August 15, 2006

Sometimes it seems as though time flies by, and other times it goes so slowly. I am more anxious to visit Costa Rica as time passes. My brother and his wife have decided not to go, so it will just be my life long friend and I traveling. I want to visit as many places that I can during this trip, so I have a good idea what CR is like. I am enjoying the emails I have received from people living in CR. Everyone has been most helpful, answering my questions and giving me information which will be most useful as we travel. It is frightening, to some degree, stepping out of my comfort zone to try a new adventure. Having lived in Italy, many years ago, I am not as frightened about going to another country. I will miss family and friends, but know that I will make new friends and become close as family with some of them. What a great place for my family and friends to have to go for a vacation to visit me also. I am practicing Spanish, and hope to be able to at least know what to ask for when I need help.

April 10, 2006 Costa Rica again.

I have been doing more research and reading blogs others have written about Costa Rica. I am somewhat disappointed that there are not more expats with blogs. Mostly I see vacation blogs, which are about the sites they visited and how sick they are after drinking too much. If you are an expat in CR, and read this, please write to me and let me know your take. There is one blog which has many sites and a lot of info about CR, Crazy Jungle, and I have read most of his links and info. I would like to connect with someone who is there so that when I visit in November I will have some expats to look up.
My friends all have been wishing me the best when I do move there, but I can't help but feel like they think I have left my senses. I know I will be fine, and am very capable of making new friends and enjoying myself just the same there. I have 2 small dogs, and will bring them when I make the move. They are my faithful companions, and give me great pleasure playing with them.
I am considering hiring a taxi instead of renting a car when I want to see the towns outside of San Jose' in the Central Valley. Do you have any experience with either the rentals or the taxis when touring? Let me know if you have.

March 2006, The Planning Begins

This is the planning stage of this journey. On Feb 22, 2006, I heard a broadcast on NPR, Retiring Abroad.
http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2006/02/20060222_b_main.asp

I took an early retirement in April of 2005, and really learned what work is. I opened my own business. It has been 24/7 since. After hearing the broadcast, I could see leaving this all behind one day, hopefully not too far in the future. I may even be able to convince my brother, Darrell, and his wife, Kelly, to do the same thing. Seems I can't get the thought of moving to Costa Rica out of my mind. I have searched the web and read numerous blogs, and have purchased 7 or more books, at this point. Now it is time to start planning a trip. Darrell, Kelly, and I are planning to take a trip to CR in Nov 2006. Oh, did I mention I had 4 semesters of Spanish in college, 20+ years ago, and have a course with CDs on order to give myself a refresher. I think I am getting serious about this, wouldn't you say? I wanted to record the process, so a blog seems a good way to do that.