Just scheduled the ultrasound for my “abdominal mass” — what I’m calling my hernia but which could be any number of other things, most benign although they may require surgery, a few of them malignant.
It’s sorta weird that I don’t much care which way it turns out. The mass is either fixable, in which case I’ll get it fixed promptly, months before I get on a plane to Costa Rica, or it isn’t, in which case I won’t outlive my savings, so I won’t need to go anywhere — except perhaps Costa Rica on a grand vacation now that I’ve invested months and relearned Spanish in preparing to live there!
With what’s happening in the world — and especially in this country — right now, checking out entirely (croaking) isn’t of enormous concern to me. I’ve had a good run. I’m 74, fer heaven’s sake! I feel decades younger; I feel like I’ll live to 95 — but you know the old adage: “man makes plans, and God laughs”.
The good news is that although I prefer to live long enough to be compelled to move to Costa Rica so I don’t outlive my meager income and savings, it’s no big deal (to me!) if I’m instead deemed a “short timer” by the results of these tests. I’m NOT depressed or scared about the possibility in the least. I don’t prefer that result, but neither am I freaking out about the possibility. I’m in a good place, then: living day to day, well aware and accepting of the fact that nothing organic lasts forever.
Either way, just knowing what’s up so I know what to do next will be a definite relief! Either way, I get far, far away from anything that Mu-mp decides to do with people like me!!!
That Said…
I’m one lucky individual, to be able to feel this way. Wouldn’t you agree? Not many people would be this sanguine about BOTH of these two outcomes.
STILL COSTA RICA DREAMING, THOUGH!
I spent hours online yesterday researching yet another microclimate in Costa Rica because the cost of living there is so affordable. It’s called Cartago, not far outside San Jose, Costa Rica, but it’s very rainy and among the mildest of CR’s 11 (or 12) microclimates. Its average daily temperature is just 78 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considered cold in Costa Rica. (If you’ve ever been to San Diego, CA, that’s its average daily temperature, too.) And Cartago (and all other areas of CR, for that matter) has a good rating from LGBTQIA+ rating agencies.
The problem there is that it rains and is overcast a lot. It averages 6.5 inches of rain per month, so 78 inches per year. (Seattle gets only 39.34 inches of precipitation per year, most of that in rain.) So, it’s twice as rainy as where I am now. I can handle that, especially since the rain in CR is considerably warmer than Seattle rain. Water temperatures in CR are warm, from 81 to 86 degrees F! None of that is a deal breaker. And it’s close to San Jose, the nation’s capitol, and the international airport, so getting into the city for immigration matters and to see the museums and other sights will be a breeze even without a vehicle. The transportation system between Cartago and SJ is stellar, and only takes about 15 minutes on a good (accident-free) day on the main highway…
The Cartago canton boasts two resident volcanoes, only one of which is active.
I have several people keeping their eyes open for casitas and rooms for rent. I am in touch with six or seven individuals who have already said they’ll accept me (within my price range) if their places are still available when I schedule my flight in June and can let them know our arrival date in September. Some of them have even volunteered to fetch me at the airport. But they’ll need a van of some sort, because I will have six or seven boxes with me in addition to myself and Charli and her carrier. I can get a van taxi or hire a small cab to carry any balance of boxes that won’t fit in the first car, if not.
Every time I spend time pondering the move, I get Christmas Tree Brain. I’m sooo looking forward to it.
My only gut-wrenching concern is that moving will freak Charli out between when we leave here and when we arrive at our final destination in CR. I hate doing that to her, but I love her too much to leave her here. She’s my girl and she wouldn’t be happy living in a new home if I weren’t there with her. Our hearts are intertwined.
