Between leaving and going
Right now, I’m in a gray area, between my past life, where I was immersed in US life and my future life, where I’ll be navigating Costa Rica, dealing with culture shock and all that. Where I am right now is a little hard to pinpoint. Mentally, part of me is in Costa Rica already. Living the dream. My body, however, isn’t cooperating. It’s still here, doing stuff that needs to be done.
I noticed it first a few weeks ago, driving through a nice neighborhood. I used to look longingly at places like that, wishing I could afford a ‘nicer’ house. But I had no feelings now - I could look at a nice suburban home, think That’s attractive (but it’s too close to the other houses) and keep going. My perception of what I want my life to be changed, and I’d made the mental move to Costa Rica.
This state of mind creeps in everywhere. Like in the grocery store, where I mentally check off what won’t be available, what I hope will be available, or how much less fresh veggies will cost. Or at Home Depot, where I think 1) tools are something we need to bring down and 2) how I look forward to being able to pay for renovation help. Or driving around and realizing how many new and nearly new cars are around, while there are plenty of old cars on the road in Costa Rica, including my new dream cars, an old Land Rover or Land Cruiser. (I don’t think I’m ever getting that Saab I drooled after in high school…)
This gray area is an interesting place to be. It’s a bit like being a stranger in a land you know well. A sometime participant and active observer. Not that Costa Rica will be completely different - materialism is rampant there as well - but I expect my life to be different. I’d just like to get the waiting over with 
Hopefully things will hurry along for you guys.
Summer’s last blog post..So Much For Real Beauty
Hi, I’m new to your blog, and I found this post to be really interesting. Are you heading to Costa Rica really soon? It sounds like you’re getting a little anxious and in great anticipation of what you’ll experience there, but it also seems as though you’re preparing really well for whatever you may encounter. By reading this post, it looks like you may not have too tough of a time adjusting to life in Costa Rica…maybe “culture shock” won’t even happen because you really are ready for that change. Either way, I wish you luck and hope your dreams come true in your move to Costa Rica. Buena suerte!
I will say that there was nothing that surprised us when we went - except that we totally loved it. THAT was the big surprise.
Our timetable is 1) put house on market (hopefully next week), 2) sell house (hopefully this year), 3) finish closing on the house, go Oh sh!t we really are doing it and move on down
I laughed out loud when I read about the grocery store - I do that *all* the time!
Hi,
I was googling home education + Costa Rica and found your excellent blog :o)
We are also hoping to move to Costa Rica from England sometime next year and we have also home educated our 11 year old daughter from birth. We also have attachment parented from birth, not a conscious decision rather a doing it and realising that was what it was years later lol.
I was getting rather worried as I could find no home ed groups/information in CR and was worried whether it was actually legal over there. We are planning a fact finding trip over there later this year.
I would love you to mail me so we can chat a little (that is if you have any spare time at all lol) as everyone here seems to think we are totally mad to be even thinking about it (I’m sure when we do it they will send around the men in white coats) but the thought of living in such a beautiful place and being at one with nature is what we have always longed for!
Keep up the good work and keep dreaming of the life you want and deserve!!
Hugs,
Carrie ~
At birth every infant has the potential to make the world more caring. Their need for a tender, nurturing mother can be met, or it can be denied. Most babies in our society fail. They do not get what they evolved to have. Is it any wonder, then, that our world is such an uncaring place?
James Kimmel, Ph.D.
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