"Why am I doing this? I came to realize that there were many reasons... I believe that life is to be lived fully. When opportunity arises... go for it!" ~ Ana Dal Vera, Amundsen-Scott, South Pole Station.
Tickets are purchased. Notice at work has been given. My leave of absence has been approved. The garage sales has started. Movers come to pack up our "small collection" of good to ship to our new home in less than 20 days. The adventure before is nearing - rapidly. It is exciting at the same time is it a bit nerve racking.
A different kind of nerve racking... After all I have done and been through in the past 14 years, one would think moving to Panama for a new career adventure would be nothing. I haven't quite put my finger on what is making my nerves tense and pulse increase... Is it the money? or the country? Might it be the job? Or going off on my own w/o a partner. Maybe it is the fact, I have a 14 year old with me this time around.
But no matter what it is that has me not quite 100% relaxed, the destination.. the future... the opportunity... the just keeps calling my soul. Never one to stay anywhere for very long (for those who don't know me I typically moved every 4 years as a child and even in Hong Kong, my late husband and I moved 4 times over 8 years in that one country - each time to a new area or village), my 7 years back in America has been very "homey" and "grounded". For once as an adult (other than in Hong Kong), I felt settled and nested. As a dear friend once teased me when I hit my 5th year back in Washington, "hey look you put down roots"... we have just finished planting our veggie garden. It was funny and symbolic at the same time.
But the lure of the other Americas, my passion for cultures and change, keeps calling me... "Come see"... "Come taste".... "Come live".... And so we are.. Off to see what Central America is like... more specifically Panama. It's been 21 years since I studied aboard in Costa Rica. I have ever long to go back. As my wise aunt told me a year back.. "if it is in the cards, it will happen." Well G-d and destiny has dealt me a beautiful deck... Have tickets & passports... Will travel!
