Levántese Con El Sol

I sit now, a bit groggily, on the patio of the house where I will be residing for the next two weeks in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Two Seattle compatriots, wearing in total two pairs of shorts, one shirt, and no shoes, drink coffee and work on their Spanish homework. I've slept for just over six hours, having traveled all day yesterday from Los Angeles after a weekend of friends and drink and sun and Ultimate at Lei-Out.

The time is now 6:46 AM.

I will be working today, and every weekday, from this patio. I will rise with the sun, as I have today, because I am not here to sleep away the day. I will run in the morning, or join my friends surfing or at Spanish lessons, and then return to focus on these professional pursuits I have grown to love. I will still explore—don't worry—and I will enjoy this beautiful country. Apparently, on Thursday night, "enjoy" will be defined as trying the local palm wine that induces temporary blindness. Brilliant. Or, anti-brilliant, I guess.

Truly, I hope to find balance and peace, not in some untenable vacation lifestyle but in a relaxed rhythm of work and play. And I wonder that I have not found such a rhythm in Seattle, in these last four months of my new freelance life, and maybe worry that I have not even particularly considered such a rhythm reasonable. But then I get distracted by some birdcall, or by the warm breeze rustling the palm fronds, and I trust in the possibility of peace.

The time is now 6:57 AM.

Believing in peace and love, and wishing you a Happy President Barack Obama Day, I am Carlos Andrés d'Avis, signing off from Tamarindo. Que tengan buen día, mis queridos.