Last Minute Flurry

Yes, a flurry - much like the dreaded snowfall we had last night, which was something I'd hoped not to see before our departure for Central America. We leave in a few days for Seattle to drop off the dog, and then back to Portland for our flight on Dec 13.

Still much packing to do - not just personal items but also things we need for the Costa Rican home and a huge stack of files so that I can continue working from there. Work clothes for the farm, beachwear for the coast, shoes, sandals, towels, blankets, cosmetics, papers, files, books, kitchen utensils etc are stacked everywhere - along with some things I never thought I'd be the owner of, such as field guides to insects, a mosquito net (just in case), knee-high rubber boots, and the antique bowie knife that my sweetie, "Pecos Bill", gave me for my birthday (I'd actually asked for this thing). My carry-on will be jammed full of clothes and my video projector (for watching movies) and my small bag will be my briefcase with laptop.

I'm excited and scared and worried that I'll forget something essential. All major airlines, including our flight, have an embargo to Costa Rica this month, allowing only two not-oversized checked bags per person. This is going to be a challenge to see what fits. Time is running out and I have much paperwork to do before leaving. I'm freaking out.

Pecos, however, remains calm. He has been packed for a month. His luggage includes a trunk and a duffle bag with a large boom box, an African drum, harmonicas, batteries, sunscreen, small tools and household goods, extension cords, fishing gear, books, vitamins, bandaids, a large stack of music CDs and DVDs and who knows what else he considers essential. His clothes fit in his carry-on. His small carry-on consists of another drum with small items packed into its case. He's wondering if I'll have room for the guitar. I wonder if I can squeeze some of my things into his luggage...

We have a small house to rent, about a half mile from the village and one mile from the 100-acre farm owned by my three oldest children and their spouses. My son ("The Kid") is at their farm part of each year. My daughters and their husbands visit when they can. My former daughter-in-law ("K") and two grandchildren have 30 acres next to my children's farm. They also live in Costa Rica during the winter months. The house costs $70US per month and utilities are a flat rate of $11. We've been paying rent for several months, to be sure that the house will be available for us upon our arrival. Upon questioning my son recently, The Kid casually mentioned that electricity at the rental is intermittent, there is running water but no hot water, and there are no appliances. The house is completely bare and the floors are concrete.

The Kid will arrive in Costa Rica sometime in January, as will K and my grandkids - a fact I learned when I asked him who in the village will be speaking English, besides us. Apparently we're on our own until they return after the first of the year.

We are arriving in San Jose and will have a rental car the day after we get there. The car is reserved for two weeks. We'll drive for four hours over an 11,000-ft. mountain pass and miles of narrow mud roads to the village, following The Kid's hand-drawn map to the home of Melvin, the caretaker for my children's property. We'll try to explain who we are and Melvin will lead us to the rental house. We'll have to determine what we need (a table, chairs, and a bed would be nice, perhaps a hot plate and lamp, too, for starters), drive back an hour and a half to the nearest sizeable town to find and buy these things, then back to the rental. All before dark - as the roads are treacherous at best - steep drop-offs, huge potholes and wild drivers who seem to think that traffic laws are suggestions at best.

In the daylight we'll traipse over our own little finca located about a mile from the rental house - four acres with an incredible view, year round creek, spring, and planted in hardwood trees -- if we can find it, that is.