<9> The Truth

We've been in Costa Rica for three weeks!

Time is flying by, Mr Baby is growing at hyper-speed and life feels both settled and chaotic. We've made it this far without renting a vehicle and relying on the kindness of others but we've been trying to purchase something cheap and each time they sell right before we can see it. Renting a vehicle here is really expensive so it makes the most sense to buy something cheap and then be able to sell it when we leave.

Leaving. An ever-present thought at the back of my mind. I've been pushing it away, trying to not focus on the inevitable, trying not to think about the how and most importantly, when.

We were planning to be home for Christmas. My heart is broken, believing that's no longer an option. We'll have to go to Nicaragua by December 15 for a border run to get our passports stamped so we can stay here another 90 days. I both understand the mentality and hate the outcome that comes with not having been vax'd. "Keeping people safe." - who doesn't want to help keep people safe?! I think we all do, while safety may be an illusion of sorts, we still strive for it. We prevent our children from falling off furniture, honk at pedestrians not looking before they step off the curb, offer the elderly an arm as they desend a step and we wear our masks. So many have taken it a step further, hoping the jab will keep themselves safe and yet the majority of Manitobans with the Rona have either been partially or fully vax'd. Yet, we're unable to fly.

We wouldn't be allowed in restaurants, at sporting events, the zoo or my family's home at Thanksgiving or Christmas, if we came home, for fear of a fine.

The scientific evidence shows that vax'd people can carry, transmit and get sick - as can unvaxed - yet there's division.

We can't go home. Not now, anyways.

We're not welcome on an airplane and the land borders are currently closed, so we can't drive either.

This post really wasn't meant to be all negative or "Whoa is me." But I felt called to share why we won't be home for Christmas...

So we'll stay here a while longer. Where we can go to restaurants, the beach, play sports (Chase joined a group of dudes who play soccer Thursdays and had SO much fun!) and simply exist without having to show proof of... Anything.

We're looking at properties to purchase with the intention of renting when we're able to return. If we're going to be here a while longer, it doesn't make sense for us to continue paying someone else rent when we can live comfortably, invest and then have revenue when we come home.

We didn't come here with the intention of staying -forever- or buying land. We figured we'd come see what life was like here, travel around and take it easy. However it's really difficult to find pet-friebdly rentals that aren't an obvious price gouge, especially with us coming up to the tourist season. We're looking to move to an area with a big, beautiful lake, higher elevation, cooler temperatures and rich land for growing our own food. I see chickens, fruit trees, herbs and abundance. I see Makó having a yard again, MrBaby experiencing freedom and Chase and I serene. Who knows, maybe it's just a dream - but it doesn't matter. It will all work out however it will, regardless of whether we like the outcome. Life just has a way of bringing you where you're meant to be.

Speaking of which; we'd already decided to leave when I realized I'd need to be making an income after my maternity leave was done. I was applying for remote positions, not getting any calls and kept getting notifications from 'indeed' that they'd removed seven of the listed jobs for being scams. I was getting really worried; we'd decided on this big change and there was no way we'd survive on a single income.

Then it happened.

The doula I hired for my postpartum shared a post about non-toxic sunscreens. I had been researching these already, trying to stock up on baby safe screen for MrBaby and BAM she had all the information in one little Instagram square. So I clicked on it, 'followed' the account and then her next post was "want to work online, from the comfort of your home while spending time with your kids?" ...yes, I do...

I've since affiliated with Enagic, a Japanese based company with branches all over the world. Enagic creates machines and supplies that maximize health, from water to turmeric supplements. They have a patented compensation plan that is unlike any other, making it neither an MLM nor Pyramid Scheme. I purchased my KangenK8- a water ionizing machine that has multiple settings from PH balanced water for maximum hydration to acidic water that can be used for cleaning. It's water that's as effective as bleach without any of the harmful residue. I can clean my floors without worrying about the animals or MrBaby ingesting harsh chemicals. The pH water so far has been impressive, I don't have to drink as much to feel hydrated, especially in this heat. No more headaches, joint pain or cracking. And I've stopped taking CBD for anxiety... Obviously I can't say this is all due to water alone. I've changed my environment: climate, food, stressors, etc; however I do feel it's all connected. We've started eating a more Alkaline diet, along with the 'electrolyzed reduced water' (in case you want to read any peer reviewed studies on it) because we were both suffering with inflammation. The man who discovered cancer, discovered it cannot survive in an alkaline environment. So it seemed like a no-brainer, with my close call and current precancerous cells; and both our our families history with cancer - why wouldn't we do everything in our power to prevent future illness?

I'm glad I took this and every other leap of faith, I've already started making money and my business hasn't even launched yet.

Sometimes, things just work out!

Mr Baby has flourished here. He knows how to kick his legs in the pool, he has EIGHT teeth now, he loves yelling "DAD" and most recently will poke eyeballs (hard) and say "eyes!". It's absolutely amazing watching him grow and learn. I build him a house of blocks each day and watch him destroy it. He's started learning to out the blocks back in their bag and is figuring out how they fit together! He's standing for longer periods of time and likes walking around while pushing a stool or his high chair, it won't be long before I'm chasing after him. He's learned how to use "open hands" with Makó and laughs when he pets her soft fur. I frequently find the cats sunbathing, as if it's not already hot enough in here, ha! Makó has been having more seizures lately and her vet back home has increased her dosage so we're waiting for that to take effect- we suspect all the travel, change in routine, climate, etc has impacted her. She's still our happy, silly girl though, she doesn't seem to have changed.

Overall, we're happy. We're content. We love this chapter in our lives and we're so happy we did it. We miss all of our loved ones, obviously. The homesickness comes in waves, realizing how alone we are here but I just remind myself that while it's not forever, we'll also meet more people and find community here too.

Things always have a way of working out, as long as we trust in the process.

Lead with Love.