Roca Milagro - Living in Paradise

Today we are launching “Living in Paradise”, Roca Milagro’s new newsletter. In this monthly publication we will be featuring news about our Roca Milagro development near Rovira Arriba and we will also tell you what there is to see and do elsewhere in Chiriqui Province and other parts of Panama. We will be sharing great Panamanian recipes and other interesting content that we hope you will enjoy.

If you have already signed up for email updates, you will receive the newsletter in your inbox. If you have not signed up yet, what are you waiting for? Sign up now, at www.rocamilagro.com

Your patio or mine?

At the beginning of February, I will be heading to Panama again for two weeks. I can't wait. Global warming has forgotten to include Ontario, Canada, it its game plan, and as a result we are freezing our buns off here. We have had a ridiculous amount of snow, unusually cold temperatures, and there is, so far at least, no let-up. At least in Panama I'll be warm for a couple of weeks.

I am discovering, in booking flights and hotels and car rentals, that everyone is a little friendlier and a little more flexible with pricing and making deals. Businesses are hurting, folks, and they are beginning to realize that their customer is truly their most valuable asset. They are beginning, at least in a small way, to act accordingly.

In my Canadian office, every time I have a meeting with one or more of my management staff, I sense some level of worry among other staff members. I reassure everyone that we are a solid company, are in good shape financially, and that no-one is going to lose their job, but people are nervous. Jobs are scarce. I am grateful that we don't have to worry too much about the financial mess out there but I sure wouldn't ever want to become complacent.

There appears to be widespread hope (even in Canada) that somehow President Obama will use his superpowers and superior intellect to solve the worlds' problems. Don't count on it. A mess is a mess and will stay a mess until someone cleans it up. Throwing more money at problems will only delay the inevitable and nothing will be solved. Obama is smart, but he isn't necessarily wise. There is a big difference. Part of wisdom is being able to recognize what hasn't worked and to do away with it, or at least not repeat it. Wisdom often means acting not on expedience, but on the knowledge that it takes time and effort to build anything useful and lasting. Obama has no experience, has never done anything even remotely useful, and is surrounding himself with many 'more-of-the-same' type of politicians and advisers. And no, McCain wouldn't have done any better.

What to do? Move to Panama, friends. Live economically, relax, let the world go by and enjoy yourself. And. . . I can even help you with a place to live, at our Roca Milagro project. You can enjoy our community of freedom lovers and watch from afar as much of the world as we have known it collapses around us. One of my partner's wondered once if our project might not be sort of a Galt's Gulch. She might be on to something, especially in light of what is happening around the world.

So, will we share a drink together on your patio or mine?

Merry Christmas, 2008

Dear friends:

I don’t claim to be a religious person but have to admit that the secularization of Christmas and the marginalization of Christians generally is troubling to me. Christians are oft portrayed as intolerant, closed-minded and, dare I say it, stupid. Having grown up in a Christian home and having seen first-hand how my parents and others in our church community deported themselves, compared to many in the larger community, I can say that in my experience I have found Christians to be mostly tolerant, forgiving and inclusive of those shunned by others. Whatever my personal feelings might be, I don’t want the celebration to be styled as ‘Xmas’ or any other aberration. It will always be ‘Christmas’ to me.

So . . . I am not including the tropical Santa photograph above as a sop to secularism. Nor am I excluding a religious graphic as an anti-Christian statement. I just thought the image to be an interesting juxtaposition of Santa, with his North Pole attire, against a backdrop of tropical shrubbery.

I took the photograph above in Panama City during one of my many trips to the Republic of Panama over the last several years. The setting tickled my fancy and I couldn’t resist taking the photograph to show my friends back home in Canada.

We are living in an increasingly troubling world. Our economies are broken, our governments are trampling our rights and voters are delusional about what politicians and bureaucrats can do to provide remedy. We are in for an interesting ride in the next several years. The world will be quite different from what it was when we were all growing up. With the exception of the gadgetry that we all enjoy today, most of the changes that we will experience, even here in North America, will not be positive.

