In three days, Charli and I head into the wild blue yonder … and I have never felt more peaceful in my life.

 

What else is there to say?

 

I’m just soooo relieved and ready to retire to a nation filled with people of good will, a healthy, natural environment, and to meet and be welcomed in by the kindred souls at Villas Escondidas in Grecia (Laurie, Mel, Jon) and Villas Escondidas II (Danielle) in San Ramon.

 

I feel like I’m “coming home to a place I’ve never been before,” in John Denver’s words.

 

For more than 12 years I’ve had Costa Rica on my mind as a potential retirement place.  I’ve researched it thoroughly, along with other potential nations, and have always come back to Costa Rica.

 

I feel called to Costa Rica, in the same way I felt called to Hollywood and to Warner Bros. It was simply bound to become part of my destiny…

 

Perhaps because it’s already part of my ancestry!

 

Some of my ancient ancestral DNA comes from Central and South America: Puerto Rico, Chile, Colombia, Mexico. Although my most recent ancestry is European (Germanic), long before my ancestors were there, others were in Central and South America. I share maternal DNA with Mummy Juanita and Eva Longoria, according to the results I got from CGI Genetics.

 

I’m an environmentalist and animal nut. Costa Rica is an environmental cornucopia of microclimates, flora and fauna. Much of it is comprised of protected national forests.

 

And the vast majority of Ticos (native Costa Ricans) are diverse, friendly, patient with newbie Spanish speakers, and relational.  To native Costa Ricans, personal and family relationships are lightyears more valuable than chasing the almighty dollar (er, colones). When your government covers universal health care, education, and other necessities of your life, you’re freed up to actually live it with your loved ones. Imagine that!  (Most countries don’t have to imagine it.  It’s theirs as a result of paying their taxes!)

 

Sure, there will be hitches and hiccups — life isn’t all peaches and cream anywhere in the world

 

But as a retiree with a modest but entirely adequate retirement income (for Costa Rica!), I won’t need to sweat the small stuff in the many ways I have to here in the U.S. I can truly retire my yellow/red alert amygdala (except to be sure to remember to apply sunscreen during the day and mosquito/insect repellent if/when I’m outside near sunset, LOL!).

 

Yeah, no wonder I feel peaceful already.  I’m anticipating dropping like a heavy rock what’s keeping me fearful here as soon as I get in the air!

 

Three more days!!!