Ruminations on the Leap

One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted. Do it now. -PAULO COELHO

As the time to leave winds down, I find that my feelings come and go in cycles. I feel some sadness as I think about the people and groups I will miss. For example, my nephew Avery. I realize that my decision to travel will mean I won't have the relationship with him that I have had with my other nieces and nephews.

I feel panicked to spend as much time as possible with him before we go. Yesterday we went to a book store together and picked out a backpack and some books -and I picked up one of the ones you record your voice. It helps to know that they will likely be visiting in Guatemala and technology will keep us close.

I also feel excitement building, almost to the point that I can't focus on anything else. There is so much to do, so many practical considerations that have to be addressed before we leap. I feel like a senior in high school after Easter Break - I just want to be leaping already!!

Here are a few things that have to happen before that:

• Deciding how much storage we will have and where that will be
• Deciding what we are storing, what we are taking with us, and what we are parting with
• Getting rid of everything in the third category
• Figuring out our health insurance/evacuation insurance situation
• Figuring out our residency situation
• Figuring out our tax situation
• Getting rid of both our cars, our quad, our scooter and replacing them all with an FJ cruiser
• Getting USDA certification of our cat's health 
• Getting our home rented out
• Planning out our first couple months of travel
• Figure out car insurance for Mexico, Central America
• Booking my flights to return for presentations/training for clients in February, March, and July
• Finishing up a few video shoot dates so I have the footage to work on for clients while I travel
• Finalizing plans for our business address and who will be checking it
• All the things I haven't yet thought about - thank goodness I can pick up my phone on my nightstand and speak my thoughts into Google Keep at 3 a.m.

Geeze, I'm tired just thinking about it.

Omens

I drove to my bank to send the deposit for our place in Guatemala that we will be renting from mid April to mid September. As I pulled up, I spied an FJ Cruiser in the bank parking lot and had to snap a picture. We are actively looking at FJ Cruisers as the likely vehicle to carry us south to Guatemala.

And of course I sent it to Ken with a cutesy message about it being an omen, and he of course, agreed.

On my way in, the "greeter" tells me to have a seat at an empty desk and they will get me a wire transfer form. The poor woman seems awfully busy, moving back and forth asking people about this form. Several minutes later, she approaches with a four page form and tells me to follow her to see a personal banker who is seated at a desk.

He tells me it's better to fill it our online and then spends some time searching online using the number of the form printed in front of him. He eventually apologizes and says that they just changed their wire transfer process and that's why it is taking so long.

He eventually finds the form and begins to enter my information, while letting it slip that it will cost me $40 to send the transfer. What?!! The last time I sent money at Walmart, it was $9.

So the banker agrees that $40 is a lot and thinks maybe they can offer it cheaper. He researches some more and finds me a way to send for $4....however, they don't send to our landlord's bank. We can send to another bank in the area and he can pick up there even if he doesn't account.

Hmmm, intriguing, but I think I better do it the way I was instructed. So I go down to Walmart and full out the wire form and wait in what seems like it will be a forever line. I finally get to the front and turns out they don't allow you to send to a particular account anymore, just to the closest Moneygram location. I don't remember ever seeing one there, so better not.

So if something good is a omen, is this hassle an omen too? I dunno, I'm just paying attention to the positive ones.

Good-bye to the Juke?

So, we're gonna drive to Guatemala this spring to live there for a while. When I say that to people, I have to admit that I get a little rush watching their look of surprise. We are headed to Lake Atitlan, just a couple hours south of Mexico, but saying we're driving through Mexico doesn't haven't the same impact...oh those important last hours!

Today I learned that in order to take your vehicle to Mexico/Central America, you need to own it outright. Some of the forums say you can get a letter from your lender, but on occasion that's not good enough. That changes everything for us. We bought a Nissan Juke about a year ago and I LOVE it, but it's not paid off yet. So, we either need to pay it completely off or look at buying something else.

Let's be honest, my husband is not a fan of my Juke. When we bought it in fact, it was supposed to be his new car but within a week he decided he would rather drive our Civic Hybrid. I sacrificed and took the new car. ;-)

However, until we learned about the certificate of title rule, I think I had him mostly talked into taking the Juke. We researched some rooftop cargo boxes and trailer hitch boxes to expand the amount of space for our stuff. I was excited about taking the Juke, with it's all-wheel drive and zippiness, I think it would have handled the trip well.

But, if we are going to have to pay it off, we might as well investigate all our options. Back to those online forums, and I find "Pan Am Notes" about a couple taking the Pan Am Highway from Canada through South America. They have a Toyota Tundra with a pop-up and had good things to say about the availability of parts and services everywhere because Toyota is popular.

Looking at used Toyotas, Ken confesses he has always wanted an FJ Cruiser and could we take a look to see what they sell for and what the gas mileage is?

That was all it took - lots of space, sturdy, great clearance and off-road capabilities, an electric plug in the car, decent mileage, and honestly, it just looks fun. Guess I need to add selling both our cars and finding a Cruiser to our list of trip "to-do's!"

