Tag Archives: travel

Off I Go to Durban

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mecodyoliver

Me, Cody and Oliver at Travel Town

Everything is packed and ready to go.

After the last rather rugged trip down to SoCal from Washington, I am hoping for a very uneventful trip. My flight leaves LAX at 9pm, connect to the SAA flight in New York and arrive Durban 11:15 am or so on Friday. Time to put the old brain in neutral and enjoy the ride.

There are five books on my iPad and scrabble and card games, plus there will be movies on board so that should be enough entertainment, as long as the batteries don’t give out on me.

It’s been fun down here with the boys and Mel. The little ones are growing so fast, I just want to be sure Cody and Mel use FaceTime so I can watch them grow. Heaven only knows when I will be back. We had such fun at Travel Town, and I would just love to be able to keep doing things like that with them.

Leaving this time just doesn’t seem real. It is almost like someone else going, even though I have made all the arrangements, done the packing etc. I suppose once I am sitting on the veranda at Mick and Debbies, things will feel better.

Now I just have to get through the next couple of days and get my feet back on South African soil, drive on the wrong side of the road, get over being a “Yank” and get the old Sarf Effrican accent back.

Chaos is becoming order

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Where did all this stuff come from?!!!

Actually, it’s more things that need to be done, than things I have. For instance, all my photos are on an external drive – for Mac! So I can’t access them from my PC. So have to upload them to Dropbox and it is taking FOREVER! Last I looked on the old mac (drive to old mac to dropbox) there were still 10 days of uploading! I hope the old machine doesn’t blow up before that happens. But at least everything will be accessible then, in the cloud!

Gotta love technology!

The paper stuff is getting whittled down, too. The biggest paper hogs are government agencies, none of which accept digital anything. So print, copy, mail – copy, copy, copy. And then you have to keep everything for years. Stupid! And then they want things faxed, which means I have to drive somewhere to fax a page! Even though I have an all-in-one printer/fax/copier, I don’t have a phone line to use! Faxes are soooo 20th century!

Anyway, my kayak is gone, a lot of odds and ends on craigslist are going. The car is all spiffed up like new and I am having second thoughts about selling it, as I most likely will be back here sometime next year, on my way to somewhere else. I can cover it and leave it here at the house.

The gang here want to do a going away party for me. I guess it will be next week sometime. But it really doesn’t feel like I am going away forever. The length of time really depends on the house situation and that is still in limbo. It might be that way for years, for all I know.

The new ecology.com is supposed to launch at the end of this week. The site looks soooo good and am excited to see the final product. I’ve been really busy reworking old articles and actually got to write a new one! What a concept! Something of my own. I hope I can do more, there are so many things to write about and South Africa has a lot to offer in that regard.

So onward and forward…more boxes!

Decisions, decisions

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I suppose I should be grateful I have choices!

But damn! I thought I had it all figured out. Dates planned, what to do etc. But as “they” say, everything happens for a reason. I don’t know what the reason is yet, but hopefully it will all become as clear as mud soon.

My dilemma is this: Do I go to Panama as planned, but on my own? Go to the language school for a month and find a place to live while I am there? It will be high season so that could get iffy. I wouldn’t need a car – a plus, but would need a place to stay. I’d be on my own over the holidays – a con. There’s warm water and snorkeling. I can only stay 6 months before having to leave for 72 hours to renew my visa. Panama is closer to friends and family here. Airfare is considerably less but have to buy round trip.

Or: Go home to South Africa for the summer? Spend time with Mick and Debbie and Biff and Jules? I’d need a car – a con, but would have places to stay. I’d have family and friends around, including Rosemary. Definitely a plus. I can stay in the country as long as I want seeing as I are a Sarf Efrican. No snorkeling unless I go up to Mozambique, which is something I have wanted to do for years. South Africa is a l-o-n-g way away. Airfare is almost double what it is to Panama. But only need to buy a one-way ticket.

I’ll be warm either way. I can work wherever I go. I have to sell my car whichever choice I make.

I can go to Panama in the spring when I would be more likely to find a decent rental.

a little each day

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Each day is another step to moving to Bocas.

We ALMOST had a rental but it was snatched out from under us. At first glance, it looked perfect for us, but obviously it was not meant to be. So I am in contact with another owner and hoping to get some pictures of her house down there before we make any commitment.