I know that this Christmas missive from me might seem a bit strange with its subtext of doom and gloom, but it is not my intention to frighten anyone or to promote any sense of hopelessness. I believe that the indomitable human spirit that has seen the world and the human race through so many crises in the past will be triumphant once again, and that during troubled times we should just do the best we can and be thankful for what we have, most especially friends and families.

From me and my family, to you and your family, I would like to express my heartfelt wish for a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May good health and good sense be with you always.

Sieg Pedde
Christmas, 2008

A Short Story

Larry, Curly and Moe went to Panama. Oops, wrong Three Stooges. OK, Herb, Wilf and Sieg went to Panama. There was much buffoonery, but surprisingly some actual business was transacted. Then Kent arrived. Hilarity abounded. Sides ached. Many good meals were eaten and a bottle of wine or two were consumed.

Soon the trip was over. Goodbyes were said. Everyone went home. The end.

There was, of course, much more. But you are going to have to check back in coming days to find out what really happened.

Another Milestone

It's my birthday today. Age 63, if you must know. Don't tell anyone.

I'm still in Boquete, Panama and staying at the Villa Marita, a charming place owned by a man named Rodrigo and operated by his charming daughter Ana. Two of my partners, Herb and Wilf are here with me.

Wilf asked Ana yesterday if she would jump out of a giant taco in celebration of my birthday. She giggled at the bizarre image that suggestion must have created in her mind, but declined. Wilf has a great sense of humour but, frankly, I think Ana has more sense. She and her father have been perfect hosts.

I am rested, psyched about all of the great things we have accomplished on this trip, and am sad to be leaving Panama again so soon. By Sunday night I will be back home. I miss my family, but Panama does hold a special place in my heart and it is always diffcult to leave here.

Pictures and details when I get back to Canada and get caught up again.

Pecking for Fun and Profit

I was standing at my kitchen window a few days ago, watching as a finch repeatedly pecked away at a floor mat my wife had left on the deck to dry. The bird was trying, without much success, to pry away a few fibers with which to build or line its nest. Picking up blades of grass or other detritus suitable to its intentions would have been much easier but the allure of clean, white threads made the bird willing to work so much harder.

We humans are like that, aren't we? When we are motivated by desire for something we really want, we are willing to work ever so hard and long to get it.

Or at least that is the way it used to be.

I think that these days we are so much into instant gratification that we want everything right now. Usually, the only way for many of us to get something right now is to borrow money or make a promise to trade something of equal value in the future. Our perception then tells us that the scales are no longer balanced; we have want we want now but we are paying for the thing well into the future and are usually paying interest for the privilege of instant gratification.

I prefer to buy what I can afford, pay for it and forget about it. The resultant peace of mind makes the wait worth it.

This weekend, I am off to Panama again. I'll be gone two weeks. There is a lot happening on our Roca Milagro project and I can't wait to see the physical changes since I was there last, in February. Two of my Canadian friends and partners are coming along and a good time will be had by all.

I am in discussions with friends and associates to form an investment syndicate some time in September or October with the express intent of investing in Panama and other Central and South American countries. Most of what we propose to do will be land banking but we may also be interested in purchasing hospitality businesses or residential rental properties. I don't know yet what the buy-in will be to participate in our syndicate, probably $50,000 or so with ongoing monthly contributions yet to be determined. If there is any interest in this beyond the core group of investors we already have, we will consider extending the opportunity to participate to others.

I hope to take a lot of photographs while in Panama and will post what I can when I can.

I get to meet some interesting people in my travels and projects. One such person is Miguel Bernard. That's him in the photograph displayed above, playing King of the Hill on one of the many rocks in our Roca Milagro development. Miguel lives in the Boquete area of Chiriqui province in Panama and our company uses his services extensively as interpretor and facilitator. That is one side of Miguel.

