Observations – Big and Small

We have now been here a week. There has been some adjusting, some settling in, some figuring out how things work. It has been a lot to take in and process, but here are some of my observations thus far.

It’s warm here. And, sometimes very windy. But, I heard that it should be less windy in about a month or so. Then, I heard it’s about to get windy. Hmmm. Thankfully, most of the time, the wind is the in form of a refreshing breeze.

Sitting on our balcony/patio/veranda (we haven’t landed on the right word yet) in the mornings and evenings is particularly lovely.

They have “hard” water in Costa Rica. We have “soft” water in Oregon. I am always reminded of this fact whenever we travel. I don’t know if “soft” water is rare or if we just tend to travel places with “hard” water, but “hard” water stains are really hard to remove. However, it does make my hair either nicely full or crazy frizzy.

The laundry detergent has a very strong perfum-y smell…exactly like what they use in Mexico…maybe all of Central America? It’s a strong overtone that tries hard to cover up the slighty musty smell in our condo.

My family members are all unique individuals with their own specific interior landscapes, contoured by very different emotional and physical needs.

People are, in fact, REALLY NICE here.

It only took four days to meet someone from Portland (thanks to Sam who was wearing a Timbers shirt).

Groceries are surprisingly expensive.

My feet are going to require daily attending, to keep them from turning into sand-caked, dry, cracking embarrassments.

Sam needs to eat within an hour of waking up.

I love the sound of the many tropical birds you can hear from our patio.

I love my new cerulean blue tank dress.

I wonder what we will find in ourselves and in each other, now that we’ve stripped back many of the structures and demands of life back home.

Our first black out was totally survivable because the condo has a generator that provides power to the common areas and one light in our entryway, people gather around the pool and make a party out of it, we were still able to go out to dinner and it came back on before bedtime.

I learned that the blackouts are generally caused by the wind. In the coffee roasters this morning, the lights kept flickering and she explained it was because of the wind.

Matt is always the fastest walker in the group, unless there is bird watching to do.

When my mind drifts to my (last) job and I start to think about the next problems that need to get solved, I remind myself that they are no longer my problems to solve and I feel a layer of stress fall away.

Homemade guacamole is REALLY good.

Would a diet of guacamole, ceviche, poke and fresh fruit be adequate?

For being the most self-contained of our children, Gus is surprisingly outgoing in new social situations. “Hi, my name is Gus,” says Gus with hand extended.

I love having a pool. It feels amazing after long hot walk from town. It’s also cool enough, that I can swim laps with my swim cap on. I’m thrilled.

I am enjoying skipping the getting ready for work routine. I shower, dress, put my hair up wet and I’m ready to go!