Guest Post by Husband, Mike Strine

Sunday: An odd set of feelings this morning.

Mike with Leo and Rocco, earlier in the morning

At 4:40 AM the dogs alerted to a strange noise outside the door. Looking out, I saw two girls who were Kitesurfing this past week, with their belongings and gear packed up. Soon afterward, a white Taxi pulled into the property to pick them up. Off they went. Will we ever see them again?

These are the first visitors we saw leave from the Camp Bay Lodge and Kitesurfing operation in Camp Bay, Roatan.

Later in the morning, we were returning from our morning walk along the beach with the dogs, which were both off-leash and running free. Cathy was startled to see a man walk out from the Cantina toward the beach. Our dogs both ran past the man without giving him more than a notice. We then saw it was Kyle, who had made friends with Rocco and Leo earlier in the week.

Kyle is flying back to New York today, after a weeklong stay at the Lodge and Kitesurfing to his heart and body's content.

I realized yesterday near dinner time when the guests were celebrating their conquest of Kitesurfing and the good times and bad of the past week; Cathy & I – Rocco, Leo, and Gizmo - will see this every week for the next six months during our stay here at Camp Bay Lodge.

Six months, 26 weeks, 10 rental units – I had to get the Calculator out to figure we could meet 1,560 people/couples/families and more during our tenancy here.

Between Cathy and I, we claimed the roles of Matriarch and Patriarch of the Lodge while the guests relax, learn, and experience their dreams and goals of Kitesurfing and relaxing.

Yesterday was the second Saturday of our stay, and we experienced an abundance of people coming in to enjoy the beautiful beach here. My presumption is Camp Bay Beach was full, so the next best place was the Lodge for safe and fun family times.

The quaint parking lot was filled to capacity, though there were only ours and two other guest rides here. The driveway to the Lodge was choked with cars along the narrow one-lane path, then the yard had a pickup and a large SUV pulled up into it. The neighbors' construction site was filled with three more cars, and an adjacent cleared lot for contractors' vehicles was filled with another four.

Amazing.

Celebration & family times.

I am learning another way to deal with repairs, needs, installations, and more.

When we were packing for our forever trip to Roatan, we had three shipments of 'stuff' coming down here. Two have made it, and the third is the largest by far. In this last shipment, I have my tools, some supplies, and the knowledge I have gained over 60 years of trial and error. I feel compelled to help people in their time of need or trouble.

My first experience with this was when I heard a truck turning over, with a weak battery but not firing up. As I went towards the noise, I saw a guy working on a truck that had been parked so long the tires were flat. The sides of the truck were covered in splashed mud from the heavy rains of a month ago or so. The hood was open and the guy was bent over the engine, using a wrench to arc the solenoid to engage the starter. Hum – over my 60 years of flashbacks, I rarely have seen this sort of action work. And usually, it was because someone had forgotten to put the key in the ignition in the 'run' position so the engine would engage, actuate the fuel pump, and deliver the nectar of gas to the injectors. After the third or fourth attempt and with smoke rolling up from the area of the solenoid, I turned around and went back to the Cantina. "He's got this. He's got to learn his way. Nothing of dire need here." Oh boy…

Then there was the Internet Installer yesterday.
Since we are in such a remote area, the method of operation here is a Radio wave Tech for Internet delivery.

There is an antenna up on the roof of the Yoga Pergola,  on top of the Cantina area. The installer started off the day with 'no English'. The staff here at CBL was great helping to interpret as the event went on. I asked if he was going to install a second antenna? The CBL interpreter said, 'No, using the same antenna for both systems.' Since they were separate receivers, each would get their total share of service. 

As he went up on the roof of the Yoga structure, atop the kitchen structure, with an extension ladder he had separated (from extendable to two pieces), he propped one section up on the Yoga structure roof and began to ascend. Cathy was watching and, at one point, turned to me with a look of fear and terror – telling me to get up there and help the guy! He had used half of the ladder that didn't have the rubber feet. It was the steel caps of the fiberglass ladder resting on the epoxy-coated concrete surface.
*Remember 60-years of experience? Been there, done that, but only once.

