In planning for a move to another continent, there are a million and one considerations...many things that I never ever gave a single thought to previously. But among those, here is what I found to be most important, and the most difficult:
1. Selling your house in the worst possible market. After a slow start with "For Sale By Owner" and an unwise choice of a real estate agent who I later fired, I lucked out in finding a team of two Realtors who have boundless energy, great good humor, and it seems, a passion for selling my house! One week after I listed with Roy Kendall Company, Roy (Broker) and Gracie Banda (Agent & Past Loan Officer) they brought me a signed offer. This is a stressful business, but believe me, they are a delight...I am very fortunate to have found them. It is not a done deal yet. Banks are now using every excuse possible NOT to loan. It seems crazy, but I know from first hand experience this is true. So I'm just sitting on pins and needles. If I'm unable to sell....I don't even want to think about it!
2. Finding the right person/people who will love and care for your animals.
I wrote a description of my cats for adoption/foster care called, "A Tail of Three Kitties". I had posted it at the Senior Center down the street, and e-mailed it to many friends hoping for a happy outcome. Nothing for months. Then, my dear friend Louise Maynard, who has a fairy-tale ranch of about 28 acres in the foothills of Orosi, said she would care for two of my cats, Bob and Julie. They are inseparable and I just know they will be very happy with Louise and Wayne, two of the best and kindest people on the planet. They will have other animal friends including four horses, (Charger, Trigger, Leland and Punkin), 2 darling dogs (Bear and ) and one Siamese cat named Mickey. Not to mention the sheep and goats. What an adventure for my two lucky cats! I'm sure they'll meet with many unlucky gophers. I plan to return for Bob & Julie in about 6 months when I am settled into my new home.
My other cat, Chamisa, a beautiful black manx, rescued as a kitten from a feral pride about 3 years ago, is the most affectionate of all, and I have not yet found a home for her. Hers will be a permanent adoption. To understand why, you will have to read "The Tail of Three Kitties". I will be happy to send you that story.
Sadly, my adopted cat from the local animal shelter, Queen Josephine, left this realm one week ago today. She was close to twenty years, had suffered a stroke in March, and her health had deteriorated to a very low point. Josie was with us from 1995. She was the most sociable of my cats and had many friends and admirers. She is greatly missed.
3. In the midst of dealing with the loss of Josie, I'm looking at all the things I have thus far accumulated in my life, and knowing that it is going to be hell parting with most of these. How did I ever get to be so materialistic? This is something I definitely need to change. I have decided to keep very little. I am parting with all of my business clothing, and about 80% of all the rest. For example, out of about 25 pairs of shoes, I plan on taking only maybe 3 pair. Furniture...out. Books...(this is really hard...out of 3 large bookcases, I will allow myself two small boxes. The rest...gone. Music? I hope to digitalize what I want to keep from my CD's. I could go on and on, but let's just say, I hope that I can pare my belongings down to what can fit in a 100 sq. foot container or less. If anyone has had experience with this, please let me hear from you! This process makes me greatly admire my late father, who managed to move to California with what he carried on the airplane, and two mailed parcels, one containing his tools.
4. An awful lot of time is spent researching the various countries of Central and South America, learning about the economies, politics, customs, accommodations, climate, modes of travel, all of this and more and it is endlessly interesting but so time consuming! Luckily, there are many web-sites designed for ex-pats in all the different countries, with people who made the move and share their experiences with you. Valuable contacts can be made on sites like these. All the various governments, including the United States, have websites with invaluable information, also. At first I was concerned about Visas, but soon learned that most of these countries allow you to visit for 90 days with just your passport before further documentation is needed. So that is one thing that can wait! But did you know that in most of these countries a bank will not accept your initial deposit without a letter of reference from your former bank in the U.S.?
Well, I think that's enough for this post. There is so much more to say, but I'll save it for the next time...maybe I could address some of the philosophical considerations involved in a move like this. Or, better yet, maybe my dear readers have some questions and I could write to those! I look forward to your comments! Adios, mi amigos!
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