Well, this has been an interesting trip to the states. For starters, week one, we went to tax court. If tax court doesn't strike fear in your heart, you must not have one. We've been anticipating tax court so long it's no longer terrifying. Just really really really really really scary.
Being in a courtroom is not about justice. You go in all wide-eyed, armed with the truth and the law, expecting fair play, expecting everyone to be interested in winning, but open to losing if that means justice will be served. You are immediately disabused of that silly notion. Being in a courtroom is all about out-maneuvering the other team. That's it. Unfortunately, you don't find out till after the fact. Too bad.
You are supposed to enjoy a little wiggle room when you don't have a lawyer.* HA! No matter how much you prepare, how much you read, talk to attorneys, watch C.S.I. and Boston Legal, read case law, memorize code, rules of evidence, regulations, you can never be prepared for what is thrown at you. And they know just what to toss because they do this all day every day. And get paid for it to boot. You are there once. Talk about 90 minutes seeming like an eternity. Anyway. It was an experience. And unless some miracle happens, like a big black hole opens up under tax court and it falls through to China where it belongs, they will be expecting a check for $1M from us.
Pardon me while I choke with laughter. Or something. Where am I going to get $1M? I don't even have a job. Look for a donate button coming soon to this blog. Maybe we'll have a raffle. Not sure what we'll raffle… oh, I know. How about the 700 pounds of paper we generated preparing for tax court?
*We did not have an attorney because no one would go with us. Our Friends at the Service (OFATS) hit us with a frivolous filing charge. If you have an attorney and the frivolous filing charge sticks, the attorney is sanctioned for representing scum like you. So once you have a frivolous charge, no smart attorney will touch you. We didn't need a dumb attorney. Clearly, we can be monumentally stupid all on our own. Even though Hal prepared the best he could, you could still hear the sound of our bones being crushed under the OFATS steam roller. It was not pretty. One day I'll blog about it, but not today. And it will never be funny.
Don't tell anyone. The minute you tell people you are in trouble with YFATS (because they are your friends, too), people take a step back and wonder what other kinds of un-American activities you engage in. Actually, they wonder how you could possibly be stupid enough to mess with Those Peeps and if it could possibly be contagious. (It's not. All our friends look at us and shake their heads.)
What I'm 100% uncertain about is my future. Our future. I'm 100% certain I'll always be poor (that deal has been sealed), I'll always be Morgan and Ryan's mom and I'll always be married to Hal because he will always feel too guilty to leave me after talking me into the aforementioned madness. This is what passes for stability in my life.
Hal just said he does not feel guilty, but he will always stay with me as long as I keep supporting him. What a relief.
The uncertainty was brought about by a collision of emotion. We love living in Costa Rica. We love the life, our quality of life is peaceful, quiet. We are more relaxed, are comfortable in the country, love speaking Spanish. We are making friends and I have fans (I sing in two geezer bands – did I mention that?) We even found a property we are excited about renting… Everything going according to some divine plan. Then we drove down to Key West. Uh oh. I don't know why, but, this time, we love being back here. This time has been intense and overwhelming.
The boys were out of the house all day everyday, biking around, going to the high school to see friends, hanging out at the track, at rehearsals for High School Musical which my friend Penny is directing. Hal and I hung out with Uncle Brian and Aunt Peg. We hung out with friends. I walked the entire island, at least an hour every day – I actually lost weight this trip which is a first.
The town seems friendlier this time. Maybe because, after tax court, everything seems friendlier. But Key West has lost the hyper edginess leftover from the bubble. It's friendly again. Everyone is broke, some desperately so*, but the mad glee is out of the eyes, the methamphetamine-cheerfulness off the faces. Noticeably fewer cellphones attached to noticeably fewer heads. Still plenty of denial, everyone still talks about real estate. But there's some acceptance in the air, and the frenzy is definitely gone.
