Me, Sedona and Derby shortly after arriving in Costa Rica.

After moving to Costa Rica three years ago, we had a lot of adventures. Early on almost ever day brought a new and different experience. Nancy called them “adventures.”  The adventures became less frequent and now I think it’s safe to say that after three years we are feeling a routine.

Here are some ways the adventures have changed to routine:

• We learned: spanish numbers well enough to pay the exact amount rather than handing over a large bill – or a handful of coins for the clerks to help themself.
• We learned: to not question the bureaucracy – never ask “why” – we have renewed our CR driver’s licenses, renewed our residency, renewed our car plates and passed the required inspection, paid property taxes, paid bills, etc. etc. The adventures attached to each of those tasks have almost become routine.
• We learned: there truly is no “routine” in Costa Rica. Often the task can be still become an adventure based on the person behind the counter.
• We learned: enough caveman spanish and pantomime gestures to communicate with almost anyone.
• We learned: how to maneuver our way through the various medical service providers, both private and public.
• We learned: how to get a fender re-attached to a car after a bad encounter with the gate-post.

For sure, I just put the jinx on us… we’ll call it an adventure…