In Defense of San Pedro

I started this post from Guatemala and just got around to finishing it....

Here's the deal with San Pedro. It's kinda like that girl that went a little wild in college but is trying to pull it together to become more grounded and sophisticated and she can't quite shake the reputation.

But there are some really wonderful things in San Pedro - yummy mochas and hot spring pools to start. If you want to find the pools though, you better have a sense of adventure - they are halfway between the two ports, down a winding, rural path that doesn't seem like it will lead anywhere.

And then of course there's the cool way that you get there, by boat!

While it's not pretty, the area near the eastern port is fascinating, providing up close views of the devastation the rising lake has caused.

Near the center of town, the church grounds are beautiful...gardens, manicured greenery, statues, and of the course the beauty of the church itself.

And because much of my business is with schools and education, I couldn't help but snap a shot of the equivalent of their district office.

There are carefully constructed paver roads as well as single person paths that start in cornfields (like the one below that we took to the hot pools.)

There is also a very European-feeling part of town that boasts fantastic restaurants like La Puerta with it's yummy food and beautiful spaces.

As well as a lovely bakery with the most delicious macaroon cookies and chocolate croissants. The price you see, 10Q, is the equivalent of $1.25.

You have to suspend your western sensibilities to truly enjoy San Pedro. The roads won't necessarily look like roads, and the signs won't exactly use correct grammar,  but at least they attempted.

San Pedro isn't perfect. There is an incredibly steep climb to get to the center of town (much like half the towns around the lake.) It has a reputation for attracting the party people and staying loud into the early morning hours. We wouldn't know, we visited during the public boat hours (with the exception of the night we didn't make it to the port on time and had to hire a private boat - not recommended.)

It's not the cleanest town, not the biggest either. But it has a great daytime vibe - many different cultures that mingle more here than other lake towns, art galleries, tasty restaurants, a great farmers market that is open every day, and a pretty extensive health food market. WHEN we go back, we won't be staying there, but it will definitely be a regular visit.

Deciding to Leap

Since we've been back, I've felt a vague dissatisfaction that Ken has told me he shares. Rather than feeling excited about returning to my home and things that are luxurious compared to Guatemala, I feel trapped. Everywhere I look, sooo much stuff. And all these extra rooms filled with more stuff.

Don't get me wrong. I love Sacramento, and I love my family and friends here. But I've lived here all my adult life with the exception of my time at UOP, an hour down the road.

While talking about our restlessness, we discussed moving somewhere else in Sacramento, maybe more urban, maybe up the hill? With our business, we don't have to live in the suburbs anymore, we can work from anywhere.

And then the thought came. What if we rented out our home...and didn't move our stuff to another home? What if we got rid of everything that would hold us down and took our show on the road?

A month in Guatemala sounded like such a long time yet on the last day, it didn't feel nearly enough. So here we go...starting this spring, six months to drive through Mexico to live at Pasaj-Cap and drive back. Then...not sure - a couple months in Tahoe, San Francisco, San Diego, or ???

Is this crazy? Maybe, but life is short, why not try it for a couple years?

Back in the Saddle

So, coming back from a week's vacation in the past has been tough for me. It was the same each time...while I loved planning the vacation and DOING the vacation, I almost always wished I hadn't gone on vacation because (on top of the work waiting for me) I returned with such a bad attitude.

It felt like leaving my "normal" life and getting away to a new place was freeing me from a created role, the uber responsible, I can do anything, take care of everyone role. A new pace, new culture, new perspective gave me the distance I needed to evaluate my place in the world. Was I living the life I wanted to be living? Was I presenting myself as the person I truly was or simply living up to a lifetime of self-imposed expectations?

When I got away from that role, I asked dangerous questions. Questions that lead to you to a place where you are not satisfied to work to live, even for the best of causes. When I would return to normalcy, I  saw my workplace, my work life, and even my home life with different eyes.

Eventually, of course, I would throw myself into the work crisis of the moment and begin to forget that I could be living life any other way...until that next break in the routine. I would even come to enjoy, or rather, get my work addition going again to the point that I would look back at my post-vacay doubting self as a crazy lady.

Leaving for a month, living as a professional consultant who can get the job done while in a new place, culture, and pace is a game changer. I have been back now a little while and guess what? It's not going away. I know I wasn't crazy. I know we can live differently...and we are making plans to make that happen. Stay tuned.

Odds, Ends, and Other Helpful Tips for the Lake

It's the night before we must leave Atitlan, and I am not ready to go. Perhaps this is the kind of place where you never feel ready to go. ;-) In contemplation of our departure, I found myself thinking more generally about our experience. A few themes emerged that I thought I would share.

Be Curious
Even if you don't have a lot of Spanish, try. People appreciate the effort - remember Spanish is a second language for most of them as well. Even better, try to learn a bit of the indigenous language. In the area where we spent most of our time, that's Tz'utujil (the other on the lake is Kaqchikel)
Ken and I learned how to say hello/what's up from a fellow boat passenger: "Utz a Wetch." We got such a kick out of greeting our Mayan neighbors with their own language.