I had an eye exam and ordered new glasses. The main reason, not that I really need new glasses, I need the prescription for my snorkeling mask! I found a place in Tacoma with a good selection of goggles, and then, if I don’t like there pre-made prescription lenses, will send the mask and my new script to a place in San Diego that makes them custom. I am getting bifocal goggles! Have to be able to see clearly underwater!

Then yesterday, I took the first batch of clothes to the Goodwill store. I know there will be more as I fine tune things, but initially this was good. Some of the stuff I haven’t worn for years! And then started going through my papers and this morning, spent two cups of coffee time burning the old papers in the wood stove. There is very little I need to take and any important stuff I can leave with Ryan.

Another giant step is that Cody and Mel hooked up Skype so we chatted and I saw the little boys! Everett is a little chubby guy, just like Cody was at that age, and Oliver is a wild man!  Very active and sooo cute. He was shy to start, then wanted to be on camera all the time, “Susu Susu!”  showing me things and dancing around. So now I won’t feel as disconnected when I am way south.

Voice found

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So now I have a “kid” voice for ecology.com - it was a challenge, but after several iterations, I got it. Now I have a series of articles to do, basically rewrites of existing, dense pieces to make them kid friendly. My current one is all about algae! It’s like going back to school, as I am finding it is actually easier to write these things from scratch, rather than trying to edit down, and totally rework. Doing it this way entails a lot of research, but it’s a lot of fun!

This is a perfect set up for me. Part-time, anywhere-I-am work. Exactly what I want for Bocas, or wherever I end up. Be out and about in the early part of the day, home and working in the heat of midday, then out and about in the evening coolness. Just perfect.

Crab traps on the boat

Had a great weekend, weather-wise. A typical summer in the NW kind of weekend, with sun! Yes it actually was out for two whole days! Went crabbing both days, snagged seven beautiful, big Dungeness. For the first time, we trapped a lot of females, which of course we threw back. Got to keep those girls producing!

Went out crabbing again yesterday, snagged four more good ones – but they are a lot of work if you don’t eat them right away. It entails cleaning them, then cooking them. Then the “fun” part, cracking them and extracting all the meat, then pressing the cleaned meat into cupcake pans, freezing, popping the frozen serving size portions out of the pans and then into vacuum-sealed bags for long-term freezing. Takes ages! And my fingers are cut up from the sharp shells. But still definitely worth every morsel!

Because November and December are getting into tourist time in Bocas del Toro, I have decided to go down earlier, mid-October. But will go to Southern California first for a couple of weeks to see all the kids and leave from there. That makes it only two months before I go. Time to get things in gear and start getting rid of stuff. Clothes, junk, organize paperwork, decide what goes and what goes into the rubbish bin.

I travel light.

 

Psyching myself up

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I sometimes doubt myself and what I am doing. Wondering if I am strong enough to do this on my own. And I know that Susan is only planning to be down in Panama for a short time, so I am basically on my own.

My friends think I am a fearless adventurer, and at heart I am. Hell, I was when I was really young! Absolutely fearless – or maybe just too naive. But regardless, I have to wonder if I still have it, whether I can still go out, traipsing around the world on my own, a single baby boomer woman.

I do know that I enjoy doing things and going places with someone. They give me the impetus to get out and do stuff. I’m afraid that I might get stuck somewhere and not get out and experience the people and cultures if I am on my own.

So I have to figure that out – but as I sit here writing, I realize that this is the impetus I need. I remember how good, successful and adventurous I felt in South Africa, heading out off the beaten track to interview some little African woman and photograph the bead work she was doing. And how much fun it was to visit the game lodges and beaches and hotels, getting stories and photos. Visiting the women’s groups as they struggled to survive; spending those 10 days in Zululand, 4-wheeling through sand traps and all the excitement. That is what I am supposed to be doing – and I CAN do it on my own.

It wasn’t that long ago that I went following sailboats across the Atlantic, taking ferries and trains and boats and planes! Ending up spending the night in a red light district; visiting castles and all sorts of other amazing places.

So can you guess? I am psyching myself up to go it alone – again!

The days are skimming by, and now I must set some deadlines for myself. When to book my flight, when to sell the car, when to buy the V-Lux 30, when to book language school and very importantly, when to send out pitches to all the publications, blogs and online magazines about this new adventure of mine.

Gorgeous weather

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Finally…

Yesterday was beautiful and today is equally so. The crystal clear blue skies we get in the early summer, morning light golden on the new leaves across the water. A super high tide, water glassy with reflections. No complaints here … except the water should be 30+ degrees warmer! Not too much longer to wait for that.