The ladder had slid out from under him when he was at the top. He was able to put his elbow out, catching himself by his armpit against the asphalt shingles, so he didn't fall to the concrete. He was able to get reassembled before I made it up the outside steps to the rooftop structure. But I held his ladder as he had wedged it into the wood railing structure by one leg/foot. He came down after removing the pole-mounted antenna, saying 'it's okay' and going about his tasks.

He then began talking to the staffer about running the cable from the roofline, through to trees, to our eve structure, since the unit we are in is not attached to the Cantina or Yoga retreat.

I asked about running it along the ground, under or beside the boardwalk, because the trees blowing in this moderate wind, which the cable was going to run through, were swaying enough to dislodge or knock out the service line? She translated it as he was shaking his head No, then showed the cable is not 'ground-contact rated and would rot over time.

I asked the staffer to contact the owner to ensure he was okay with this guy anchoring the cable into the eve of the building as he was getting set to do. (A big nail, with the cable tied off with wire). She said he'd likely say it was okay since it's only temporary for us. And we'd be taking it with us when we move.

The installer began working away but did not bring the ladder over to the other building. One time when I walked out, I saw him nailing the cable along the boardwalk – yes, to the side, off the ground. When I saw the staffer, I shrugged with a puzzled look. She said since you are only temporary and taking it with us, this would work better. *experience?

Also, when he was in our unit, testing the reading from the antenna, he was getting a familiar FAILED chirp from his laptop. He did some other things, then after a while, he was at it again and got the familiar SUCCESS tone emitting from the laptop speakers. Shortly after that, I went outside and saw there was a second receiver on the antenna mast.

What a weekend! So many new lessons were learned. And it really did leave me with an odd set of feelings! 

 

 

All my life, and especially those 30+ years of corporate climbing, I’ve been punctual, responsible, and reliable. And I’ve demanded the same.

If you agree to meet me at 2:00 on Thursday afternoon, I’ll be there at 1:55 and stay for a ten-minute window. If you don’t show during that time, I’ve moved on to the next in line. I might be a little ashamed to admit I was that rigid and thought I was right.

Here on Roatan, as in many other places in the world not related to my environment of 64 years, life does not work that way. Not at all. And guess what? I’ve decided I was wrong. My perfectionist tendencies were judgmental and not helpful to anyone.

What does work here is the word mañana.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as an indefinite time in the future. Here on Roatán, the meaning is more like: not today.

As Mike and I prepared mentally and emotionally for this move we talked extensively about our attitudes. I did admit that this mañana thing was going to be one of the most difficult cultural changes for me to get used to. And as life would have it, we’d get to start learning that lesson during our first week here.

As you now know, the internet at Camp Bay Lodge has been unreliable. Connectivity was better up at the cantina so every time I needed to work for one of my clients or this blog or email family, I’d have to load up my backpack with all my gear and walk those 70 steps to the cantina, unload the backpack, set up and settle in. Worth it? Yes, of course. But not the way I want to live these six months.

I’m up pretty early in the morning, way before daylight. My brain works best the first hours of the day so I like to wake up, start brewing the coffee and fire up the computer. I’m happiest and the most productive during those early morning hours and isn’t that what working remotely is all about?

We live in only 400 square feet right now so I've claimed about a quarter of the kitchen table for my office space. Mike has an equal-size designated area also. We only work in those spaces, which means any time we are away from those areas we are not working. Time at the cantina is for eating food, drinking watermelon (or passionfruit) water, making new friends, and catching up with folks we know.

So, I decided this internet issue is more of a necessity to remedy than if it was only about staying socially connected, although that is important, too!

Mike reached out to the local communications company rep eight days ago, and here’s how it all played out:

3-Way WhatsApp Conversation:

Friday, April 16               

Mike and Kyle discuss service currently in place at Camp Bay Lodge and service we can purchase for better connectivity and bandwidth.

