Took a quick trip to and from Grecia on the bus this morning to get a few things. Didn’t know that everything would go so well that I would be able to take the bus back home within 45 minutes of getting there!
I stopped at the bank first to get some cash for the upcoming rent in January (I have to get it in increments weekly because I don’t have a bank account down here yet), then I walked to the Central Pharmacy to get my levothyroxine prescription refilled. The gentleman there spoke English so we had quite an extended conversation. I told him I’m still learning Spanish and he suggested that I do everything I have been doing to gain proficiency, so I felt very good about that!
At one point I told him my biggest challenges are 1.) getting the tenses right (to which he responded “Don’t worry about that; Spanish speakers often get them wrong, too!”) and 2.) the sentence structure of some sentences. That, too, he said, isn’t a big deal. “We’re pretty good at untangling sentences.”
Both of his kind responses make speaking Spanish seem less problematic!
HOP TO IT!
After I left there, I looked at my watch to see what time it was. I realized that, if I worked fast and everything went my way, I would have time to get another box of hair color, a head of lettuce, a box of mushrooms, plus the leg and thigh of a chicken to put into the crockpot to have for dinner tonight.
So I quickly did all three at Mercado Municipal and then returned to the bus stop. The driver had already opened the door to allow passengers to board. Perfect timing! So, I boarded and within five minutes, he pulled away from the curb and I was on my way home.
That’s the fastest I’ve moved since getting here!
I usually walk slower in town and enjoy the morning as I shop more leisurely. And I walk slower up here in the heights because Calle Estaban Salas is very rocky and uneven so I have to be extremely mindful of each and every step so I don’t twist an ankle or trip.
When I’m on pavement and sidewalks I usually walk faster, but today I did some semi-speed walking, because I knew I wanted to get the chicken home quickly so it would stay at a safe temperature until I got it into the crockpot.
I Won’t Be Joining my Lunch Bunch This Week
Melaney is going to drive me to San Isidro on what is my lunch bunch’s usual day to have me meet Deb and see her place, which she has put up for sale for over a half million dollars. At that price, it should take time to sell, so she wants to rent out the lower half of it in the meantime (and possibly longer, if new owners decide they want a reliable, conscientious renter to remain downstairs).
“THERE ARE ALWAYS POSSIBILITIES”
The place is a possibility for me. It’s within walking distance of my dear friends Dale and Crystal. Deb will allow a cat, it’s completely furnished, a one-bedroom suite on acreage with a lot of fruit trees (free for the picking). It offers glorious nighttime views, is just 75 meters to a bus stop on a nicely paved driveway, and gated for security. In short, it’s a dream house, as long as it doesn’t feel too small downstairs. I think it’s only slightly smaller than this place, and only $700/month, all utilities included. Washer and dryer. Great furniture. I’ll take some pictures if it looks like I’ll be renting it starting in February. (That’s when it becomes available.)
The move-in date — February 1st — is super close to when Lisa will fly in, so I’ll just be settling in and getting accustomed to a new bus route. But heck, we can explore the new neighborhood together. IF I decide on it, that is. If not, I’ll wait until after Lisa has returned home to turn my life upside down again… unless Brooke Bishop finds me another option in the same time frame in the same general area, or up here in El Cajon, but without a steep climb to the place.
My knees and ankles aren’t liking the daily climb, and I worry about twisting an ankle on Calle Esteban Salas every time I walk. But dang it, I do love this little casita and the landlady to Antares and back. I just wish it were more accessible. I have friends my age and younger who want to visit from the States who couldn’t make it up the steep incline! Heck, people right here in the Grecia area aren’t visiting because of the moutain goat-like trek up to the place!
I’m working on finding a renter for this place, too
I don’t want to leave Cat and her husband in the lurch. Melaney knows someone who’s interested, someone who knows Jane H in Upper Cajon, too, so it would be a good solution for her — again, if she’s younger, equally robust and well-balanced (physically). We’ll see!
If she doesn’t want it, Brooke Bishop will help find a renter. I’m calling out all the troops to find a solution for Cat, too! No way do I want to leave them with any kind of financial struggle or extra stress.