Listen to this while you read. Such a beautiful song. Go ahead, sing along. Everyone else does.
We are in hell. The property behind us is used for parties occasionally. Not too often, THANK GOD. Because ticos, like their friends in the frozen north, are WILD for karaoke. And beer. In combination. Who knew? It’s almost 10pm here and OH MY GOD the wail emanating from over the fence is painful. Every once in a while we all look at each other, roll our eyes and laugh. You have to laugh. Because you aren’t going to sleep… Mercifully, the parties usually end around 11pm…
Hal turned 58 last Tuesday. I’ve decided he’s too old for me now. As soon as I lose that 25 pounds, I’m going to look for a younger husband. Unless Hal gets a job… then I’ll probably stay. I mean, it would crush him for me to leave.
We’ve bought ourselves a tiny little income stream. Bought two income-producing websites, one selling an ebook we found useful, one selling political products to which we can add all sorts of junk we like. The deals aren’t final yet, so not naming names. But soon. Plus, we are starting up two other income (hopefully) producing websites… that’s a little further down the pike, but we have a partner in one of them and they should do very well.
There are a couple of other promising items in the works, more is being revealed (to us, then to you). But immediate problems #1 and #2 are solved: we are not going to starve and we don’t have to leave Costa Rica!!! Hallelujah.
I have one tiny problem left. How to tell Hal I don’t want to work. Not work like he’s going to have to work. I want to write and sing with my Geezer Band. Finish the book. Make the blog into a book. No book = no book tour and no Oprah. Can’t have that. I’m thinking of tying in staying with him if he does all the work. Surely he’ll agree to this. Wouldn’t you?
But I’ll have to tweak this plan later, because we are now surrounded by revelers. Half the party has moved to the street in front of our house. I think they are having a rally, there’s some kind of loud chanting going on. The odd thing is, this really doesn’t bother any of us. It happens maybe once a month… Maybe because all the sounds are happy sounds. We’ve never had loud angry voices in front of our house, just all laughter and loud talk. And all ending in about 30 minutes… My kind of party.
Aleluya! You get to stay in Costa Rica! Your reaction to the loud party shows that you have the attitude thing down pat. All you needed was the money part resolved and it would have seemed a shame if you were to have to leave CR over such a trifling thing as lack of moola.
Money IS a trifling thing, isn’t it? I mean as long as we really, really want something within reason, it follows that that “something” will come to us…right?
I am hoping this is one of those immutable laws of the universe because my plans to retire in San Ramon in 4 years are somewhat off track thanks to the very mutable laws of macro economics…the stock market has dropped and is floundering. I am focusing on the big picture now more than ever and trying to avoid thinking about such trivial details as how the hell I will pay for an early retirement. After all, the main ingredients for any successful plan are desire, energy and time. with enough of these commodities, we should be able to get anything, right?
Oh lordy, lordy! Sally, please don’t EVER go on Oprah for a book tour. If you do you will have to say something or other positive about Costa Rica and, if we thought Costa Rica was overrun by ex-pats and shady entrepreneurs now, just wait ‘til your positive comments waft out over the airwaves via Oprah’s show on national TV! That would be the real beginning of the end of Costa Rica as we know it.
As to the karaoke parties late at night next door… You could always put on some raucous Gospel CDs and crank up the sound. Or one of Florence Foster Jenkins’ recordings… “Murder On The High C’s” comes to mind.
Paul
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I was looking for expat info and found your blog. First, wow I know I don’t have the courage to just up and leave, but you give me assurance that it IS possible to live a real, full happy life outside of the US. Thanks to you and lots of other straight shooters on other blogs, this idea is becoming more and more concrete.
Money OUGHT to grow on trees… it is a trifling thing. Especially when you have it. There is a spiritual aspect to money and I do believe that if I could “get over it” when it comes to money, I would know true peace. Working on that… Good luck to you and early retirement, James!!!
Paul, when I’m on Oprah, I promise not to say a single nice thing. Really.
Thanks, Ria. I’m starting to believe it is possible. Where there’s a will and all that.
That’s my struggle; the noise. Everything else I deal rather well with, but just lately near my house (Escazu), there is heavy bass “boom-boom” music going on from about 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m., every day/night. It’s off in the distance, but the bass carries and rattles inside my head. Since I work from home at this blasted machine, I need to be able to concentrate. So I found a house up about a mile straight up, near the White House hotel/casino (above it). Cost is twice what it is here, but it’s quiet, except for the steady “buzz” coming from the valley below.
It’s the one thing I can’t cotton to. I was raised to be aware that I might be bothering my neighbour. Just can’t see me making noises that would intrude on someone else’s peace, so I admit to getting “bent out of shape” over being subjected to someone else’s idea of “music.” Wish I could just laugh about it, but it’s a hard line for me.
So, up the mountain I go. Hopefully it’ll be my last move for the next 2 years.
Sounds like things are going pretty well for you guys, Sally. Hope it continues!
🙂
DJ
I found your blog today while researching living in CR. I’ve been to the area twice and am in LOVE with the lifestyle, the attitudes, the people and basically everything. I know I will end up in Nicaragua or Costa Rica – it’s only a matter of time. I live in San Francisco now.
I’m looking at buying a B&B business in San Jose and wondering if you have any advice?
Keep writing! It’s great reading!
Hi Jennifer,
Sorry it’s taken me so long to respond! I wrote a little about owning a B&B just today actually… it’s a great business but you have to be prepared for the 24/7 aspect. The Pura Vida Hotel offers a workshop in “So you want to own a B&B” – go to http://www.puravidahotel.com and you’ll find an email link. Berni and Nhi (pronouced knee) own the Pura Vida and Berni will write you back. Don’t know when they offer it, but they have a beautiful place and much repeat business (including friends of mine from Key West). They seem to know what they are talking about! You have to buy it right from a financial standpoint, but any successful business is hard work. You just have to get an idea of how much work you are willing to do and if you can sustain the enthusiasm needed for a particular business. I find that the bigger the net income, the more enthusiasm is generated… Good luck! There’s room here in Costa Rica for a few more, come on down. Don’t wait too long!!!