After nearly six hours of back & forth, we decided on a 6-month plan for 15 MB wireless service. Installation will be $120 + $165 refundable equipment charge, and the service will be $75 a month.

Since the service will be purchased by All Things Administrative, LLC, Kyle asked for my documents so he could prepare the e-contract:

o   Clear picture of ID

o   Address

o   Local phone number

o   Reference with local phone number (not that we know many people yet who could vouch for us!)

o   Email address

o   Description of home

 

Saturday, April 17

I guess we must have discussed the plan all day because nothing happened until the next day! (Jane, we are taking your advice and making big decisions very slowly.)

 

Sunday, April 18

I sent Kyle the required docs and said, “let’s move forward!”

 

Monday, April 19

Pan American Day- Honduran Holiday. No one works but Kyle and Mike exchanged email. Kyle said we’d receive the e-contract by noon on Tuesday. Required to sign the contract and make full payment before scheduling service.

 

Tuesday, April 20

2:52 PM- Mike sent a status check for the e-contract. Kyle’s response was, “Working on it. It’s a Tuesday after a 3-day weekend. Very soon.”

4:16 PM- “Sending now. Check Spam”

4:42 PM- “Hello? It’s the second one. Correct refundable equipment deposit.”

Power Outage. Have to try to send executed contract back tomorrow.

 

Wednesday, April 21

7:52 AM- Sent the contract back

7:55 AM- “No need to send the contract back. I need the words: I agree to the terms of the contract” followed by Catherine’s name, via email

8:03 AM- “Payment link will be sent. Or you can send a bank transfer or pay in person.”

We couldn’t open the link to pay the bill for better internet service. Since our internet service is so intermittent, we need the new one to open the payment link. If you can follow all that.

Pack up the animals and essentials, load the truck and head to town to pay the bill in person.

1:24 PM- Arrived at their store. I sat in the truck with the dogs and Mike went in to take care of business.

1:51 PM- Mike texted Kyle that we were done! Sent a screenshot of the receipt to him, also.

1:54 PM- “WAIT”, texted Kyle. “Go back in. One bill was torn. Nichelle will be calling.”

2:07 PM- Mike texted Kyle, “Done. Amazed at how the torn bill, ever so slight (and glued) affects the use. Neither the first girl nor I noticed it. Thanks again, Kyle.”

 

Thursday, April 22

No news.

Friday, April 23

6:39 AM- Mike texted Kyle, “Can we do a SitRep for installation of the gear? Are we on the tech’s schedule?”

6:48 AM- Kyle: “Good morning. You’re definitely in the queue. Let me check.”

12:48 PM- Mike: “Any word yet?”

12:50 PM- Kyle: “My Tech is coming from Barbaretta.”

1:00 PM- Mike: “Do we know what time he could be here?”

1:13 PM- Kyle: “He’s on Barbaretta. Hard to reach him. I’d say before 4:00.”

4:12 PM- Kyle: “Please tell me he showed up?”

4:14 PM- Cathy: “No. Still waiting for him.”

4:23 PM- Kyle: “He apparently drove by today to check the radio signal. The installation is scheduled for tomorrow morning 10:00.”

 

Saturday, April 24

11:44 AM- Kyle: “Good morning. Just following up.”

11:44 AM- Cathy: “Hi, Kyle. They called that it would be 11:30. Standing by.”

11:45 AM- Kyle: “Well, at least they called!”

11:45 AM- Cathy: “Exactly! And it isn’t that much past 11:30 either!

12:42 PM- Cathy: “The tech is here now, Kyle!”

4:18 PM- Kyle: “Wow, I was sent a picture.”

What Kyle didn’t see is that our tech nearly fell off his ladder. That was a moment. Mike went up to hold the ladder for him. Long story short- he had two bad cables. He’s coming back tomorrow at 7:30 AM.

