For years, I told my real estate customers who came to Key West from various parts of the globe, "I’ll be over to visit you in [London, Spain, India, Thailand, Mexico]." But I never went anywhere. I meant to, but I was always too busy. Too much of a homebody. And, if the truth be known, too fearful. I couldn’t go anywhere. What if something bad happened?
We finally went to London in May of ’04. But that was only after being shamed into taking action. One of my customers said, "Oh, stop saying you’re going to come visit. You’ve been saying that for two years now. You’ll never come." Ouch. That was a wake-up moment. That said something not good about me. I hated being one of Those People. Within a week we had reservations to go to London.
It’s so funny: I couldn’t get myself on a plane to go visit a foreign country, but I could pack up and move to one without knowing much of anything about it or even knowing anyone there!!! That says something about me, too. Something adventuresome, slightly foolish. I can live with that.
Because of the play, it’s been a few months now since we went anywhere new in Costa Rica. I’M READY TO ROLL. I have to do the play again in late April, then my mom moves here… but in May, I’m off. We still have to go to the Caribbean side. I want to go to Dominical. To Guanacaste. To the Osa Peninsula. To the north country. To hike up to Volcán Barva. To hike some of the other cool trails. To visit Quint and Gazelle, my buddies who own property where you have to camp (I must really want to go there – I’m not exactly the camping type) near San Isidro de General. To spend a week with the turtles. To spend a month at The Bridge. So much still to do in Costa Rica, so much still to see. And, as luck would have it, mucho tiempo [MOO-choe tee-M-poh, much time].
Now that I think of it, now that I’ve finally traveled, after years of not really wanting to go anywhere, suddenly, I want to go EVERYWHERE. All those places above and more. What about Indonesia? Buenos Aires and dinner at Casa Saltshaker – my life won’t be complete until that happens!!! What about Vietnam? Russia. Japan. Alaska. Nova Scotia to visit my friend June when she’s up there. Slovakia. Greece – oh yes, Greece. Italy. Paris. Australia. Why not?
Well, there’s money. But, I’ll deal with that tomorrow. I don’t want to be rich anymore. I’ve been rich. It’s fun and better than poor, but it’s not that satisfying in and of itself. You have to work so hard just to stay rich… I just want to travel. Remember that book Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow? One of those books I never had to read because it’s all in the title. Like Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway. Anyway, maybe I can make money traveling. Besides, I know people in most of those places. I hope they have room for four guests.
Here’s my new plan: I’m going to one new country every year. For a month at least because you can’t see anything in a week. I think it’s why I don’t like going places for a "vacation": you just get there, just get warmed up and unpacked and you have to leave. You can never get past the tip of the iceberg.
For the time being, I must content myself with my friends’ travels. Like my Key West buddy, Rita Mae Brown’s (not the RMB, my RMB) trip to China last month. It’s Rita’s birthday tomorrow. She used to be older than me, but she’s not anymore. I’m going to have to ask her how she did that… In the meantime, she sent me a link to her travel pictures… WOW. I definitely want to go there. Don’t you?
WOW!! What neat pics….. so much to see out there in the world. Gotta get a pair of trav’lin shoes!
I don’t even know your friend and I’m jealous she looks so young and vibrant! It’s exciting to see new and different worlds. What a great eye she has for photography. I really enjoyed the photos.
You go girl! I can feel you are cooking up a way to play and get paid as you go along!
I brought that same book, “Do What You Love…” to CR with me. You’re right about it’s all in the title. I’m working on the “Money to Follow” part.
I’d love to see your book collection!
The book collection is not much right now… but building!!!
Thanks for the link to your friend’s pics – they’re beautiful.
I was surprised to see NOVA SCOTIA listed as one of the places you’d like to visit. Many people don’t know that this place even exists. If you’re friend June isn’t here then come see your friend Sue.
And, of course, you’ve been promising to visit Buenos Aires… 😉
Sue, thank you! I have two friends who’ve bought little houses in Nova Scotia and they talk about how beautiful it is there so it’s definitely on the list. Now I have THREE friends there – pura vida!
Dan, honey!!! I guess Buenos Aires is a such a GIVEN I don’t even have to list it!!! My life will not be complete until we’ve had dinner at Casa Saltshaker. I’m adding you to the list now….
Sara,
You might enjoy going to Nicaragua for an intensive Spanish class. We went last year for two weeks (see April ’06 blog photos/entry) and are going again at the end of this month. It’s a fantastic way to see another part of Central America. It is not expensive. Cheaper than rates in CR. You LEARN so much! They do all kinds of side field trips. Nicaragua is very neat, interesting country. We go to San Juan Del Sur (link on my blog “favorite links” ) and we do a homestay. We eat well, have fun, learn so much, it’s sort of like an inexpensive vacation but not.
I think next year we’ll do this in either Panama or Guatemala, it is a unique way to visit new places.
The cost is $170/week. What’s convenient about SJDS, Nicaragua is you can drive there. You don’t have to drive your own car if you want to avoid the bureacratic CR hassle with paperwork. At Nosara Travel (coincidence, really: http://www.nosaratravel.com ) we can do a car rental for you that makes it easy to drive there. From where we live, it’s about 3.5 hours including border crossing.
Email me if you want more details!
-Heidi
Hi Heidi,
I never thought of that idea – it sounds perfect! We’ve been to Granada and loved it (took the ejecutivo bus, very comfy). If we didn’t have kids and if we’d been more secure with the new government, we would have moved there in a heartbeat. I will look for those blog posts. We’d love to go to San Juan del Sur… THANK YOU.
My mom is moving here, arrives tonight!!! So I’m all wrapped up in that, but I will be in touch with you. Pura vida!