Our Family Adventure

Why and How

So, we have rented out our house, I have quit my job and we are moving to Costa Rica for seven months. Surprised? Jealous? Concerned? Well, you’re not alone. At this point, I think we’ve heard it all. The two most common questions we’re asked (and two most difficult to answer concisely - the way I usually answer questions) seem to be “Why are you going?” and “How did you come up with that idea?” Of course, the questions aren’t usually phrased like that. They’ve ranged from “What, are you crazy?” and “How did you come up with a bird-brained idea like that?” to “That’s wonderful, I wish I could do that.”

Now, as I think back, I can’t remember exactly how we came up with the idea. What I do remember is that, independently and simultaneously, sometime last winter, Dara and I both arrived at the idea to do something - although we didn’t know what - starting in the upcoming summer or fall. I guess this is where some of the “why” comes in. (In the interest of not boring everyone to death in just our first installment, I’ve tried to just hit the main reasons and keep them fairly short.)

First, our kids are at the right age. Ari is still young enough to think his parents are cool (no telling him the truth, or else…) and young enough not to be too distressed about leaving his friends. We also felt we could handle the school thing - either by finding an acceptable school for the period or home schooling him if we had to. We’re relatively confident that we can still handle second grade math. In addition, Eliana has become a real trouper - past the stage of needing to ride in strollers or be picked up. Also, she is now old enough to get something out of the experience.


Second, we’d like our kids to learn that there is a world out there beyond Yardley (suburban Philadelphia). Don’t get me wrong - Yardley is a fantastic place and we know how lucky we are. We love our house, our neighbors, our friends, our synagogue, and everything else. We’d like to expose Ari and Ellie to other people and other places - show them that not everyone lives in a big house with a big yard, two cars and every creature comfort. We want them to know how lucky they are too.

Third, I guess you could say Dara and I are ready for some adventure (we did live in Belize for 6 months 9 years ago and in London for 9 months 16 years ago -- hmm, a pattern?). Dara has been a stay-at-home mom since Ellie was born. It is true that she really enjoys her time with our children. And her work on the Board of Directors for our synagogue, Kol Emet, and selling educational children’s books keeps her busy. She, like me, however, still hasn’t “figured out what she wants to be when she grows up” and before she does that, or maybe in order to do that, she’s feeling a desire to travel and, hopefully, do some volunteer work while we’re away.

And then there’s me. I‘ve been working at the Sunshine Bouquet Co., same place I’ve been since graduation back in 1992. And, although I’d done many different jobs within the company - from operations management to purchasing to IT management, I’ve been doing only sales for the past couple of years. While I’ve been doing well and I’ve enjoyed the flexibility of working at home, I, too, am interested in a change, but don’t know what that change should be.

So this is where we were. One day in maybe late November, I heard an interview on NPR with a woman who works in a government ministry in New Zealand who was discussing the huge up-tick in information requests from Americans interested in emigrating. Of course NPR attributed this to the reelection of Bush. As many of you know, we are no fans of Bush and had done our part to try to defeat him (really the first bit of political activism for either of us). Leaving the country because of the president was not a factor in our thinking but this interview did plant a seed in my mind.

So, that in a nutshell is the why. Next installment - how we came up with Costa Rica.

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