I’m just six days away from my three month anniversary of moving here to Costa Rica. That is AMAZING!

 

A year ago on this date I was still reeling from the results of the federal election and busily putting my escape plan into action. I had let Jackie know that I was leaving because I was planning to move in March. I was already gathering my crucial US-based documents — prematurely as I later found out —  because I discovered that if I moved during the high tourist season (before September) everything would have cost more: the flight, rentals, etc.

 

So, I finally settled on September 3rd as the flight date. It all worked out wonderfully well. I’m here, my research was impeccable, my support team was marvelous, and I landed feeling landed and unafraid. I had Christmas Tree Brain from the moment I put my feet on the ground here.

 

These three months have changed me in positive ways. I’ve been welcomed, embraced, included and utilized as  a dog sitter and volunteer English teacher. I’ve lost the sneaking suspicion that I’m not likeable. I’ve accepted the fact that the family members who ignored and shunned me are very likely fighting their own personal  battles, including (I suspect) various degrees of autism and ADHD. They were simply incapable of meeting me where I am any better than they did, and I was taking it waaaayyyy too personally.

 

Like my lifelong “stimming” habit of tucking the tip of my tongue back into my mouth and sucking on it, Jackie’s knees were always shaking and wiggling as a kid and she sucked her thumb until she was five or six. She still self-soothes (it’s called stimming in neurodivergent terms) by running sheets between her fingers at night just as I have always tended to do until recently with satin sheets.These activities are techniques to calm us and keep us from reaching “overwhelm” or emotional meltdowns.

 

I haven’t felt the need for satin soothing since moving here because I never feel overwhelmed or anywhere near any kind of emotional or nervous cliffhanging. I do sometimes still suck my tongue but it’s just a habit now, not a stretegy to find calm or “neutral.”   I often do it when I’m writing, my customary form of maintaining my equilibrium.

 

Since autism is hereditary, I suspect Dad was on the spectrum, too, but he drank to excess to self soothe.Fortunately, neither Jackie nor I adopted that form of coping mechanism. We both developed non-lethal, innocuous coping strategies.

 

And I suspect Phil is on the spectrum, too. He has experienced excessive, pouring sweat when nervous or put into a spotlight, uncommon extended silences, and self frequent isolation even at family gatherings, all of which are very likely fear-based.  (In sharp contrast, due probably to my personal neurodivergence, I seem to be more or less impervious to fear in the areas where most people tend to experience it.)

 

ANYWAY, now that we aren’t having to navigate around our various challenges with each other all the time, I can view and recognize it from a wiser perspective and accept it. Because now I realize I wasn’t the sole cause (or the sole recipient) of the tension, and live my life with far greater calm and gratitude because now I’m beginning to understand more than I ever have before.

 

We all have challenges and quirks. Discovering them — even honoring them — can be very helpful!

 

CAR REPAIRS — NOT ON MY BINGO CARD!

 

My landlady just called. Their vehicle overheated and broke down while her husband was driving it home. I offered her the December rent early so she can pay the mechanic and get him back on the road fast.  (He’s the breadwinner in the family.) Luckily, her husband’s brother is a mechanic, so they won’t be getting gouged for the repair costs. Even so, I hope it’s something super easy and frugal to fix. Unexpected expenses are no fun. I’m sure she had other plans for my December rent before this happened!

 

CHRISTMAS WINDS

 

The Christmas winds are playing my wind chimes more often now. I love hearing them.

 

CHARLI IS TOO ADORABLE

 

I got some super cute photos of Charli atop her pet carrier yesterday:

 

 

LUNCH AT MAS Q SABOR

 

I hopped aboard the bus at 11 this morning to get some cash, buy a few items, and have lunch with Brooke Bishop (Realtor Extraordinaire), Jon Graham Mitchell, Dale Garrison and Christine Kerna today.  Yes, I finally met Christine!  What a fun gal!  I’m very much looking forward to connecting with her again real soon. It felt kinda like I’ve known her forever.

 

I’m sorry I didn’t get photos of the lunch bunch today.  (Dagnab it!)

 

I let Brooke know that I want her to keep her eyes and ears open for a similar rental situation for me starting sometime in April or May, and that I do NOT want to leave Cat and her husband high and dry or out of the loop at all.  I hope Brooke can find another renter for this casita at the same time she finds me a place that doesn’t require mountain-climbing level knees, balance and strength. She totally understood and I think Cat and her husband will, too.

 

Brooke and I even tried to think of ways to get an elevator or stairs up to this place, but I don’t think there is room for either and it would cost thousands of dollars to install either of those options, so that’s probably out of the question.  This casita is perfect for younger, abler people than some of my friends are who want to fly down and visit me, and even some locals who would otherwise visit me.

 

It’s a crying shame, because I adore this li’l abode and my landlady!

 

If Brooke can find one at, or near, the same altitude and in San Isidro near Dale and Crystal, I could help them get used to taking the bus into town (instead of Uber) and save them a ton of money, and we could practice our Spanish with each other. I’d love to become useful to them in those ways, as well as getting to know them better. They are a super cool couple!

 

MARIANELA

Marianela is going to drive me to Maxi Pali or Super Rosvil (very near it) to shop for groceries tomorrow afternoon because the MasXMenos website is still hiccuping and I can’t get anything ordered. I have a call and an email in to them to see if they will fix it, but if they don’t respond, I will be shopping elsewhere from now on once a week with Marianela so I can buy frozen foods, too.  (The bus only stops there once an hour, so getting frozen food home would be a challenge, or I’d go that route.  But Marianela can always use the money and I love helping her keep her head above water!)

 

I guess that’s all the news that’s fit to print for this time!