*There have been five suicides in Key West the last year, an astronomical number for a town of 25,000 people. The bubble engulfed Key West: everyone not in a tourism-related business was in a real-estate related business. Fun on the ride up, devastating on the ride down. The ride hasn't stopped, but everyone, save a few realtors and sellers, have accepted the prognosis. Better, they know they are not alone having bet and lost the farm. Far from it.
Some adjustments are being considered to the current divine plan. It looks like we'll be coming back to Key West this fall for a few months. The boys are ready to take the GED, and more than ready for a social life. They can take a couple of classes at the local community college, get a part-time job, a driver's licenses. Hal and I can take a couple of classes ourselves, see what's happening on the job front. I'm going to be needing one big time.
We are not ready to say goodbye to Costa Rica. For one thing, this yearning hit us out of the blue. Hit me harder than Hal. He would stay in Costa Rica forever, no problem. It's me. And the boys, but mostly me. We have actual lives in Costa Rica… how could I want to live in two places so much? I don't know. I've always said I'm a nester and Key West was my nest for so very long. Now that the town's energy is quieter, more like it used to be, I'm drawn to it like white on rice. We've missed a chunk of our oldest friends' lives over the last three years. Suddenly, I hate the thought of missing any more.
We fly back to Costa Rica in a few minutes. It will be nice to be home. Living out of a suitcase gets mighty old mighty fast. Perhaps this whim will pass. But we won't rent the B&B property we found. Instead, we'll look for a tiny secure cheap apartment to rent where we can keep our stuff and our car and have a place to come home to.
Then, late summer, we'll head back to Key West for hurricane season and the fall semester. Aventura numero dos. I'm not 100% certain on execution of this plan, but that's how it's looking right now. Hmmm. I'm just wondering when life will get less surprising.
If you tell me that the IRS wants to collect 1M dollars from you, I have to believe you were a high roller to have run up such a tax bill.
I am unclear as to whether you believe the tax bill is way off or just a bit off. Either way, you have my sympathy. Money problems can put a real damper on one’s ability to look at life with the proper perspective.
Your last blog about Key West indicated that you would revisit the question of moving back here one day. I spend a lot of time day dreaming about finally moving to my property in Costa Rica and leaving South Florida so the greener grass doesn’t really grow in any geographical location, does it? We fertilize that grass in our minds.
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I’ve always been a high roller, at least I’ve always spent money like I was… I would only move back to key West temporarily so the boys could take classes, we could revisit our old community. Being here in Costa Rica again… well, clearly this is our home now. I can’t imagine giving this up. Who knows? This idea is new, fertilizing… I’ll keep you posted!
¡Hola! Sally,
Sorry to hear about your troubles with the IRS. If it weighs you down too much, I suggest one more visit to La Carpio, or the Cabecar. Seriously–I always find a new perspective on my troubles when I’m trying to help folks who have it much worse off than I do (and it’s a cliché, but still true: I’m sure I get a lot more benefit from them than they get from me). I’m sure I’ve told you I work & volunteer at a local juvenile lockup facility. Had a kid go AWOL from there tonight while I was there (and he knew there was a mountain lion in the vicinity). Same kid hasn’t had a dad since he was young (and apparently that’s not all bad, since dad was abusive and alcoholic) and the authorities won’t let him go back to his mom because of her substance abuse issues, so he basically has no place to go when he’s not a ward of the state.
Take care, and I’ll hope & pray for the best outcome.
…Chuck
(…STILL procrastinating my Spanish, now into the second semester after taking yet another Incomplete)
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you are right, there are plenty of people with far less than me. in the big picture, I have no worries. that’s not always easy to remember, a visit to La Carpio or to Barry’s and Nanci’s in Puerto Viejo (www.elpuente-thebridge.org) is a good reminder. good luck finding your kid… I didn’t know you did that. god bless you!
If the current plan turns to reality maybe we can help with the storage issue, save y’all a few colones. We’ve already stored a car for friends. Not the city but…it’s an option. Hugs!!!!
