I was born to drive in Panama City. In this compact metropolis with too many cars, almost not traffic signals and not enough road or parking space, ANYTHING GOES! And I love it.
All the stupid rules I dutifully followed in the states (even though did not always make sense) are out the window here. As long as you act like you know what you are doing it is fine to:
turn left from the right lane, or
pull out in front of a line of traffic causing them to stop so you can go through the intersection or
Drive over the center divider to hang a U turn anywhere or
Make a third lane of traffic when the other two stop.
And surprisingly I see only a few collisions. With all these crazy drivers, combined with the big Diablos (old US school buses painted up) roaring around you learn to pay close attention and move quickly when given the opening. It is like an adult go cart track with consequences. But once a week is enough. I would not like to do it every day.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Now I know what it means to be retired
It was not until early one morning this week that I realized that I was “retired” Linda was out of county, the animals were still asleep as was the town (no noise) and I was awake, mulling over what I had to do that day. First, I had to remember what day it was (Wednesday) and know that I had no commitments to be anywhere or do anything. It was then it dawned on me that I DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TODAY!
Therein also lay the problem. With no commitments my day was entirely up to me and I could:
Go back to sleep if I could live with the town noise
Go online and read the news
Study my Spanish
Take the dogs the beach
Clean or fix something around the house
Make some coffee and enjoy the morning
Well I did all of them during the day but did not leave the house except to run the dogs. Life is good!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The LONG Christmas Letter
A Christmas letter - an abreviated version was emailed to friends and family and here is the full novel
December 2008
The big year for the Monsons (Murdock/Johnson)
Almost every year I try to write you a pleasant short summary of the past year and some times it works and other times it doesn’t. This year there have been so many important events that I can actually remember all of them.
This was the year we had been working toward and all the pieces seemed to fall in place like we had planned them (which of course we were hoping for)
Let me list them in order by month.
April – We bought and set up a 5th wheel trailer on our property as an apartment to live in occasionally once we rented the house. There are also two sheds call “Closet” and “Garage” for the overflow from the trailer. So we have our very own campsite with a washer and dryer!
May I retired from the Authority and was given a wonderful send off from all the great people there. As a parting gift I was given “the shirt of our backs” and now am the proud owner of 25 Hawaiian shirts.
The going away plague with the greatest significance came from all the staff of the Authority and included all the ten business cards from my career (at the least the ones that had cards) along with a quote
And will you succeed?
Yes, you will indeed
(98 and ¾% guaranteed).
- Dr Suess
And, and, Linda sold Happy Dogs for a tidy profit and received the funds on the very same day of the Stephen’s retirement party. Good timing eh?
Then we started to “thin out” our stuff
June – We moved my mother, Lois, from Arkansas to an adult living place in Austin Texas. She is very happy there and does not have to drive a car any more. At 93 that is a good thing.
Mom is in a facility for about 120 people. She is busier than I have seen her in years and close to Brother Michael and Mary. And Michael and wife May have taken on the duties of watching over mom in addition to doing all the things connected to running an art store and a life coaching businesses. Thanks Michael and Mary!
July- I worked a little for the Authority and started doing some volunteer time with the Clinton Climate Initiative.
We got serious on getting rid of stuff and planning to get to Panama by fall.
August
We saw Tyler and his girlfriend Amber once this year and are happy to see both of them moving in a lot of good new directions in Portland last year. I've asked Tyler to write his own blurb and here it is:
I'm still living in Portland (Oregon, not Maine), though now with my girlfriend Amber. In case the dish hasn't made it to your inbox before now, she's a special ed teacher, currently going back to school for her master's degree, so that she can win all our arguments on the basis of her higher education. We also have a new dog, an old house we rent, and a real love for the city where we live.
Merry Christmas, all.
September – I took a last trip to the Sierras (for a while) as well as fishing trip with Leo and Rich on the Rogue River in Oregon. And Linda stayed home and packed.
October – We scurried around to move out of our home in Aromas, give away or sell most of our stuff and move into the trailer. By this time we were saying “We are actually going to do this!” No turning back now! Holy cow we are really changing our lives!
October – We rented the house, packed our two big suitcases each along with five boxes and a dog and a cat and moved to San Carlos Panama. On the way we visited with lots of people important in our lives; Michelle in Templeton, Jack & Susan, Jules & Neal, Mike & Amy in Solvang, Wilbur & Alby in Woodland Hills and Pam at the airport.
November – having forgotten a few things and given the opportunity to fly back for free (to speak at conference) I went back to 11 days and left Linda to keep on nest building.
There were some sad things as well this year as well.
We went from three dogs to one and three cats to one of each. Our two old dogs, Sarah and Thunder (both 15) were not up for the trip or life in Panama so we had them relieved of their troubles in October. It was really hard but best for both them and us. It’s just not fair that dogs don’t live as long as us.
The two cats we did not take with us faired much better. Gracie, the youngest, went to live with Wendy Welkom and her two girls and has more playmates than ever. Ranger, our old semi feral cat stayed in Aromas under the care of our tenants. Hope that works out.