Another side of Miguel is what he does to help underprivileged kids in the Boquete area. He heads an organization called Panama United Foundation which exists to allow sponsorship of children with help to pay for expenses associated with going to school: tuition, books, uniforms, etc. A PDF brochure is avilable here.

I support Miguels's efforts, both in principle and financially. If you have some cash to spare and an interest in helping kids better themselves, I encourage you to donate to the Panama United Foundation. Every dollar helps.

More Roca Milagro

(click photos to enlarge)

Construction methods in Panama seem primitive compared to what I am used to in Canada. The finished product, whether house or warehouse, usually looks just fine, but the steps getting there are certainly not what I am used to. In the top photo, a workman constructs one of the pillars that will become part of the entrance gate to our Roca Milagro site. The structure will be massive, with a 20 X 20 foot space to drive vehicles as large as cement trucks through and will be surrounded with our ubiquitous rock walls containing shrubs and flowers. It will be topped with an elegant wooden cap made of Nispero, a strong and durable wood harvested in Panama.

The bottom photo shows a road bed taking shape inside the development, heading into the site towards the Rio David and spectacular views of Volcan Baru. The cloud cover in the photograph obscures the views but is in itself very pretty.

We are considering building a pyramid on our site of the variety common to Central and South America, but of course much smaller, say 10 X 10 meters at the base and with about the same height. There would be an observation deck at the top. If anyone knows anything about such structures that might be helpful to us, please let me know.

I'm Back in Canada (Boo Hoo)

I'm back in Canada, just in time to experience yet another snow storm. Nuts. And apparently there is another one brewing somewhere out there and will be heading this way soon.

As usual, I had a great time in Panama. I met two partners in our Roca Milagro project that I had never met before. I am very particular about with whom I do business, and was pleased to find that the gentlemen in question are as good a fit into our organization as I had hoped. They are nice to spend time with as well. I personally screen and approve everyone who comes on board as a shareholder and in the case of these two men had to rely on telephone and email exchanges to make my judgment.

It appears that we have no more shares to sell in our company. Several existing shareholders, after visiting our site, decided our project was such a good opportunity that they decided to buy up the few remaining shares. We have a really great bunch. Most of us had meals together every day. I haven't laughed so much in years.

There were disappointments too. Things sometimes move at a snail's pace in Panama. Although we managed to improve the road between Rovira Arriba and our development site on time, the approvals we are waiting for to begin road construction inside the development itself hadn't arrived by the time I left Panama. We have graders and bulldozers and dump trucks and rollers and who-knows-what-else waiting, but we can't make a move without that final stamp of approval. We are now told that it should be forthcoming this week. Let's hope.

The trip was too short. I didn't accomplish everything that I had hoped to, so I guess that means that I will be heading back soon, unless I can delegate some of the chores to my partners already living in Panama. Should I? Or should I simply hop on a plane again at the earliest opportunity and take care of things myself? Hmmmmm, let me think . . .

Taking 'it' with you, sort of . . .

One of the reasons people are flocking to Panama is for an affordable retirement. With prices quite low compared to what we are used to in North America and Europe, it is easier to maintain a comfortable lifestyle as we prepare to ride off into that final sunset. I know we can't take 'it' with us when we go on to the next world, whatever 'it' means to each of us, but for those of us who prefer a saddle over riding bareback, perhaps we might be allowed to saddle our apocalyptic mount with one of the Panamanian saddles pictured above. I asked the proprietor of the saddlery the price of the saddles shown and he said $105.00. That can't be right, can it? I had him repeat the sum for me, and I'm sure that's what he said. How much are similar saddles where you live? They are at least five times that amount here in Ontario, I think.

Of course, I would rather saddle up a horse of flesh and blood, rather than a phantom steed assigned to take me to my just reward, so I would look to purchase a suitable mount in Panama. One of the horses shown here, near Cerro Punta, would likely serve my purpose just fine.