Veges are finally growing; it has taken weeks and weeks for them to start, the weather has been so awful and cold. The tulips are over, but some of the irises are out with more budding. The rhodies are just starting to flower – just in time for Rhody Week in Port Townsend. Hopefully the weather will hold for the parades and festivities.

Unfortunately, I have to be inside a lot of today as we are putting together 5000 little bags of nuts for a promotion. So we have to stick on the labels and then fill the little suckers. I have help, there is no way I could do it all myself! But I get paid, that’s a new concept!

Editing is going well, although I won’t be doing much this week, with all the nutty business, but it looks like it will serve me well when I am out of the country. I’m getting really excited about the move. Bill, a fellow I am corresponding with on Bocas, told me there are quite a few South Africans who have moved there and he will introduce me. So it won’t be too traumatic to move there on my own. Still not sure if Susan will go at the same time. But I am pretty set on doing the language immersion for a few weeks. I think it is very important.

I am so proud of my sons. Ryan starts on Hell’s Kitchen as Supervising Producer. Moving from American Idol and up the ladder. Next title I think is C0-Executive Producer. He has really worked hard, and continues to work hard at his career. And all that hard work is paying off.

And Cody! On his different path. An EMS and soon-t0-be firefighter! But that suits him. I never suspected a leaning towards this, but he is such a caring person, and so physical, this is perfect for him. Not to mention the financial rewards are much higher than carpentry production. Once he is a firefighter, he will have time to pursue his hobbies, his art and furniture making.

I am blessed. And when I go to Panama, I will miss them, but suspect I might see them more than I do now, when they come down on vacation.

Life moves in mysterious ways

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We all know the saying, “Be careful what you wish for, it might come true.”

Sometimes, we just get so mired in the muck and life seems so confusing and empty, but we keep wishing and hoping and visualizing the life we want to live.

I’ve had a dream for eons; living somewhere warm where the sea is warm too, somewhere I can afford, where I can make a reasonable living and there is good internet.

Over the years, I’ve researched hundreds of places, thought about, looked at pictures, talked and talked and talked about it. I was pretty sure the place would be Central/South America. I thought long and hard about going home to South Africa, but the more I hear from the family, the more I realize that it would be a dead end for me. Of course, I will always go to visit, but not to stay.

Then along came mymixednuts, and I thought, OK, I can work on this, stash a little cash, and when it has grown up, we can sell it and I can retire with some of the proceeds. Or I could set up the management part online so I could do it from anywhere.

Well, that is basically upside down. And it put me in a very interesting spot. Seeing as I turned 62, Social Security is available. Now I hadn’t thought about taking it early, because I believed I would be working and making enough I wouldn’t need it. Then I thought, “Hmm, why don’t I take a look at how that will change things.”

And lo and behold, the whole picture changed. Not my dream, which is now closer than I ever, but how I can actually do it.

As I searched through the countries I might go to, there were a few leaders; Panama, Mexico, Ecuador and Nicaragua. Panama has always been my first choice and that is still the direction I am heading. It has everything I want, the sun, the sea, the internet.

And why the internet? Because I am creating an income now, online!

A long time ago, I saw an ad for copy editors but when I saw how little they pay, I passed it by. Then recently, it popped up again, and being in a totally different place in my life, I took another look, and voila! it works! With the social security that I get starting next month, and working 20-25 hours a week, I can make a comfortable living. Not here, but somewhere south.

I expect at some stage, it might get boring, but right now, the lack of pressure and the freedom it allows, is wonderful. If that happens, then I can look for something more stimulating. When I am in my new country then I can write again, doing articles like I did for Country Life in South Africa. Don’t know who I will sell them to but that really doesn’t matter right now.

mymixednuts will get wrapped up, if anyone ever bothers to respond to any emails. Today, if I haven’t heard anything, I will complete the list of user names and passwords, take myself off all the accounts, change the bank info, and send the key to the warehouse and list to Brian or Annie.

Looking towards the future, I want to be out of here by October/November so no more winters.

On another note, spring MAY have sprung, my tulips are sort of flowering, the trees have a lovely soft green blush, the osprey is back and so are the Canadian geese. It doesn’t get quite to freezing at night and if the wind doesn’t blow, it’s warm in the sun. Oh, and we have a harbor seal coming visiting on a high tide, not that that has anything to do with spring.

