What do we miss

What do you miss?

I have been inactive (in many ways) but especially online as we don’t have sufficient wifi to browse or to upload stuff. Hence the delay. Sorry about that. But being disconnected, even if not completely, affords one the freedom to meander in thought and shut down all those unnecessary contrived responsibilities social media seems to create. Don’t get me wrong, when you are in the middle of the jungle, 3000 miles from home and don’t see many people, family, friends, personal connections are bound to be missed to some extent. 

Daniela asked a poignant question the other day. “What do you miss?”

And, of course, with not much else occupying my mind I began to ponder on the question. I have had time to take stock and reflect on what it is that I hold dear and what I may, on reflection, require in the wilderness. And the conclusion is?

Family! First and foremost and above all else! Given the ultimatum, I would always chose family over the desert island. I miss bonding with my 2 year old grandson, but try to send videos to him when I can of exotic creatures and fauna. I guess I am to be that cool grandad, seldom seen, but appearing sun-tanned and with tall stories of far off distant lands and jungles and monsters. I miss my two kids, beautiful souls and very good people to be around.

Friends. Yes, of course, you are all in this section. Nothing would please me more than to share an evening or a day with my nearest and dearest. But at the end of the day, they are all at the end of the phone, video and sound careering 3000 miles to wherever I am. It’s not at all the same but it is at least a compromise. And I am certain that with a little (lot) of gentle persuasion people can be enticed to visit for a holiday. Two weeks of quality time rather than the snatched evenings and weekends back home. Hey, it may be that a holiday here accounts for as much time as we would have spent together at home anyway? Friends will always be there and new friends are being made day by day here too. I am a social person, we both are really, but me more so. We have got to know the neighbours, expats and all with interesting stories to tell. Locals too who enjoy chatting to Daniela as she is learning her Spanish, Much faster than me I hasten to add. 

Marmite. No not really. I haven’t missed any food from Britain since leaving. We aren’t really the leaders in culinary fair after all. A good curry can be had here, a fancy Italian even. It is not as third world as I originally assumed. We do actually have a lot of things here that you wouldn’t think possible. Marmite, tahini, chick peas, everything you need in the way of spices, better fruit and vegetables than I have seen anywhere. We even pick avocados straight off the tree in the garden. What’s to miss. 

And that was it. The entirety of my missing. Nothing else is there, even in the corners. I am happy. We are happy. It is beautiful, easy going, and we are free to move around and do whatever we want when we want to. But if you fancy a nice break in paradise with us you are always welcome. It could work out to be a cheap holiday if you don’t have to pay for accommodation or a hire car?!

But, sitting on the veranda of our beautiful jungle retreat, we are learning a lot about what is is we need around us or within easy reach at least. If we want supplies there is a shop four kilometres down the dirt road and they have pretty much all we need. But being in the middle of a jungle and away from people, restaurants, stimulation etc is not easy. We love each others company but it is always good to have a change of environment to replenish what is missing. 

We make a point of walking to the nearest beach for a couple of hours by the sea, then return and chill on the patio watching the monkeys and generally being lazy. But we are both doers. I know some may disagree with me personally (Steve Trim) but I do need to be doing something. A project of some kind. Daniela is the same but her projects are more for the mind, mine are all about making and fixing things. I am keen to buy a motorbike. One that needs some TLC and a bit of know how to get it up and running. A bike would give more easy freedom. The car is big and the roads aren’t doing her any favours at all. New squeaks and knocks are happening all the time. 

So there it is. We are settling, sorting and acclimatising to our new surroundings and enjoying every minute. I don’t think I have ever had so much time on my hands. It is hard to fill the days but not really that hard to lie on a bed in the jungle and read a good book or two. 

P.S. Come see us soon.