Retirement In Costa Rica – Hitting the Ground and Getting Up Again

Hitting the Ground and Getting Up Again. Chapter 17 from June 2009.

Finally it happened.

Things I felt I needed and just couldn’t seem to get finally added up to a great crescendo of frustration and I broke down in tears. It wasn’t really the muddy road that finished me off – but watching the water run down the center of the road did, washing out the rock I had partially paid for.

The workers working on the house above blocked the water channels along the sides of our road – and our compacted steep road was a muddy mess! Somehow it seems that you get a real sense of where it is you have gotten yourself – when it rains. And it rains hard here!

And it is followed by sunshine.

After awhile I sat down to make a list of what I needed to make me happy again.

My drum roll list…

1. Internet – so I can keep in touch, write, research and keep up my website.
2. Work on the house for security, safety, quiet, water tightness and to provide a teaching space in the studio room.
3. Finish the cabinas.

And I wanted it all in two weeks – before I left for the states to teach. I sat down with Cesar and my list – and he said everything inside the house would be done before I left. What he didn’t say is that the night before I left they would be in my house until 9 p.m. – finishing.

The Internet. I’d heard altogether too many variations on the theme that it would be impossible for me to get high speed Internet. I can’t?

The first step in the process occurred about a month ago. Anita and her cousin and I met at ICE to transfer the phone from cousin, Ana’s name to my corporation – which was the first step to getting Internet through the phone line. I was then told it would be 15 days to get Internet. So, on Day 15, I went back into ICE and took a number and waited and waited. I was told that all was in order and it would be 15 more days. What? I left, frustrated and then realized that I wouldn’t be here in two weeks. I’d be in Seattle. So I decided that I’d go back and ask again. I’d plead, with a smile – and see if it works.

At least they were getting to recognize me as I sat and waited my turn. Meanwhile, I did my usual daily drives down to the realty office at the bottom of the hill or sat in my car outside Valley coffee to get wireless internet. I was really getting tired of it because I can do very little on my computer except email. For writing, researching and my website, I needed Internet at home. Nearly 6 months without is enough! I know. I know. So and so has been here 6 years without it.

Tranquila, Jan.

So – I went in for the obligatory 1 hour plus wait and took a number, as usual – but suddenly they had a new system. If your issue is cellular, you push a #3 button and get a C series number. If you are there for something with your house, you push #4 and get a number from the other series – the F series. I got an F series number, found a seat and looked to the prompter. No F’s. Everyone, it seemed was there for the C series for cellular. I waited and watched C numbers come and go and wondered about the “F”s while the huge flat screen TV played a silent soccer game.

Finally an F series number was called and it was 3 numbers before mine! Progress. A woman seated behind me showed me her number, which was 2 numbers before mine and then handed it to me when she decided to leave. A very nice gesture. When my new number finally came up the woman next to me urged me to get to the window fast – which I did. If you miss your number you have to get a new one and wait all over again!

I sat down at the desk and began my story in slow and steady Spanish. The nice gentleman – David – at the desk told me he spoke some English – and I proceeded with more words and explanations. ‘I so need it for my business. My sons in the states are worrying about me, and I am leaving before the date that was given to me. Could I possibly get Internet service next week instead of as planned?’ He picked up the phone and talked with his supervisor. Then he said, “Yes.” YES? I was elated! Could I possibly be called when they know which day? Again, “Yes”, and he showed me his order with my cell phone and home phone numbers listed. I thanked him profusely and headed home. Now I’ll put the big number they gave me in my house window and wait! Hallelujah! I MAY be getting Internet this week!!!!

I later found out from ExPat friends that “15 days” is Tico code for I have no idea when or whatever you are asking about will happen. It isn’t maliciousness. It is simply that Ticos do not want to disappoint you. They try very hard and would rather give you a time and date that is vaguely off in the future, hoping that you will forget than to tell you that they don’t know. And – ever optimistic, they also think – maybe it will happen in 15 days!

I also learned that when one goes into a governmental office, the person who can get you connected to someone and actually bypass some of the waits is the security guard. He knows all the folks there and can ask that you be called soon – just because… So finally David gave me the phone numbers of the technician who would come to my house this week. I called and was told it would be Thursday at 9 a.m. Wednesday was a wonderful day because I believed that the next day would bring Internet to Casa Corazon.

Thursday arrived and I was waiting at 9 a.m. for the arrival of the “tecnico” for internet. At 9:05 the phone actually rang! I grabbed it and listened closely, as if I was being given instructions for a ransom! Mas despacio, por favor. I think I understood that it was ICE and that they understood that I was Jan Hart – but before I could ask if indeed the techico was coming, they hung up. I called the two numbers I was given. Nothing. I called the number for David but couldn’t understand the message I received. I hate it when they rapidly give numbers in hundreds and not single numbers! So – I was stuck. Again.

At about 9:45 I finally got someone on one of the numbers. I explained that I was waiting for the tecnico and was finally put on hold while an electronic version of a Chopin tune played over and over. At last I was connected to a gracious gentleman who spoke slowly so that I could talk to him in my new language. The tecnico was in San Rafael and looking for my house. Since the directions are 1 km oeste de la escuela de San Rafael Norte, I never could figure out how anyone would find me. There must be at least 10 houses with the same address, more or less. Once the post office worker did – on a little moped – but it seems hopelessly difficult from my perspective.

