An end and a beginning

It's official...we receive the keys to the house on December 27th, not in time for Christmas, but at least before 2013! When we visited the house yesterday, the appliances were in process of installation, windows were washed, floors washed, almost all exterior painting done, and just several minor issues to clean up or remedy. Once moved, no doubt there will still be finishing touches and workmen in and out. Our blinds will be installed on Wednesday, and our furniture arrives Wednesday evening to be unpacked on Thursday and Friday. We will be out for turkey dinner on Christmas Day, and that takes care of next week! The glitch? We will be sharing the power from another house until our electricity is hooked up.

I am truly sorry not to be flying "home" to spend Christmas with my family, but from now on, I will make sure that happens! We hope to skype family members on Christmas Day...the next best solution. No decorations at our place either...no time to plan or shop for these. Wait until next year. In the meantime, we take daily walks on a local beach, Playa Arenal, which is miles of golden sand, surf 2-4 feet, no garbage, mostly no other people. It is exhilarating and glorious splashing in the shallows, wind in the hair, and all troubles simply floating away in the brisk wind.

This has been a long, sometimes frustrating and maddening year, about to end with the beginning of our relationship with Panama. So far, not bad!