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ya know, I’m giving up on Escazú. in the new life, we are looking at just outside the city, maybe san pedro since the college is over there and we could all take courses. looking at your area although an hour away may be too much for me to start! but santa ana, cuidad colon, la garita… anywhere we can get hi-speed internet. will definitely take you up on the car – thank you!!!
Well, since you don’t want (?) can’t appeal – and anything have practically nothing to lose (as I understand) just declare a bankruptcy (chapter 7 and 11 – if part of debt is business related) and stay in CR for the next seven years, because before that you’ll have no credit in the States.
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we’ll appeal if we can. we thought about bankruptcy but since an IRS lien isn’t disposed of (at least not always) in a bankruptcy and we have no other money… why bother. who needs credit these days? nothing to buy… besides, I don’t have a job. no one in their right minds would loan to me. funny, less then three years ago, any bank would have given me a $1M at least to buy a house. ah, those were the days…
Wow Sally, I’m still stunned to hear the news. I’m hoping you will find you miss CR once you go back for awhile but maybe all these things are working together to bring you to the place you and your family need to be, CR being a little detour. Love ya. You’ve got great talents. I don’t go home anymore because I’m afraid that “ole time feeling” will come back on me and I’ll want to uproot my life here and return to normalcy. Teri
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we are so happy to be back here, the key west plans look like pure folly! keeping an open mind… hope my brains don’t fall out!!!
Sally, so sorry that your “simple life” has been torpedoed & the party’s over. Based on your report, I’m sure all this didn’t suddenly occur… nonetheless, when the bow breaks… and baby falls… it’s still a shock to the heart. It’s more than good that you’ve learned to appreciate life without a lot of material wealth and perks. Apart from winning the Lottery or being visited by Publisher’s Clearing House to have the $5K a week for life bestowed… you are screwed. I know. Once the IRS has you dead to rights… or simply in their sites…(they are almost always right if it seems fair or not)… you will not escape. The fact that no attorney wants your case is… well… you are really on thin ice in the late Spring! Worse still, the Costa Rica government is fully in bed with the Feds now… so no joy in hiding out there. My advice to all my friends is to keep your accounts in order with the taxing authorities. It’s almost always just a matter of time before the other shoe drops. You are to be commended for your candor and honesty. May all who read this take heed. Don’t cut corners with taxes… unless your objective is to wind up impoverished, bitter and busted. In this internet age, our real lives (warts and all) is always just a simple investigation away. I have seen very powerful friends cross the wrong person who had knowledge of their personal business… and all it took was a call or filling out a form… and voila. they were taken down and the “informer” collected a piece of the judgment as a reward; sheesh! Good luck, dear! As the old song says “It’s never to late to start all over again….”. With all you’ve learned… your new beginning will be a good one!
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this party ain’t over yet! it’s just a way simpler party: no catering just chips and water. gracias for your good wishes. pura vida.
Barry says “Misery loves company, so come on back.”
But, I know exactly what you mean. We have been back a few months now and I am 100% sure that we made the right decision to return. Except the times that I am 100% sure that we should have stayed.
We are having tough times finding jobs and getting our own place to live (we are very lucky to be living with in-laws, but my parents always told me that after 3 days fish and houseguests start to smell – it’s been 3 months. I feel pretty stinky).
BUT
Bella is in school and loving it and back to a happy happy girl who makes new friends easily and gets the system and likes following the rules. She may have to repeat first grade (she is trying to squeeze the whole year into 5 months – we will see if she can do it). But it is so good to see her like that.
We spend a lot of time with family (see above) and the kids are thriving on that. Having so many people around who will listen attentively to you and find you cute is definitely better for them than our somewhat solitary lives in CR.
And the LIBRARIES!!! And the PARKS!!!
But we miss the slow pace of life, the weather, the good friends we did make, the weather.