While riding my horse in the warm Panamanian sun, I might have need of some cool refreshment. How about an ice cream cone for 25 cents, as advertised on the sign above? Sounds good to me. My friends in Boquete were complaining that ice cream cones had gone up from 25 cents to 35 cents at one of the local hangouts. What a shame!

A dollar goes a long way in Panama. The line forms over there.

Reflections on Panama

I'm back in Canada. I missed my wife and son while I was in Panama, and knew I had lots to catch up on when I got back from my latest trip there, but part of me didn't want to leave. I envy my partner Phil and his wife, who now live in Panama and get to experience the relative tranquility and beauty every day.

The two Canadian friends I took with me on this trip loved the country and our Roca Milagro project so much that they have decided to join us not only in our venture but to build a home in our development eventually and perhaps retire there some day. Who can blame them? Not I.

Many people have this idea that Panama is a backward place with grinding poverty, poor infrastructure, political instability and lots of risk for investors. In fact, while there is poverty there in relative terms, the people are happy, relaxed, friendly and open. Much of the country is pretty much like parts of California or the American south, and was so, long before swarms of gringos arrived at the start of the current economic boom. The picture displayed above was taken near Cerro Punta and, I think, illustrates my point.

What is happening in Panama is truly amazing. The entire country is a beehive of activity. Billions of dollars are puring into the country and those dollars are being spent on projects of every description. The increased tax revenues to the Panamanian government allow for dramatic improvements to infrastructure. In the Boquete area, near our development, there is zero unemployment. Everyone who wants to work is working. Panamanians are industrious and quite entrepreneurial, so this generation is going to benefit significantly. The next generation will benefit beyond what we can imagine. All this while other Central and South American countries are moving backwards. The difference is entirely due to the infusion of capital because of the welcome given to capitalists and their money.

One of the things I like in Panama is that everyone is treated the same. There is no racial tension. Blacks and whites and Hispanics and orientals all mix and live together and treat each other with respect. I'm sure that if Martians or Vulcans showed up in Panama some day, they would get a few curious glances for a day or two, then become part of the general milieu in no time.

I will post more as I get caught up a bit, and will also try to catch up on posts written by all my blogger friends while I was off in paradise.

Tidbits from Panama

I've been having a frustrating time here in Boquete, without internet service much of the time due to some unknown problem. I don't have much time for a serious post right now, but maybe have a moment for a couple of little stories:

We stopped at a little Italian restaurant last night to check it out. I guess, more properly, it was a Panamanian restaurant, serving their version of Italian food. While we were standing at the front door checking out their menus, a bird flew into the open door, landed in an electric light fixture, and set itself on fire. The little place probably really could have used our dollars, but the smell of burning bird pretty much killed our appetite. I guess it killed the bird too.

My friends who joined me on this trip have decided to become shareholders in our Roca Milagro project. The male half of the couple is a rather fastidious, particular gentleman when it comes to construction methods and finishes, so I nearly fell over with shock when he mentioned to me that perhaps all that was important in a laid-back and beautiful place like this, was that the doors to your home closed properly so the family goat couldn't get into the house. He had seen a goat grazing in the yard next to the restaurant we had just left.

I think he likes Panama and everything he has seen here. So does his wife. She is already planning how she might put her lawyerly skills to work somehow, and how to decorate her home when it is built on our site eventually.

I think my friend has it about right. Sometimes we expect far too much from our lives and everything around us. Perhaps all that is really important is that the doors close properly so that the goat doesn't get in.

More posts when I am able . . .

Make a Joyful Noise!

Christmas is a time for celebration in Panama: big, noisy, joyous celebration. Last Saturday night, I roamed the streets of Boquete as thousands of celebrants gathered to watch a parade, eat delicacies from the carts of street vendors, and throw firecrackers. Yes, fireworks appear to be an integral part of Christmas in Panama. Panamanians must all have read the passage in the bible (in Psalms 98:4, I looked it up) where it says: "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."

