Today is a day to take it easy. The skin on my upper back is tender from being in the sun and the water all day yesterday. So I'm hanging out in the shade of Clara's house with Ronald. I just opened a can of tuna with my knife while Ronald cut slices of bread for our lunch. We ended the meal with pieces of fresh watermelon.
After writing this, I'll do some reading, then walk down the beach to get a guanabana con leche. Then around 4pm, when the sun is not so strong, I'll get into the water.
My plan now is to leave for Nosara tomorrow morning, and stay there until Monday morning, when I will return to San Jose, thereby ending my solo trip. I left San Jose on February 13th, so I've been on the road for a month. However, in a lot of ways, its seemed longer. I really enjoyed the trip, despite a few difficulties. But that is to be expected.
My desire to travel has only grown. And now I have solid experience to learn for my next trip. I would like to go to Europe, and I would also like to visit the northwestern part of South America: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. And I also want to complete a tour of Central America, also visiting some southern parts of Mexico. For all this, I need time and money. My goal now is to devise a plan to realize these aspirations. Presently, I'm thinking of going to Europe in a year, around next May 2004. That will give me a solid year to save money and accumulate vacation time. Of course, anything is possible.
But returning to my feelings from this trip, it is strange to think that this chapter is nearly over. If all goes according to plan, Paul will arrive in San Jose this coming Wednesday, and we'll tour Costa Rica. But of course it will be different to travel with someone else. In many ways, I'm looking forward to it. However, to take full advantage of his 10-day vacation, the time must be more regimented. So, in that way, I'm losing the freedom and flexibility that I have enjoyed for the past month.
And now, in just over two weeks, I return to the United States. I look forward to that for two reasons: for Mita and for stability. But I absolutely can't deny that I will miss this current lifestyle. There have been so many occasions where I have felt so happy and so free; it is an amazing feeling. When I experience the pure beauty of nature, or a cool tropical drink, or an enlightening conversation with a Tico or Nica or European, or the excitement of hitting the road to a new place: all these things make me feel so good, so alive. The purpose of life must be one's happiness, without threatening or denying the happiness of another. If this definition is correct, then I am fulfilling life's purpose here. However, perhaps there is more to life. I shall now sit on the cliff overlooking the ocean to ponder that point. And all the while, I will be happy.
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