Kitchen Ranch

Panama . . . ?

Imagine this: The kids are on summer break, we have friends in Panama and we need a border run.  No brainer, right?  Road trip to Panama!

"Thanks for coming. . . now, leave."

I think my chin must have hit the floor when we arrived to the border of Costa Rica and Panama and our entry was refused because we didn´t have plane tickets to the USA.  We turned around, in total shock, and thought, "I guess we´ll head to Nicaragua."

In all truth, before we started discussing a solution to the odd reality we were confronted with, we muttered and cursed Panama out for awhile.

The long drive and hours of silence invited me to question my life here as it is not the path of least resistance.  There were some okay moments on our trip as we tried to make the best of it, but really, we were all confused and pissed off.

We returned home to mold all over everything (I never knew weather like this before) and a total ghost town as Nosara pretty much closes up in September and October.

I am reminding myself that experiences are just that: Experiences.  Experiences are neither good nor bad but more about how we choose to respond or relate to the experience.

So when I reflect on our Panama trip, I will remember all of it but especially I´d like to remember how much fun we had while we ate delicious desserts at that cafe in San Jose and how stunning the mountain views were in San Isidro del General.

 

San Diego To-Do list and a few thoughts

I needed to travel to San Diego to gather some important documents so that we can file here in Costa Rica for a long term residency status.   The timing worked out because I needed to also purchase a couple bits and pieces that were stolen from us.  

It had been over a year since I left San Diego for Australia. 

I had a super time in San Diego.  I walked around the city day after day crossing off items on my to-do list  and eating delicious food.  I spent (not enough) time with the people I had missed most while I was traveling.   

As cities go, I don´t find San Diego especially likeble but it does offer familiarity and nostalgia. Like all cities, San Diego is overflowing with filth, hope and creative expressions.    

Although we are in the process of filing for a long term residency here in Costa Rica, we are open to anything happening.  And, I mean anything.  When we left for Australia, we planned to return to San Diego after a year, buy a house and live happily ever after (well, you know what I mean-plans, we had them).  

Now, we have no idea where we might be living or heading a year from now!  

There are times I feel at peace existing wholly in the present and not knowing what the future might offer but there are definitely times I don´t feel at peace with this lifestyle and I crave stability and routine.  

There are moments when I feel invigorated and a sense of freedom at the fact that everything the five of us currently own can fit into a couple suitcases.  There are also times I miss (with an ache) the belongings I have that tell me I am home.    

Love these ladies that are always doing inspiring things.

My sister and Serena are beautiful.  

No matter what the future brings, I like knowing San Diego is there and it is an easy and welcoming place to be, we might very well end up living there again.  Or, we might not.  

To be cont....

Granada, Nicaragua

For people living in Costa Rica without residency, border runs are necessary every three months.  I have met many people that have been living this way for years.   In theory, one must remain out of Costa Rica for 72 hours, but this is rarely the case.  In fact, it is not uncommon to walk into Nicaragua, enjoy a cup of coffee, and return to Costa Rica.  

Honestly, I was dreading the border run.  I have always wanted to explore Nicaragua but I imagined the circumstances were going to be different.  We chose to visit Granada which turned out to be a lovely destination.  What a charming city!   

I felt as though everywhere I turned I saw beauty! 

And color!

  

Robert had his first Coke ever (in Nicaragua, the Coke is made with real cane syrup unlike stateside where the Cokes are made with high fructose corn syrup crap).

This sums up how not fun it is to actually cross the border.  See you in three months Nicaragua!

Getting Ready.

We are packing up and making plans.  In a few days we'll hit the road for an Aussie road trip through small towns and blue mountains.  After a couple weeks, we'll board a plane in Sydney and head across the water to Costa Rica.

The truth is, time spent here in Australia has been a mixed bag of goodness as well as big challenges. What we have loved most has also been what has been the most difficult. Let me explain, we have loved spending so much time together as a family.  We are driving each other mad because we are always together.  We love the nature we are surrounded by.  We are so isolated we are going crazy. Home schooling has been a great way to connect with the kids.  We are so tired of arguing with the kids about sitting down to do their work.  We love the fact that we can work from anywhere in the world.  Working in a different time zone and hemisphere has presented some big inconveniences.  We love this adventure.  We feel so far away, as if we are on another planet.    

See what I mean?

