I Thought We Were Retired!

Pedasi

Whew!  We just thought we were retired.  We have been busier than ever so much so that I don't know how people have time to hold down a job.  Although I guess learning Spanish is a full time job.  We spend six hours a week in class another six to eight doing homework and then we have to study and practice what we have learned.

We took a day trip with our friends Robert and Lolita to Cañas to see their new construction.  They have purchased a large parcel of land and are well into the building.  It was great to see and discuss the various options of building.  They have a gorgeous view of the ocean and mountains and have designed their house with windows positioned in all of the right places.  They have painted and were getting ready to put in the tile floors and then cabinets.  It will be fun to watch the progress.  Robert researches every decision completely so we will be picking his brain in the coming months.  Peg and Robert have been cycling every morning and she comes home with lists of questions for our builder already.

Robert and Lolita's house

View from their kitchen window - just beautiful

Lolita loves purple - very Panamanian

Phineas their Africa Grey that has traveled the world with them

We also had a surprise visit from some new friends Richard and Daryl.  We originally met them briefly at the last Los Islotes tour back in February.  They have invested in a lot as well and are as excited about the project as we are.  We didn't know that they had gotten the link to our blog and had been following our adventures.  They made contact and wanted to come visit us here in Pedasi after a meeting with the builder.  Peg went to check out the newest B & B here in Pedasi called Casa La Jagua and was really impressed with the owners and the facilities and she recommended it to Richard and Daryl.  It is fantastic.  The owners are Canadian and have really made a beautiful oasis with all of the creature comforts.  We spent the day showing "the boys" around Pedasi and they treated us to a fabulous dinner at Segreto a little Italian restaurant we had been dying to try.  We had a great time getting to know our future neighbors and planning the zip-line between our properties to make happy hour a little easier.  They have been friends for over 40 years and met in college.  Daryl still has a successful accounting firm in California and Richard lives a life of leisure in Nevada.  We look forward to many future adventures with these two.

Richard, Daryl and Peg enjoying music and libations at Smiley's

Our next big hurdle is finding a place to live on the other side of the Peninsula.  Our lease here in Pedasi is up at the end of June and we want to be closer to Los Islotes.  We didn't know how difficult this task was going to be or we would have started looking sooner.  The first builder we talked to, Alberto, mentioned that he had a lake house that he rents out in the area so we went to see it.  It is a five bedroom getaway on a beautiful piece of property, but unfortunately there is no internet service and the price is a bit above our budget.  We also met with a woman we met via Craig's List to see a couple of houses in the city of Santiago.  One of the houses might work, but we were really hoping to be outside the city.  We love the little town of Mariato which is mid-point between Santiago and Los Islotes, but have not been successful as of yet finding anything for rent in that area.  Keep your fingers crossed and the prayers a coming.

View from Alberto's terrace

One final shout out for my daughter Alex and her husband Jacob.  They have been called to go on a mission trip to Romania this summer to minister to children in an orphanage and could use some support.  To those of you reading this that have already given your generous support THANK YOU!  Anyone interested in helping please email me at bairnhess@gmail.com to get the specifics.  Thanks for reading!