Sunday, April 25

8:54 AM- Cathy: “Hi, Kyle. Wonder if you’ve heard anything?”

8:57 AM- Cathy: “NM. Tech is pulling in now!!”

 

See? 

All Things Mañana. 

Proof that it will happen. Sometimes just not today.

 

INTERNET WOES

As we settle into island life, we have been loosely tracking the Pros and Cons of how and where we currently live.

                                                                             PROS    

·        Unspoiled nature abounds

·        The sea is 130 steps outside our door

·        The salty air is fresh & clean

·        Getting used to life without A/C

·        More physical activity- tasks require more effort due to less modern conveniences

·        One week in and I’m already in better shape

·        Vegetable/Fruit vendor stops at my back door every Wednesday and Saturday

·        A “quick trip” to town takes at least 3 hours, so we learn to see and plan for each excursion as an “Outing!”

·        Recognizing the feelings of slowing down

·        Enjoying the peace and tranquility. Gentle breezes. Stillness

·        Meeting people from around the world at this Lodge, famous among kitesurfers

·        Slowly making friends with the locals, who are kind, generous souls

 

Cons

·        No-see-ums. Some call them sand fleas. Some call them sandflies, but we’re from Florida and are well-acquainted with these hateful no-see-ums. Scratch, scratch, scratch

·        Internet connectivity issues

First off, we are on a remote island in Central America. And while I am grateful that internet services do exist, the spottiness causes me some self-examination.

Most obvious is my quick move from peacefulness to complete irritation the minute those little WIFI arcs at the bottom right of my taskbar disappear, replaced by a tiny globe that says: No Internet Access. When I say “quick move” I mean, 0 to 60 mood-change in less than 3 seconds.

 

Red Flag. The problem appears to lie more with my attitude than bandwidth. A wise person told me I have a case of Internet Entitlement.

What?

 And yet, think about it.

Those two words strung together accurately describe why I get so frustrated when I can’t connect to the World Wide Web and Email.

I have a blog to write and publish! I have a business to run that is 100% internet-based! My readers and clients depend on me! Our families need to hear that we are still alive, way out here. I mean, I am important! I matter so much that by gosh there had better be internet service when and where I need it!

Whew. 

That’s some ugly, honest stuff right there.

 

So, before the solution we found arrives within the week, I want to ponder some of that. After all, isn’t everything out here ‘manana’?

 Until then -

 

 WEEK 1

What a beautiful first week of the rest of our lives on Roatán. 

We have been honored to make new friends and to begin learning new ways.

My day starts around 4:00 AM.

Sunrise has been just minutes before 5:30-

Mike and I take the dogs out on the beach for daybreak. Daily they are learning how to interact with the island dogs and we find we can have them off-leash more frequently.

Peace to you and yours. 

One Hundred Thirty Steps

Eighty steps to the sand from our front door.

Fifty steps from the sand to the sea.

Enjoy the tour, courtesy of your guide, Mike!

CLICK HERE

(THIS IS A YOUTUBE LINK- TESTED AND SAFE!)

The Garden Loft
Camp Bay Lodge

AM I IN TROUBLE?

I'm having the hardest time getting started. Picking up where I left off. Running full steam ahead to show you everything about this totally awesome place!

I finally decided that the only way to jump back in is to simply start. So here I am. It is nearly 2:30 CST on Saturday afternoon. I have never written a blog at that time of day. I hope no one got mad and left the room while my brain and body were trying to catch up to each other here.

This morning's sunrise:

This is Day 3 that we awoke to that, right outside our door. Seriously, open the door and take about 100 steps to the sand. This loft was a really good choice for the first six months. 

Gradually new habits and routines will develop. Not having to be anywhere at any time is odd. But early morning is pretty easy. Right now sunrise is at about 5:30. I'm out the door, barefoot and with camera in hand. I found a place down the beach to do some stretches using a large piece of driftwood. Well, it is a petrified tree, I think. Whatever, it works and I feel connected and liberated all at the same time.