So now, here we are in our little house in Panama, learning a new culture and a language I should have learned 50 years ago (read embarrassed). Our days are filled with little things that seem to take a way long time by North American standards but that is the way it is in the tropics. I started a little blog if you want follow our adventure.
http://panamamove.blogspot.com/
I try to add something once a week, when the Internet is working.
Linda the SurferDawg alternates between the heaven of “surfing in champagne” to depression of not even getting in the water. This is not the best time of the year for surf in Panama and she has a lot of other things to get done as well. I know those other things will drop away when the surf gets better.
And as we end of this eighth year of the millennium, with the world spinning out of control, our new president will face daunting foreign-policy tasks as well as a mother-in-law of a recession, we hope you all take time to listen to the trees and hug your loved ones. And to be very very nice to everyone you meet. And stay in touch.
Happy Holidays
Linda & Stephen
Murdock/Johnson
PTY 14079
10000 NW 25th Street Unit 1
Miami, FL 33172-2204
Home phone 011 507 240 9984
December 2008
The big year for the Monsons (Murdock/Johnson)
Almost every year I try to write you a pleasant short summary of the past year and some times it works and other times it doesn’t. This year there have been so many important events that I can actually remember all of them.
This was the year we had been working toward and all the pieces seemed to fall in place like we had planned them (which of course we were hoping for)
Let me list them in order by month.
April – We bought and set up a 5th wheel trailer on our property as an apartment to live in occasionally once we rented the house. There are also two sheds call “Closet” and “Garage” for the overflow from the trailer. So we have our very own campsite with a washer and dryer!
May I retired from the Authority and was given a wonderful send off from all the great people there. As a parting gift I was given “the shirt of our backs” and now am the proud owner of 25 Hawaiian shirts.
The going away plague with the greatest significance came from all the staff of the Authority and included all the ten business cards from my career (at the least the ones that had cards) along with a quote
And will you succeed?
Yes, you will indeed
(98 and ¾% guaranteed).
- Dr Suess
And, and, Linda sold Happy Dogs for a tidy profit and received the funds on the very same day of the Stephen’s retirement party. Good timing eh?
Then we started to “thin out” our stuff
June – We moved my mother, Lois, from Arkansas to an adult living place in Austin Texas. She is very happy there and does not have to drive a car any more. At 93 that is a good thing.
Mom is in a facility for about 120 people. She is busier than I have seen her in years and close to Brother Michael and Mary. And Michael and wife May have taken on the duties of watching over mom in addition to doing all the things connected to running an art store and a life coaching businesses. Thanks Michael and Mary!
July- I worked a little for the Authority and started doing some volunteer time with the Clinton Climate Initiative.
We got serious on getting rid of stuff and planning to get to Panama by fall.
August
We saw Tyler and his girlfriend Amber once this year and are happy to see both of them moving in a lot of good new directions in Portland last year. I've asked Tyler to write his own blurb and here it is:
I'm still living in Portland (Oregon, not Maine), though now with my girlfriend Amber. In case the dish hasn't made it to your inbox before now, she's a special ed teacher, currently going back to school for her master's degree, so that she can win all our arguments on the basis of her higher education. We also have a new dog, an old house we rent, and a real love for the city where we live.
Merry Christmas, all.
September – I took a last trip to the Sierras (for a while) as well as fishing trip with Leo and Rich on the Rogue River in Oregon. And Linda stayed home and packed.
October – We scurried around to move out of our home in Aromas, give away or sell most of our stuff and move into the trailer. By this time we were saying “We are actually going to do this!” No turning back now! Holy cow we are really changing our lives!
October – We rented the house, packed our two big suitcases each along with five boxes and a dog and a cat and moved to San Carlos Panama. On the way we visited with lots of people important in our lives; Michelle in Templeton, Jack & Susan, Jules & Neal, Mike & Amy in Solvang, Wilbur & Alby in Woodland Hills and Pam at the airport.
November – having forgotten a few things and given the opportunity to fly back for free (to speak at conference) I went back to 11 days and left Linda to keep on nest building.
There were some sad things as well this year as well.
We went from three dogs to one and three cats to one of each. Our two old dogs, Sarah and Thunder (both 15) were not up for the trip or life in Panama so we had them relieved of their troubles in October. It was really hard but best for both them and us. It’s just not fair that dogs don’t live as long as us.
The two cats we did not take with us faired much better. Gracie, the youngest, went to live with Wendy Welkom and her two girls and has more playmates than ever. Ranger, our old semi feral cat stayed in Aromas under the care of our tenants. Hope that works out.
So now, here we are in our little house in Panama, learning a new culture and a language I should have learned 50 years ago (read embarrassed). Our days are filled with little things that seem to take a way long time by North American standards but that is the way it is in the tropics. I started a little blog if you want follow our adventure.
http://panamamove.blogspot.com/
I try to add something once a week, when the Internet is working.
Linda the SurferDawg alternates between the heaven of “surfing in champagne” to depression of not even getting in the water. This is not the best time of the year for surf in Panama and she has a lot of other things to get done as well. I know those other things will drop away when the surf gets better.
