Happy New Year!!

Although New Year’s Eve was pretty quiet for us here (sans familia), New Years Day has always had a special place in my heart. It gives us a good excuse to look back on our year and acknowledge our accomplishments…and our failures, and to learn from both. It also gives us a good reason to look forward.

It’s a new year, a fresh start…yay!

Last New Years was especially significant for me personally. At this time last year we had sold everything we had aside from our two cars and five or six suitcases…and Buddy. I had worked off my notice at work, and for I was officially retired at 48.

It had all happened so fast but there were still so many changes left to come. January 4th was the date of my original flight to Costa Rica and I was packed up and anxiously waiting for Chris’s flight From Costa Rica to arrive.

Once it did, we had a couple days to finish off anything that needed to get done, say goodbye to everyone and get our cars into storage before we flew out.

(Of course in the end, he flew out alone and Buddy and I stayed behind -AGAIN- until the 13th, but I didn’t know that at the time.)

I was nervous and I was excited. I was worried about leaving my kids behind but I was aware that they were all adults and they have their own futures to build. I was a bundle of nervous energy and HOPE.

We were going to a new country…one that we had spend a total of 1 week exploring…one where the language was not our own. It was frightening, and exciting.

Almost a year later we are settled into our third (and final) home in Costa Rica. We have worked out a nice routine on the tours and we have big plans for the future. We have made new friends, and thanks to technology…we can keep in touch with the old ones. We are hopeful that they will come visit us. (HINT, HINT)

My son is raising a smart, funny, big-hearted little boy. My eldest daughter is a few months away from her nursing certificate, my younger daughter is working towards her dream of going to College for Photo Journalism.

All is right in my world and I am looking forward with a big old smile on my suntanned face.

I am living the dream and I love my life.

At the risk of jinxing myself…I see nothing but good things for the year ahead and I wish the very same for every single one of you.

A new year is here… I for one am going to welcome it with open arms!

Welcome 2020!