For those who don't know (and I'm not writing about this for pity, so please don't), my mom moved on to her new Residence the same day I did. I'm told she died peacefully at home. Her husband was with her. They were married 42 years so I can only imagine all the empty spaces he also has to find a way to cope with.

Our travel and arrival on Roatan were nearly perfect. All of the things I worried about did not come to pass (isn't that always the way?). The aircraft crew was accommodating and attentive to Rocco, Leo, and Gizmo. Leo especially had a blast helping pilot the plane.

Our loft is small but kind of cute. I'll get some shots of it for you another time but the good news is that we all fit. 

We have sifted through the first shipment of belongings and determined the must-haves as well as the what-the-heck-did-we-think-we-needed-THAT-fors. I'm glad we've watched so many episodes of Tiny House. Creating storage is imperative when 3 pets and 2 humans live in 400 square feet.

Yesterday we loaded the dogs into the truck (which, by the way, was 100% the right choice. The truck purchase, I mean.) and drove into "town." Easily a 60-minute drive on roads I can't describe. But there were so many experiences along the way it felt a bit like watching a movie. We won't go to town often but I'll bet every trip is filled with fun and weird things. So it takes us an entire day to go to the mobile phone store (Claro), the furniture store (Lady Lee), the Storage Locker place (Lucky #49 is ours), ACE Hardware (YES!), and one more quick trip to Eldon's (grocery store). Since we had the dogs with us, one of us stayed in the car while the other braved language and currency differences. It was a great trip. Mike is still recovering. His siesta today has been long. Well-deserved.

Aside from today, we've eaten every meal at Camp Bay Lodge's restaurant. Ms. Rachel's cooking cannot be competed with. We've loved every single thing she cooked. I can't cook like that!

This morning one of my friends asked me when I thought it would stop feeling like a vacation. My immediate response was, "when I have to start cooking again." Don't get me wrong, I love to cook, but not on vacation.

So I made breakfast this morning. I love cooking on a gas stove again. We had bacon, eggs, and toast. Um, yeah.

The vegetable guy comes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Today's haul included a few Roma tomatoes, broccoli, a mango, a pineapple, ginger, two limes, bananas, and dry red beans. We found the English words for each of the items and converted lempiras to dollars. We paid $8.36 for all of this fresh, locally grown produce! We are using the bill as a Spanish lesson for the week. Here, take a look:

Tomatoes, broccoli, onions, garlic, a little EVO, and burrata cheese over some bowtie pasta made our dinner tonight.

We walked the dogs after dinner. That is an adjustment for them and for us. Until we have a place of our own they will have to be on leashes. There is no more doggie door leading to a fenced-in backyard.

Back into swimsuits and into the Sea for a quick cool-down. I had a slice of homemade key lime pie with a cup of black coffee at the cantina, and Mike had coconut pie.

We met a young guy from North Carolina while we were out on the pier. We must have stood out there talking for more than a half-hour. Afterward, I asked Mike why I have to talk so much. It's like I get wound up and refuse to wind down.

And here we are. It is now 8:03 PM and I am ready for bed. I'm hoping to sleep in the morning until at least 4:00. That will mean I've made the conversion to Central Time.

I've lots more to tell you but it will wait. Manana.

Goodbyes

In 24 hours we will land on the beautiful island of Roatán, Honduras to begin a new chapter.

We are scheduled to depart the Boca Raton Airport at 10:00 AM and land at 10:14 AM on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. That's real, not a typo.

So many Goodbyes, but first:

The COVID-19 tests yesterday were fun. An unbelievable amount of tension ran off our shoulders when we were presented with the negative results that will allow our entry to Honduras.

 

Carvana came for the Suburu this morning. Even that occasion held a bit of nostalgia as we said goodbye to that ole red car we depended on for the last nine years.

Mabel and her mom cleaned our home-that-is-no-longer-our-home for the last time this morning. She cried when we said goodbye. If anyone in Boynton/Delray Beach areas is looking for the best housecleaners, private message me.

