If you have read my Costa Rica travel journals from this time last year, (now in my book), you know that the amount of rain we had during rainy season, especially last November, was devastating. I was determined not to spend another rainy season in the Caribbean. Well, guess what? Here I am and loving it!

Puerto Viejo, Old Harbor - Caribbean South, Costa Rica

Although my plans were to travel and explore more of the country, during this time, circumstances have kept me here.

First, my daughter decided she did not want to stay and travel with me (as originally planned). She went to to the States for a visit. Then I felt obliged to take advantage of the opportunity to live in a comfortable, safe and very economical situation. So I took a monthly rental.

I’ll do my traveling another time, right now I am too enamored with my new home – it’s just too sweet to leave. Puerto Viejo - Old Harbor

Lisa painting in Jonathan's soda "Restaurant Ivon" in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

The next compelling situation was a call for the use of my artistic skills at Cafe Ivon.

This budding, little restaurant is owned and run by my daughter’s boyfriend, Jonathan. He is such a good guy. Only twenty four, he works hard at his business, always trying to balance the scales between work and the constant call to party, here in Puerto Viejo.

His closeness with my daughter and his kindness and concern for me, gives me a much needed sense of family. My friends are calling him my son-in-law. We’ll see.

Recently, Jonathan has taken on some partners – a couple. Lisette is a local Tica and Armando is from Latvia. Armando speaks no English and barely speaks Spanish. Lisette speaks Spanish, a little English and absolutely no Lativan. I don’t know how they manage to communicate , but they do.

Lisette, Armando, Kirshani, Jonathan & Carol the cook in "Restaurant Ivon"

They have brought, to the restaurant, some much needed supplies and equipment along with big ideas and positive energy. Armando has been in the restaurant business for twenty years – in Lativa. His aesthetic ideas are good but I cringed while watching him try to carry them out. He is not an artist. I offered to take over and I’m having fun with it.

I paint and they feed me. What a deal! I really enjoy painting (virtually) for free. I come and go at my convenience. I have as much creative authority as I need. And the restaurant staff treats me like royalty, always offering tasty food and drink.

I am painting for free and I am writing for free – doing the things I love, at my leisure, with no pressure. I do my yoga and run on the beach. I party and dance with my friends. When I want solitude, I walk the beach or get all cozy and comfortable, watching movies in my room. And there is always somebody interesting around to talk to. This is the life, I tell you! I could hardly ask for more.

Cafe Ivon sign with Jonathon and Chelsea

But I want you to know – this life did not just fall into my lap. It took two years of trying out different living situations and money making ideas. I am now living comfortably, on only five hundred dollars a month. Not because Costa Rica is that cheap (it is not), but because I learned how to live creatively. I learned through experience.

I was robbed a few times. I ran out of money and left the country twice. I learned some things the hard way but never so hard that I couldn’t recover. And I am still learning. I was robbed again the other day, on the beach. I knew enough not to have anything in my beach bag that I couldn’t stand to lose, so all they got was about four dollars, my shirt and my flip flops. But I didn’t know enough to realize that on this well known tourist beach, this kind of thievery happens every day and could happen to me.

I was sitting peacefully, reading a book, with my bag right next to me. Suddenly, a kid ran up from behind, grabbed the bag and was gone before I knew it. I ran after him yelling, in Spanish that there was only dos mil colones (two thousand colones) in it. “Mira, mira en la bolsa,” (Look in the bag) I yelled, running barefoot, down the jungle path, like a crazy lady, “solamente dos mil. Quero mis zapatos! Dame mis zapatos!” (There is only four dollars. I want my shoes. Give me my shoes!).

Even though I didn’t lose much, it was still quite disconcerting. I cried to the sympathetic ears of my friends and then I let it go. I don’t take it personally, nor do I blame Costa Rica. It is just the way of the world. I prefer to maintain an attitude of benevolence and good will and that, more than anything, has been the key to success in my new life.

The Caribbean beach in front of Cafe Ivon - Puerto Viejo, Old Harbor, Costa Rica

Experience has taught me, again and again, that the important thing is not what happens to you, but how you deal with it. What is your attitude about what happens? If you are robbed do you focus your thoughts on blame and vengeance? Are you angry at yourself for your stupidity? Frustrated with your friends for their lack of compassion? Maybe you are not “supposed” to be here. Maybe fate is punishing your audacity for even thinking you should be here. That’s bullshit!

If good things happen because you are an exceptional person and entitled to them then it would stand to reason that bad things happen to you because you are really a bad person. So then you are a good (smart, capable) person – no, a bad (stupid, weak) person – no, you switch back and forth. Or are you simply who you are, a person in this world trying to do the best they can?

I do believe our thoughts create our reality but I don’t waste my time trying to figure out how my thoughts got my beach bag stolen. Things just happen, maybe for a reason that is plain to see, maybe not. There is so much going on in the “bigger picture” that we can never know. Still, my positive attitude has served me well and I work to sustain it. I know that like attracts like. When I am living with a joyful attitude of appreciation for life, delightful incidents abound.

And that is the word for my life these days – just delightful!

We’ve got all kinds of weather in Costa Rica – overcast or windy, clouds mixed with sun, and we have rain. I love the rain.

Lisa Valencia migrated south from small town Montana, U.S.A. to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

About the author: Lisa Valencia left the security of small town Montana to jump into a foreign, tropical, new life of unknown parameters. Two years later she admits it's still surprising, scary and a whole lot of fun. For more information Lisa keeps Costa Rica travel journals and new life adventures online as well as her inspirational “If She Can Do It, So Can I" e-book and audio book as instant downloads.

source: The Costa Rica Frog | Costa Rica news, information, travel, articles, resources, pictures, videos, blogs and commentary.