And as we end of this eighth year of the millennium, with the world spinning out of control, our new president will face daunting foreign-policy tasks as well as a mother-in-law of a recession, we hope you all take time to listen to the trees and hug your loved ones. And to be very very nice to everyone you meet. And stay in touch.
Happy Holidays
Linda & Stephen
Murdock/Johnson
PTY 14079
10000 NW 25th Street Unit 1
Miami, FL 33172-2204
Home phone 011 507 240 9984
Monday, December 8, 2008
Got a new Fridge!
Linda's new stove and frig as well as the buffet before we ate.You probably don’t know this since most news we received is only close to our part of the world. But there have been horrendous rainstorms all over Central America for the past two weeks. The damage is wide spread, especially the mountains of Panama and even affecting the only two bridges spanning the canal.
And suddenly this week lots and lots of 5-foot Douglas fir Christmas trees have appeared for sale. Now, you know they have made a long long trip to shed their needles on warm floors all over Panama. The tree lots are often under a big tree (appropriated) and the merchandise is hung by twine from the branches. So it looks like a lot of dancing
Christmas trees under the boughs of the mother tree.
As we were driving on the main highway we came across an Atlas Beer truck which had crossed the road, hit a bus and tipped over. Several people were killed and all the carnage was gone by the time we arrive. What was amazing was that there were dozens of cars and truck stopped by the wreck with everyone rushing to take as many cases of beer as they could carry. There was police there but they were just directing traffic and making no effort to stop the looting of the truck. I have to get used to this.
I have spent my first week as a volunteer teacher at an international school. My job is to do as I am told and have a good time. And I am teaching English to Spanish, New Zealand, Mexican and Dutch kids. Then I get to do Spanish vocabulary with some of the English speaking older kids. It is fun to be in that environment 8 hours a week and the only homework is preparing for the Spanish lessons since I already know English pretty well (or is it good?).
We had our first house party today with about fifteen people. Linda decided since we don’t currently have a table to seat more than 4 that we should have a luncheon. And when we began planning the party we had a very old and dysfunctional stove and a tiny tiny fridge. So on top of scurrying around to at least five stores to find the stuff we needed (since grocery stores in Panama do not stock the same items all the time) we shopped for a stove and frig. After looking at the large chains and not striking any deal, we found a small independent store that had a wonderful stove made in Ecuador with electric sparker and a great large fridge to match. We bought it the day before the party and it was delivered at 8 that night so we were just like newlyweds with a new kitchen outfit and me outside with a fresh red weed whacker making the front steps spiffy.
Anyway as we go into month two here, Linda left for Guatemala for a one week Spanish immersion program so I am here with our two dogs and a cat. Oh yeah, we have a fresh dog. She is small black street dog named Negrita who Linda rescued along with a nice man in town. She has now been spade and is learning the joys of regular meals and getting Grayson to stop growling and starting to play.
I gotta go take the dogs to the beach.
And suddenly this week lots and lots of 5-foot Douglas fir Christmas trees have appeared for sale. Now, you know they have made a long long trip to shed their needles on warm floors all over Panama. The tree lots are often under a big tree (appropriated) and the merchandise is hung by twine from the branches. So it looks like a lot of dancing
Christmas trees under the boughs of the mother tree.
As we were driving on the main highway we came across an Atlas Beer truck which had crossed the road, hit a bus and tipped over. Several people were killed and all the carnage was gone by the time we arrive. What was amazing was that there were dozens of cars and truck stopped by the wreck with everyone rushing to take as many cases of beer as they could carry. There was police there but they were just directing traffic and making no effort to stop the looting of the truck. I have to get used to this.
I have spent my first week as a volunteer teacher at an international school. My job is to do as I am told and have a good time. And I am teaching English to Spanish, New Zealand, Mexican and Dutch kids. Then I get to do Spanish vocabulary with some of the English speaking older kids. It is fun to be in that environment 8 hours a week and the only homework is preparing for the Spanish lessons since I already know English pretty well (or is it good?).
We had our first house party today with about fifteen people. Linda decided since we don’t currently have a table to seat more than 4 that we should have a luncheon. And when we began planning the party we had a very old and dysfunctional stove and a tiny tiny fridge. So on top of scurrying around to at least five stores to find the stuff we needed (since grocery stores in Panama do not stock the same items all the time) we shopped for a stove and frig. After looking at the large chains and not striking any deal, we found a small independent store that had a wonderful stove made in Ecuador with electric sparker and a great large fridge to match. We bought it the day before the party and it was delivered at 8 that night so we were just like newlyweds with a new kitchen outfit and me outside with a fresh red weed whacker making the front steps spiffy.
Anyway as we go into month two here, Linda left for Guatemala for a one week Spanish immersion program so I am here with our two dogs and a cat. Oh yeah, we have a fresh dog. She is small black street dog named Negrita who Linda rescued along with a nice man in town. She has now been spade and is learning the joys of regular meals and getting Grayson to stop growling and starting to play.
I gotta go take the dogs to the beach.
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