Exito! QAPLA! Success!

I got it!

 

Jon and Francisco met me at Mercado Municipal across the street from Huracan shortly after nine this morning to drive me to Alajuela to claim the elusive, long-sought-after anti-gravity chair that I’ve been wanting for several months.

 

Francisco only rode one way with us. He remained in Alajuela because he wanted to visit his mother’s gravesite (very near where we shopped) before he walked to a nearby hospital to assist a patient during her wound care visit there.

On the way there, I thought I recognized a soda where Jon had taken me shortly after I arrived in Costa Rica. When I asked him if it was the same one, he said, “Yes!  I’m surprised you recognized it after all this time.”  I was, too, since we came upon it from the opposite direction, but it felt good to know I’m actually recognizing places that I’ve only seen or visited once before. When I first got here, all neighborhoods looked pretty much alike to me, but now I’m able to discern differences and know where I am most of the time!

 

MUNDO PEQUENO  UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

 

I had heard good things about Mundo Pequeno, but this was my first actual visit. It’s sorta like Costco (but not a membership club) because it has pretty much everything, from clothes to groceries.

 

Jon and I hit the produce section, the wine section, the pet supplies section, the dinnerware/household items section, and several other sections, mostly so I could get a sense of everything that’s offered there. The prices are significantly less than many other places, too, so I picked up items there that I knew I’d be needing in the near future.

 

I think we were there for about a half hour, and we filled a large grocery cart  — admittedly, the box containing the anti-gravity recliner took up some of that space.

 

As it turned out, the store had two anti-gravity chairs, not just one. And the price was $25 less than anticipated, so while Jon and I were there, we got a few other things, too! I came home with food, citronella candles, dehumidifying beads (for the upcoming rainy season), and other things that will come in handy here, including two large bags of Bentonite cat litter.

 

FOOTBALL CLUB

 

After we left there, Jon drove us to the Grecia Football Club, where we had lunch.  Both of us had a fish platter — mine was fried, his grilled. The limonada there was particularly tasty, so I drank two of those.

 

We chatted the whole time we were together. Jon and I are kindred spirits, I think. We align politically, for sure, and he is a kind, wise younger brother type. Even our prickliness matches pretty well! Many of the same things chap our hides and get our dander up.

 

He’s just a lot of fun to be around. I don’t get to do it often enough!  I think we make each other smile.  He certainly raises my spirits when we’re together.

 

So does Francisco

 

… even though he and I still have a bit of a language barrier.  But we’re both getting better at each other’s language, so it won’t be long before that goes away!

 

Francisco has a super kind spirit, too. Jon says Francisco is better in the kindness department than he is.  I told him that Lisa is better at it than I am, too. Jon and I both aspire to become as obviously and persistently kind as they are, but it’s a steeper hill to climb — and we’re at least ten years older than they are, but our efforts to achieve near sainthood have not delivered equal success! 

 

I have called Francisco “effervescent”  in the past, and the description is a good one.  He’s bubbly and fun-spirited even though he has a palliative care position, assisting end-of-life individuals. Gotta say, he’s the type of person that I’d want attending me when the time comes. His effervescence could raise a dead man’s spirits, I think — and I don’t want to be in a downer mood when I croak!

 

IRA TRANSFER IS FINALLY IN ACTIVE PROCESS!!!

 

Jon and I stopped by the Garrisons for a few minutes on my way home so I could pick up the document that Dale printed for me so I can move my IRA to my credit union and set up an IRA there.  Signed it and sent it off to Ann this afternoon so she can initiate the transfer.

 

Then we’ll see if setting up an IRA at my credit union is as big a PITA as  was trying to set one up with Charles Schwab. Sure hope not, or I’ll just take the tax losses and keep the money in some other type of secure instrument.

 

At least at my credit union there is a dedicated, live video consultant who can walk me through the process so there’s no more guesswork or run around.  That will be a big plus!!!

 

I couldn’t even get Charles Schwab’s international or 800 phone numbers to work here in CR, and all I kept getting back when I emailed them for help was an automated reply: CALL US!  WTF?!!! 

 

I hate AI responses!!!

I want a flesh and blood human being when I need help!

Guess this is a sufficient update for this time. I think I’ll go sit in my long-awaited anti-gravity chair and veg until sundown now.  Yeah, that sounds like a plan!