So… I went very slowly and gave new directions – up the hill to the top to the orange house. At the orange house, turn right and up. My house is green. He relayed it to the tecnico and asked me to stand outside and look for a white truck. I did. And suddenly, below, I saw the white truck and I began to wave! Yes – he turned right and came up my hill and returned my wave.

I felt a sense of joy as if I were being rescued from a desert island! A very nice gentleman got out of the white truck, introduced himself and proceeded to go about testing and retesting my wires. My heart began to sink as I watched his face for signs of what was going on. His frowns suggested to me that the signal was not good. Then he came inside and checked with his computer and I think he explained that he was looking for a good steady signal. I cleared off my painting desk to make room for his testing. Oh, please, dear God of the Internet – please make it available here. He continued to work, explaining that my signal was not steady. But he continued testing and working and calling in.

Finally he called me to show me on his computer that my signal was below my requested 1028 speed. Fine – I’m fine with 514 or whatever at this point. So, he continued to work and it looks to me like I’m getting internet!

Then the installation. He went to work with a drill and ladder and plenty of cord that he brought to make the connection to where I wanted it to be. And with a smile! My heart is beating faster as an hour and a half elapsed… And finally he announced that it was ready to test with my computer. Voila! And it worked!

It’s almost a feeling like falling in love!

House Improvements.

It is my experience that Ticos work best with deadlines. Given all the time they need they sometimes choose to work on other projects besides yours. So – we had a time limit. And Cesar, in his usual Tico fashion replied, “No problem, Jan”. I couldn’t see how it all would happen in 2 weeks – and I knew it would be hard to be living right in the same area that was being torn down and built up – but I saw no alternative. We plunged ahead.

The good thing about being right in the middle of it is that I could easily check on things, offer an insight, ask a question, etc. The dogs, birds and I endured the two weeks of pounding and sawing and screeching as the work went on from morning until evening.

Today, though, there is an additional sound of laughter. Cesar and his whole crew are working, and also laughing along with a little drinking as they finish up the sliding panels that open my living room… They even brought me a Smirnoff ICE – and at 2 p.m., it is a little early for me – but hey, the work is looking great and I am very pleased. So now, just for today, it is a working fiesta!

And in two weeks I had a new and improved exterior door containing a new and improved dog door to allow the dogs access into the studio room. The sliding wood wall panels between the studio and living area enabled me to open the living room to the studio to have enough room to teach in, when I need it – and will close off the studio when I don’t need it.

The western most room of my Tico house was long and not very wide (21′ x 8′). Originally it was two bedrooms adjoining the living or family room. I imagined that it could be a wonderful art studio. Or a dog room during wet weather. Or both. To be both it needed a moveable wall. So, I told Cesar that is what I wanted – a wall that stacked up and was hidden by one 4′ segment. He suggested 3 and I repeated that I wanted 4. And so it was.

When open it combines the living area with the studio for a roomy feeling allowing western views of the sunset and beyond. When closed it confines the dogs to a manageable area while their paws dry off. A perfect solution with the doors hung within a metal framework and covered with wood. The crew then went on to add shop lights for better lighting, welded metal over the windows and new celosia windows to replace the boarded up windows.

A new ceiling in the kitchen insulated against the rain noise and new 220 electricity enabled me to use the second hand electric stove I bought from Expat friends. I even got a new Tico sink in the process for $20! I was elated.

The Cabinas.

The Cabinas were nearing completion, also. We ran into a snag with my very poor water pressure that drains down from the reservoir at the top of the hill, next to the spring. The showers depend upon decent water pressure in order to mix hot and cold water for a nice temperature. These are on demand water heaters that are in the head of the shower and the gringo term for them is “suicide showers”.

They are completely safe when wired correctly. But my water pressure needed a boost in the form of a bomba or pump! Another $500…. Then, the finishing amounted to some wood work in Cabina 1, banister and deck work and then the most most important steps down the steep incline which they promised would get done while I was in Seattle!

Looking Ahead

2009 was about moving here and getting settled. My writings in my new Ebook What Do You Mean I Can’t Move to Costa Rica? include the day to day events of beginning a life in a new country with a new language, new friends, new neighbors and slowly finding my way to familiarity.

It was exciting and sometimes poignant, frightening and even lonely. But by the end of the year I felt honestly comfortable and strangely distant from my old life in New Mexico. My friends back in the states are still close and dear to me through emails and visits, but my life and passions are now rooted in the volcanic soils of Costa Rica.

And then, just as I was beginning to get the hang of it all – 2010 erupted! It is almost as if the months and days of 2009 were laid out as even stepping stones – presented in a nice gentle rhythm that was clear and straightforward and level. I stepped along cautiously. The occasional bumps along the path were manageable. But when I reached the December steps and turned to look back I was caught by surprise! I found I had climbed a great hill and gone a great deal farther than I thought..

I had changed in fundamental, personal ways. While walking I saw the time-steps as smooth and even – requiring a bit of caution but little effort. But looking back I discovered the steps were more than they appeared – with intricate patterns, hidden connections and beautiful passages. My journey had affected me profoundly.

The stepping stones were life lessons and I felt a bit like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ who fell through a rabbit hole into a fantasy life – but mine was not fantasy. My ‘rabbit hole’ was a new way of understanding and being – and I found myself a somewhat different person in 2010. And then, to make it even more interesting, the new insights and lessons have further altered my life and choices.

I will be writing about those changes and Life Lessons and thoughts as I step consciously into 2010. So stay tuned! By the end of 2010 I expect that I’ll have written a good portion of Part II of this personal transformational adventure!

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.