Overall, I am so glad we did it. But will be really happy when I am back to my own white-picket fence exsistance.
I am sure that you will see – you are as happy as you want to be wherever you are. And everyplace has it’s ups and downs. Just gotta enjoy the ups and ride out the downs.
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thank you, jen. my sentiments exactly: be happy where you are because… well, that’s where you are!!! xoxo
but…but…but…
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oh, stop your whining. we’ll be back and you’ll have a place to stay!!! unless we come up there and move in with you guys. we are broke after all. we don’t take up much room. do you have a maid?
Everyone has asked about the $1M, how I musta been raking in the big bucks. I had a couple of good years on the ride up the bubble, but nothing to warrant this tax bill. And this first mil is for three years. They want another mil for two other years. It’s a fantasy figure, not based on real “income”. They added up every penny IN they could find (subpoenaed all banks, title companies, landlords, etc), didn’t deduct any pennies OUT, added it all up and attributed that figure once to Hal, once to me and once to a corporation we had (that’s called “whipsawing”)… voila, a mil is easy to come up with.
Apparently they whipsaw so that if one of you gets off, the other will have to pay the big money. I’m not sure about that, but that seems to be the consensus. I don’t know what happens if both of us lose, if they’ll then reduce the figure to be in line with reality. It’s all a new adventure.
If tax court finds against us, we will appeal to the circuit court. We have good evidence on our side and a significant party admission that tax court may find a way to not allow but that circuit court will probably have to (tax court operates independently with different rules of evidence.)
This has been hanging over our heads for so long now, it’s a fact of life. But we have no money and no prospects, just like most everyone else we know. Flat broke just in the nick of time. As long as we can live cheaply and make enough money to ride out this economy, we’ll survive. They have to leave us poverty level income, whatever that is for a family of four. I don’t think this would be a good time to ask anyone for $1M.
If we have this hanging over our heads for more years, so be it. Living in Costa Rica, while no protection from the IRS and the US government (obviously we have not chosen to go into hiding), has taught us that life does not have to be all about money and stuff – which it had gotten to be for us in Key West. We are happy with very little and money would be nice, but I just can’t worry about it.
The universe has always opened doors for us. Not always the door we wanted, but when we walk through we have not been disappointed. An IRS lien cannot be what my life is about. If nothing else, this is my opportunity to walk the talk, to be really poor and blog about that! There will be a lot of people really poor over the next few years – my heart goes out to old people who have lost everything. I’m in my early 50’s with no money and no pension. What about people in their 70’s with no money, lost pensions, lost 401Ks to the stock market? I have no complaints.
My real fear these days is that Obama will institute a draft just in time for my baby boys to turn 18. THAT is scary.
I don’t really want to talk more about this topic so other comments will go unanswered. Read, but probably unanswered. I have to talk about this enough and it’s just upsetting to dwell on it. I blogged about it because it is part of my life and I’ve chosen not to bring it up till now… But it’s a facet of my life, not my life. We made some choices and will live with them. I’ll keep you posted.
Everyone has issues: divorce, poverty, losing everything, death, disease, jailed for an ounce of pot… this is ours. I found out a long-time friend in Key West discovered 4th stage uteran cancer last March… she is alive today thanks to an Amish doctor and a natural cure. What must her life have been like the past year? All God’s chillen got trouble. Mine are no worse. Love and peace, Saratica
Sally,
Your always welcome here.
Ginnee
Sally, so sorry about the tax crap!!! You have got to be kidding!!!
Just reading about your stresses stress me out. Please tell us it was an early April 1st joke.
Also reading about your boys and their social life they had on the U.S. visit makes me wish for that for my munchkins. Costa Rica is great, calm {as long as you aren’t driving}and peaceful. But I miss the social activities that are so easily had in the states.
We are planning on heading back in September but we will see. 🙂 I’m having second thoughts…and worried about the culture shock.
Does that sound silly?!?!?