Living the Life of our Dreams

We have been toying with the idea of living abroad since before we were married.

We started off our married life with a 2 month honeymoon to Southeast Asia.  That has been the best decision of our marriage thus far (except for Tatum).  We took a risk.  We did something completely unconventional.  We were at a crossroads in our life, and we decided to go for it!  We loved it.  We learned and grew and experienced and loved.  And those are the best bonding times and memories of our lives.

Now we face another crossroads.  But this time, we have a job, a ward, a comfortable home, and for heavens sakes, we have a child!  Nevertheless, we are at a crossroads.  There is a big gap between where we are and where we want to be.

We are moving to Costa Rica.

Yep!  This is real.

We bought one-way flights to Liberia, Costa Rica, and plan to spend 3-5 months on the Nicoya peninsula.  Then, we plan to head to Panama and hopefully end with a month or two in Peru.  (These plans may change, right now, we're focused on Costa Rica.)

There is never a "good time" to give notice to your landlords, quit your job, and buy a one-way flight to Costa Rica... but of all times, this is the best time for us.  This decision to completely change our lives has been a long time coming.  Like I said, we began discussing this when we were just dating.  It has come up in conversation increasingly more over the last 6 months.   It was December 16 when we really buckled down and decided to make this change.  Things are moving fast, but we could not be more thrilled!!!  Sometimes you have to take a step into the unknown to discover your potential and live the life that brings you happiness.  Here are some of our goals at this point.

1.  Experience a new culture and lifestyle
2.  Learn Spanish
3.  Contribute to and learn from the people in a small LDS branch
4.  Eat fresh,  Eat local
5.  Relax and enjoy!

We anticipate adventures and misadventures.  We anticipate days when we long for an iphone or wish for instantly hot dishwater.  Days when we'd give anything for a pork salad or days when all I want is a girlfriend who will go to lunch with me.  But much, much more than those things, we anticipate days where we are not rushed or stressed or pressured.  Days when we can spend our time trying new fruits and veggies, going hiking, or days spent planning a party for our new friends.  While we have a rough plan for the next year, I know that plan will change.  I know things won't work out how I expect them to. I know there will be times when even I think we're crazy.  But I know that if we don't do this, if we don't take this risk and delve into the unknown, that the passion and vision and perspective that I want for myself and for my children cannot be had.

Maybe we will hate it.  Maybe it will be miserable and maybe we will move home in 2 months.  But at least we will know.  We will know that we went after our dream.  We will know that we accomplish our goals, instead of letting life happen to us.

But hopefully we will love it!  Hopefully we will realize the potential that is ours and be happier, better people.  Hopefully we will understand the world around us and find new ways to contribute in a meaningful way.  Hopefully we will expand our thoughts and vision for ourselves and our family.

And it is for those reasons that we are doing this crazy thing!!

Pura Vida

:)