Thunderstorms, maids and old cars

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Another very loud, bright wet storm last night that woke me up. I love it – pours at night and then today was beautiful. It was a busy day. Mick has decided he is going to do car restorations again and so bought three Renault 10’s – one that runs and the other are parts cars.

So we were up early to go and pick up a car trailer and headed out to Thornville, about twenty minutes from his factory. On the way, we stopped to pick up Vincent, an Indian employee of his who would help with the onloading and offloading.

The house was down an extremely rutted, dirt road and the trailer bounced all over the place. It was a typical block house, with a lot of trash around – and two undernourished dogs, a mongrel and a Jack Russell. A young Indian man came out and I had to fend off the mongrel that wanted to jump on me and then when I pushed him away, he started to growl. Finally, the kid got the message and put him in the house. The poor little Jack Russell’s front foot looked like it had been broken and never taken to a doctor and was all twisted under. I don’t understand why people have dogs they don’t care for.

Anyway, we loaded up the cars on the car carrier – two trips – back and forth to the factory where they are being stored. Debbie was not thrilled about having them at the house – and I don’t blame her. So they will be parted out, the best body parts sent for sandblasting. As Biff is in the classic car restoration biz, he has all the contacts for the bits and pieces Mick will need.

Next it was pick up furniture and take it down to Zoze and Bryan in their new place. It’s a cute little place, but still needs work that should have been done before they moved in but they didn’t want to wait. It has a wonderful view across the valley and lots of windows and light, and small enough to easily take care of. Zoze will probably have Nesta come one day a week to clean and iron. How I miss that luxury – what is common place here. Mick and Debbie have Sibongele who comes to them four times a week, and a gardener one day a week. So you NEVER have to do housework. I can get used to that in one day – or less. I know you want to know how much she gets paid – R110 a day = about $10 a day.

Tonight, I cooked dinner and all the dishes are left for Sibongele tomorrow. I almost feel guilty – almost! She is happy to have the job, she gets paid well by South African standards, and Mick and Debbie live comfortably without having to deal with the boring, humdrum, tedious house work. That in itself is almost enough to make me stay here.

These evening thunderstorms are wonderful. The weather forecast said sixty percent chance of rain today. The sun was out all day and it stormed and rained and thundered on our way home late this afternoon. I was glad I had unplugged my computer.

As we drive around, I don’t see a whole lot of change – but I sense an easing of the fear that was really prevalent last time I was here. Whether it’s for real or my imagination I don’t know.

Travels with Susan – Sunday

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I slept like a log last night – went to bed at 8:30 and woke at 9:40 – and I feel sooooo much better. Amazing how important sleep is.

Our plan for the day is lunch with Biff. So it was hurry up and run into town – Pietermaritzburg – and get fresh bread and rolls from the bakery, load up the bakkie (pickup truck) and head down to Hillcrest, about half an hour away.

Driving into town, nothing much has changed. It is still a pretty little city with lovely old homes. but there was a lot of trash alongside the roads, and Mick says the city center is awful. But we didn’t go all the way into town. I checked out prices in the store and it is still considerably – make that a lot- less expensive than the U.S. And there is a large variety of goods available, more than when I was here four years ago.

Driving south, the hills stretch for miles and lots of open space dotted with the typical flat topped trees and an occasional house. The hills are still a summer green but you can tell it is turning to winter, with areas of tawny grass. Again, nothing much has changed. More traffic though, and a lot of heavies – big rigs – making the drive between Durban, the port, and Johannesburg.

Right near Biff is a railway line, and when we were living here, we went on the steam train which is used for tourist runs. As we got near the line, the puffer went by. Brought back a lot of memories.

At Biff’s, where Zoze and Bryan are staying until they move into their little place, we were greeted by the two dogs and Biff, Zoze and Bryan. The house and garden look wonderful, orchids blooming in the trees, roses all trimmed back, waterfall and pond looking beautiful. Lunch was a braai (bbq) with a leg of lamb done on the grill, wine and shandies (beer and 7-up) and lots of laughs. It seems not five minutes can go by without the conversation turning raunchy! I didn’t know my brothers’ minds were in the gutter! And the teasing and kidding didn’t stop.

It’s good to be home – and “in the arms of” the family. Just to able to sit back and just be. Not have to worry about what they think of me, or what I am doing, or anything else. No judgement. I think this is what family is all about.