Additionally, the feeling of being in limbo has presented an emotional challenge: We are living here, but not living here.  Are we traveling or not?

After so many conversations, we have chosen to make a move to an old favorite: Nosara, Costa Rica. In Nosara, the older kids will attend a bilingual school (here is the school's website in case you are interested).  We will remain in Costa Rica until June or July and at that time discuss what will happen next.  

Being in Nosara will negate most (not all) of the challenging issues we have experienced in Australia. 

I will be checking in along the way and posting while on the road.

Checking In From Australia

We have arrived yesterday afternoon and the above picture is what I see from the front windows of our landing spot home. Just beyond those trees is the beach where the bigger kids now play. The little is snoring behind me having fallen asleep on the couch-he is adjusting to the time changes. 

The journey was very very long but the kids did great. We stopped over in Fiji to recharge for a couple days after the first 10 1/2 hour flight. From there, it was a quick 4 hour flight to Brisbane. In Fiji we remained close to the airport so there is not too much to report but we did wander through The Garden of the Sleeping Giant which was lovely. 

We really are still shaking the travel dust off with the assistance of espresso and ocean dips. Once we have settled I hope to post more pictures from the neighborhood we are staying in. 

In regards to food: I am very pleased that there is an Indian Diner located nearby...only a 15 minute walk from here. Might have to stuff my face with curry today (Fiji curries were not as impressive as I had hoped).

Djibouti and The Keeper

Djabouti's Flag

Back in December, one of my best girls Kirstin came around for dinner and cards. She brought along her friend Christine who was visiting from Djibouti where she works at an embassy. Following, "Hello"...I asked, "Where IS Djabouti??"

Djibouti (pronounced Ja-Booty) is a small country adjacent to Ethiopia.

Djabouti, aside from having a fun name to say, is not on Christine's recommended places to visit list. 

Kirstin handed me a Christmas present and announced that it was a gift I would love. Christine agreed. I unfolded the small package and held in my hands a curious item: A cup made of gum rubber called the Keeper. 

They were right, I do love it. Am I the last to know about this amazing invention?

In case you don't know-the Keeper replaces the need for tampons and/or pads.  

A few interesting facts taken from the Keeper website:

• Plastic tampon applicators from sewage outfalls are one of the most common forms of trash on beaches.
• Over 12 BILLION pads and tampons are USED ONCE and disposed of annually, adding to environmental pollution.
• For building owners, pads and tampons that are flushed down the toilet are the most common cause of plumbing problems.

I find it so liberating to not waste unnecessarily, to consume throw away goods and to simplify my life. 

Australia Update

The last time I mentioned Australia we were confirmed in our decision to move and about to jump into the visa application waters. 

We have successfully navigated those waters and all five of us now hold 1 year visas! We have booked our tickets and will make our exit from the United States June 17th. Things are all coming together quite nicely. We have arranged the renters who will live in the red house while we are away. I could not ask for a better family to occupy this space and funny but one of them is from Australia originally.

We cannot talk about much else around here. We have been reading, watching, studying everything Australia. There are charts hanging over the art table with sketches of poisonous spiders and snakes... the kids are over the moon with the Australian series H2O: Just Add Water (on play instantly Netflix)....after Bill Bryson's audio book In A Sunburned Country  we are all ready to explore.

There are lists of to-do's around the house, ads on Craigslist to sell unwanted items and plenty to prepare for in the next few months. 

So now you know what the conversation theme is as we munch on posted foodie.

Decision Made. Done.

After weeks of discussions and wrestling with details we have arrived at a decision: We are moving to Australia for 1 year. 

Spending a year in a different country has been on the table for years and years. It is a topic we have discussed on and off for as long as I can remember. Our trip earlier this year to Costa Rica was a bit of a trial run.

While we adore Costa Rica, we feel that at the end of the day the infrastructure lacks in regards to day to day for an entire year.

I have never been to Australia-nor has husband. Australia offers warm water and a tropical climate... we have our eyes on a small town on the beach called Byron Bay.... (South of Brisbane by an hour). The idea of getting around on a bicycle to do my shopping at the farmer's market makes me feel very happy. 

Now, to wade through Australian visa paperwork...

Step 1 in Project Undecided

Renew Passports..... While options around here are being discussed, step 1 is in the works.

Yosemite and San Francisco

We have returned! What beauty! 

Hetch Hetchy-

and a cycle ride over the Golden Gate Bridge....