This afternoon Aunt Jane came for the last visit here to our home-that-is-no-longer-our-home. Lunch was at Agliolio. Jane has always been - and continues to be - our rock. 

Saturday we shared a last meal with the kids and grandbabies. It was so good to be together with them, but very difficult for me to hold my emotions in check. 

Saying goodbye to our family is by far the hardest part of all this. 

I've deeply missed my middle son and his wife since they moved to Colorado. And even though my oldest and youngest sons and their families are here, we don't see each other often, so I didn't think this would be as painful as it has become. My family is also going through a sad time on another level as my mom prepares to leave this earth. 

Roatan is only a 2 1/2 hour flight from Miami. I remind myself that we are not lightyears away from each other. Just as I remind myself my boys all have their own families now and it really is not that big of a deal that I move. The internet is a wonderful thing for keeping us all connected.

So there were many goodbyes to honor today.

Mike wrote a note to our neighborhood on Nextdoor, thanking them for their friendships. We've had some kind responses and well wishes.

So many of our neighbors have been shocked when we tell them our retirement plans and it has been good to chat with them up and down the street.

I'm tired now. For those who know, the fact that I am still awake at 9:00 in the evening is remarkable! I am so curious to see how we all adjust to Central Time (no daylight savings time, for which I am thankful!).

By the time you read this, we will already be on our way or just landing in Roatan. I think the next post will be about Hello's . . . . .

 

 

YESTERDAY'S ADVENTURE, PART 2

Fingers crossed the end of Part 2 

will end as happily as Part 1 did.

Near the end of February, we contracted with a Pet Jet Flight Planning Services company, which would be responsible for flying Mike and me, our two dogs and a cat, one way to Roatan, Honduras. Expensive? Yes. $11,200.00 

The commercial airlines would probably accommodate Leo and Gizmo as carry-on (if you know cats, you understand my trepidation of flying for 3 hours with a cat who screams nonstop during car rides). But Rocco would have to be transported with the cargo. 

1. I don't think I could humanely do that;

2. The airlines have suspended that opportunity due to Covid restrictions. 

To get all of us to Roatan together and safely, we have had no choice but to charter a private flight. We felt very secure with Pet Jet Flight Planning and became friendly with the Ex-Pat pilot's wife through Facebook.

Yesterday was T-5 days to departure. 

At 5:07 PM, I received a Messenger audio call from Patsy with the bad news that her pilot husband has a medical condition that has rendered him grounded. Give that a minute to settle in.

You know that feeling when the bottom falls out? Yep.

Wednesday, we have to be out of this house as the new owner moves in. Where would we go with two dogs- one large and one small, and the cat who hates travel? 

Fortunately, one of the lessons we learn from life experiences that makes me sometimes really enjoy being over 60 is that things generally work out. 

One of my young sons, who has a sage soul, said this to me several months ago. It struck such a deep chord that I carry it close to my heart:

"Ehhh, things just fall into place as they should with that stuff, Mom. Just be sure you let it."

Patsy has contacted several other services she knows of and is keeping us apprised of their availability. And pricing. Which is astronomical now with such short notice. You'll have to private message me for the cost. I'm afraid my computer screen will shatter if I mention it here.

According to my brother, there is always a Silver Lining (we refer to it as the SL). Sometimes you have to look pretty deeply for it. In this case, the SL might very well be obvious:

Maybe.

Sadly, that opportunity also fell through. The company was not willing to transport a Doberman. Back to the drawing board.

It is just coming up on 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 10. We are supposed to arrive in Roatan in exactly 96 hours and have yet to learn how that is going to happen. 

"Ehhh, things just fall into place as they should with that stuff. Just be sure you let it."

4:30 PM- Contract signed with a new company.

The Hawker 800 will get us to Roatan, Honduras on April 14, 2021.

Relief.

Off to dinner now, with our kids and grandbabies, 

to say goodbye.