is feed the dogs. The rest of the time is Being. So we have our guesthouses… come visit us in "Pura Vida" land before we move to the damp area…Love Helena and Joe