Back to tackling challenges, Costa Rica style

The holidays are behind us so it is time to start dealing with the mundane, but necessary issues that must be tackled.  First up is finalizing the insurance policy for our home.  With 2012 recording twice the normal amount of earthquakes in Costa Rica, we decided it is best to buy some piece of mind.  After waiting for the official accountant to provide us a $90 letter with a fancy stamp that somehow proves we are not laundering money, but rather hard working individuals with legal sources of income, we are now able to pay our premium.  Frankly, I do not imagine "El Chapo Guzman's" launderers worrying about paying for a $500 insurance policy.  We are quickly learning to go with the flow.  Our insurance agent has turned out to be a great guy who also has something in common with us....we both love to shop with Amazon.com.  He even showed us a nifty way to purchase merchandise in the US and have it shipped via a company known as Aerocasillas.   While I was very intrigued, my husband would surely put the kabosh on any Internet shopping since I am constantlly being reminded we are now on a strict budget and living a minimalist lifestyle.

I have discovered that Amazon.com does have some ebooks that fit our budget...free downloads!  I had no idea you could get books for free online.  I love this plan since I have had time lately to rediscover the passion or reading.  Over the last few years it seems like I never made time to read and appreciate a great book.  It was much easier to turn on the television and let the mindless entertainment invade my dormant imagination.  Now,  I rarely watch TV and much prefer to lay in a very comfortable Mexican hammock (one of many we own made by one of my dad's acquaintances serving time in a Mexican prison) and read an ebook.

The other big accomplishment today was to deliver the second $90 letter to the bank to assure them as well that our source of income is indeed legitimate.  We were told this must be done annually until we obtain our residency.  We are hopeful that we will not have to purchase anymore of these letters.  

The errands accomplished today actually bring a sense of accomplishment.  It is weird how the smallest hurdles here can make you feel like you finished a 10k run.  You almost get an adrenaline rush from each task...even seeing our first package arrive at our newly acquired post office box.  We had secured a UPS mailbox before we left Texas.  The idea was to have them collect our mail and then forward it all once a month to us in Costa Rica.  We thought it would work until we were told the first envelope cost us $50.00.  When we opened the package today we quickly realized that 2/3 of the contents was junk mail, including mostly solicitations for credit cards.  Sorting through the envelopes made me realize how little I miss going through mail everyday.  So now we have gone to plan "b" to have mail forwarded to my brother's address in Texas.  He will scan and email anything we think is important.  I guess the $20 per year Costa Rica mailbox will serve some other unknown purpose.

The only other eventful things of the last couple of days was hearing mu poor dog screech like the pigs that my 4ft aunt in Mexico used to slaughter when something bit his back left paw while going for a walk yesterday.  Iam certain the entire neighborhood heard his piercing shrieks of pain.  I picked him up, whisked him home and proceeded to inspect the area.  No signs of puncture, swelling or blood.  I applied some Benadryl and within a few minutes he was milking the alleged wound for all he could.  

This morning as I was awakening I heard an odd clackety clack noise outside our bedroom window.  I jumped out of bed fo see two cattle of some sort (even though I lived in Texas for over 30 years I do not know a cow from a steer or whatever else they are called ) pulling the most colorful oxcart.  A few hours later, the same oxcart came by carrying a load of what appeared to be sugarcane.  It was such a nice refreshing sound and sight in comparison to the normal wide open exhaust roar we hear from the motorcycles throughout the day.