Serenity in the Mountains and Some Thoughts

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Mike’s been spending a lot of time with Jorge, our mechanic, working on the truck to get her ready for our adventure. The other day, Jorge’s friend Carlos stopped over and invited everyone to have lunch at his father’s house up the mountain. When he said “up” the mountain, that’s seriously what he meant.

Carlos’ father, José Luis, works for the government-run telephone service. The company owns a piece of land on the very top of a mountain called Cerro Chompipe, where it has a telephone tower. José Luis’ job is basically to maintain the tower and ensure the technicians are doing their jobs. The company therefore allows him and his wife, Mirela, to live in a house right next to the tower on the top of the mountain. What an amazing view! They overlook the pristine rainforest of Braulio Carrillo National Park and have a perfect view of the inactive Barva Volcano in the distance.

We had a great time chatting with Carlos’ folks and getting to know Jorge’s wife better. They are all really great people and being around them felt like family. José Luis showed us a photo album as well from when he and Mirela lived in Talamanca on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. You should see the wildlife! Some I’d just as soon not see in person, like the 7-foot-long snakes he seemed to love to photograph! I honestly had nightmares later on that night.

I’ve been asked if I still feel like this was the right decision for us or if I still feel like I’m in the honeymoon phase. I have to say that I still feel like this was what we needed to do and I’m still having an amazing time. The honeymoon was over the first time I got hit with a pig bladder and watched roaches crawling out of the drains in the streets.

However, I won’t really know until we’re out of the city and actually living in the town where we plan to set up shop. Even if we purchase a property, the excitement of building the B&B will, I’m sure, continue to overwhelm any negatives that come our way. It most likely won’t be until it’s all done and we’re up and running that I can truly assess if this was the right move for us or not.

I’ve heard people say before that living here, you take the good with the bad. It’s not paradise, and on that point I’d have to agree. While our experience here has been good, there have been some things that I could have done without. However, I think that when you are here you need to evaluate the entire picture, just like you’d have to do back home, and decide for yourself what things are worth. If you are willing to sit in traffic every day and make a long commute to make more money because you want nice things, then for you, the traffic is worth it. If you want to live in Costa Rica, you need to deal with inefficiencies, policies that seem to make no sense, and pig bladders. It just depends on what you want out of life and what’s important to you.

I can say that I don’t miss my job, I don’t miss stress, I don’t miss traffic, I don’t miss the heat and humidity, junk mail or telemarketers and I don’t miss shopping malls on every corner. What I do miss are family and friends (however I have to say that I talk with some folks more now than I did when I lived in the States), I miss American cheese, decently paved roads, my vacuum, hot water in the kitchen and liquid dishwashing soap. Other than that, I’m good. Once we get out into the country though and start traveling around, we’ll see if my feelings on it change. At this point, I wouldn’t change a thing.

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Photos

Up in the Mountains a Few Minutes Later
Check out the cloud cover that happened within a few minutes.

Comments

[4Runner Owner]

But do you miss Wachovia?
So good to read the news. Our prayers are for you and with you.

[Dawn Cassidy]

Vanessa, Your photos are beautiful! Best Wishes to you and Mike. If there is any thing you would like us to send you let us know and how we can get it to you! We would be happy to send you a few comforts such as liquid soap!!!!! Hope you are both well! Enjoy! We love reading your blog!

[Nancy Lynne]

Hey there! It's me, your Limerick real estate agent, writing to say you're not missing anything all that new and exciting back here. There is no time like the present (it's true!) and you both are great examples of that. In the short time we got to know each other, it was very clear you could handle more than the average/typical daily life we take for granted and subsequently abuse. You were meant for bigger and better in our short lived lives! I'm hoping to come see your progress someday soon, be happy and well. P.S. How are the mortgage rates, do sellers disclose...Haha - just kidding!! P.S.S. Mike, your Mom's pesto was the best, thank you, we loved it.