Walk Down Strange Paths
When we first arrived, many of the small paths in the neighboring town looked like private trails going directly to homes. As we saw the "small path" re-created in several towns, we realized that they are actually considered roads in the town, and yes, it's okay to walk them. If we hadn't, we wouldn't have discovered some really wonderful little spots off the beaten path. (The restaurant La Puerta in San Pedro is hard to find but soooo worth it!)

Speaking of walking, make sure you avoid walking long stretches of rural roads on Sundays. Without workers in the fields, the roads can be dangerous . If you do get robbed, it is very rare for a foreigner to be seriously hurt if they agree to part with the valuables.

Take the Time to Enjoy the View

Lake Atitlan is special. I have so enjoyed my quiet time just watching the moods of the lake change over the course of the hours. It is very relaxing and sometimes exciting (when storms are coming in.)

Make Peace with the Bugs
Realize that being in place that is so alive and beautiful means you will run into other creatures. Try not to get too anxious about sharing your space. I have found all of them to be very wary of us and attempt to stay out of our way. The great majority are perfectly harmless.

Enjoy the People

They are warm, friendly, respectful, and funny. If you learn a little more about their culture and language, you will be greatly rewarded with some rich encounters.

Appreciate the Little Things

Allow yourself to be delighted and full of wonder when someone does something special or unexpected for you.

The Food is GOOD
Honestly, every meal out has been really tasty. I am a lot happier here with the consistent quality of the food I receive in restaurants here than those at home. It also helps that we are usually paying about $10 for two meals and drinks and they generally come with a great view.

It's Easier to Eat Healthy Here
Speaking of food, the vegetables and fruit here are fantastic - they are coming directly from the fields to your plate and the taste is so much better than grocery stores back home.

Drink Liquados!

Speaking of healthy, one of my favorite things to order here is a liquado. You can usually choose between watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberry, banana, pineapple, or mixed and the base is water, milk, or yogurt. If you're in a "rustic" spot, you may choose to order your liquado with orange juice as the base to ensure you don't get sick. My favorite so far has been a "Mono Loco" liquado at La Puerte in San Pedro - banana, peanut butter, chocolate with milk as the base - um, yum.

 

It's Also Easier to Be Active

I have to admit, the first week or so is ROUGH if you are not used to being at 5k elevation - think visiting team to Denver. You really don't have much choice though if you want to explore  - each town has steep streets leading to the center of town. If you are staying outside of a town, you will be walking to get your basics. And, don't forget that big beautiful lake out there just waiting to be explored by kayak.

Keep it in Perspective

Don't squabble over the small things. For example, you WILL pay more on the boat than other people - more than the indigenous, and more than the long-term visitors. That's just the way things work, and it is fair in it's own way. It is very difficult here to earn the amount of money you can earn in other places, so the people here pay less. Period. Don't be the guy that gets into a heated argument about 10Q versus 20Q...keep in mind you are arguing the difference between paying $1.25 and $2.75 for a boat ride or tuk-tuk. 

Gas is one of the few things that is just as expensive here, so the way I see it, the visitors supplement the costs for the locals in exchange for them sharing this beautiful place with us.

Start Conversations

The lake bring together the most intriguing people. Make the most of your experience by starting conversations with the people you run into here. I consider it something of a responsibility that after we were here for a couple weeks, that we jump in to help anyone with a confused look. Why not?

I have a couple more posts about a couple of the towns we visited but I didn't get a chance to write about, so we're not quite done with the lake yet!

View from the Lake - Kayak Day

They say a picture is worth a thousand...blah, blah blah. So, basically this post will be mostly photos, cause they tell the best story of our incredible day on the water. We rented a double kayak on the edge of San Marcos and had ambitious plans to go all the to Santa Cruz - didn't happen. We got to the next town of Tzuzuna and decided that was plenty. Note to would-be kayakers - IMHO, stick to the shoreline, it's more interesting than the open water, safer to stay away from the boats, and that lake is way larger than it looks.

This first section is a look at some of the lakeside properties in the San Marcos to Pasaj-Cap area. While it's easy to envy these folks, I also feel a little bad for them. The lake has rose a solid couple of feet just in the month we have been here. That could mean devastation for many of these properties sooner than we thought.

Outside of the towns, there are some wonderful untouched areas of jungle - so peaceful and beautiful.

And there are some of the homes in the Pasaj-Cap cove...this first one looks ready to lose the first floor...

 And this is where we're staying, Pasaj-Cap-

 Between Pasaj-Cap and Tzuzuna...this first one is our favorite

And some of our favorite shots from around the lake

It was a wonderful day - make sure if you kayak that you plan to be back in the early afternoon - the weather can be unpredictable and a calm lake can turn pretty interesting pretty quickly.