On the day before the parade, one of the female attendants at the inn where I was staying, beckoned me over to look at something she was taking out of a small box. Several bright red and very tiny components of what I took to be a Santa's elf costume appeared, and she held them up for me to admire. I am very scientifically-minded, and in the interest of being able to report to you, dear reader, the absolute unvarnished truth about everything on which I report, with every detail just as accurate as it can possibly be, I suggested to her that she don the costume and that I photograph her in it. I was curious to see if the tiny bits of cloth would actually cover all of her interesting bits. She giggled, and informed me that the costume was actually for her daughter. Drat! Another scientific opportunity lost.

Dressing up in costumes and marching in parades is as big in Panama now as it was in the U.S. and Canada back in the 1950's and 1960's. Many of you might be far too young to have experienced life in that era, so I will tell you that it was a time of parades, marching bands and baton twirlers -- things considered archaic and uncool by many of our jaded and disconnected youth. If you miss that noise and excitement, off with you to Panama where they will hold a parade at the slightest excuse.

Things in Panama are simpler in many ways. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, we all need to uncomplicate our lives just a little.

Let's all raise a glass to the simpler things in life!

A House in Panama

I'm back, safe and sound, in good old Ontario, Canada. I had a rather hectic week in Panama, dealing with various business matters, but it was fun, overall. It would have been nice to have had a little more time to enjoy the sights and do some more exploring, but that will have to wait until next trip.

I bought a house while in Panama. I haven't told my wife yet, though. I'm a bit worried about how to break the news to her. According to her, I once bought a 17-unit apartment complex without warning her in advance, and I am therefore understandably nervous about repeating the error of not preparing her for such a large investment. The complex I bought years ago was in a town called Bothwell, Ontario, but my wife always called it 'Botswana.' Do you sense that somehow she wasn't overly fond of the investment I had made?

My new house in Panama didn't cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. It cost considerably less. I purchased it from a nice Panamanian man who, with his entire family in attendance, was selling it and other similar constructions along the road that leads from David to Boquete. Yes, it's a bird house. What did you think?

Over the years, my wife has learned to deal with my acquisitions. She is by now quite used to my meanderings, with both feet and mind, and trusts my judgments and instincts. Thank goodness for that! A guy like me could drive a less understanding woman to drink, or worse.

When I eventually build my real house at our Roca Milagro property in years ahead, the little bird house shown above will be placed strategically somewhere, where I can always see it. It will remind me of my Panamanian trip at Christmas time, 2006.

Dreaming Big

Two little birds were our breakfast guests this morning. My partner and I ate on the patio of a local restaurant called ‘Olga’s,’ after the owner, by everyone in Boquete. Although there is a sign out front with the actual name of the establishment, I’m sure no-one actually knows what it says. Olga, or one of her helpers, puts out some fresh fruit for our little feathered friends every morning, and these two birds were among several who came to feast.

Boquete is changing at a dizzying pace. New buildings are going up everywhere. New residential developments are being planned, our Roca Milagro project among them. Many of the locals dream of making that one big property sale, and then having a pile of money to live on. This, after likely having eked out a subsistence lifestyle for decades, or possibly even through multiple generations of the same family. Everyone has big dreams.

That’s OK. Everyone should have big dreams. What if no-one dreamed big? We wouldn’t have cars, airplanes, space travel, computers and cell phones. And we wouldn’t be able to play Super Mario on our personal video game console. Of course, some think that we would be better off without all these things. Not me. I could do without video games, but I like the rest of the things that we all get to take for granted, all because a bunch of someones dreamed big.

My father, born in 1904 in Poland, ploughed fields with horses, rode to town in a horse-drawn buggy, and basically lived through the age of the automobile, the airplane, the jet, the rocket, the advent of computers and much more. To him, the changes in lifestyle that we all take for granted were astounding. We all get pretty blase about these things, don‘t we? Perhaps, in our own future, we will also see dramatic changes that will appear as strange and new to us as many of the things I mentioned did to my father.

In my father’s youth, it was a really big deal to travel twenty kilometres by horse and buggy to shop in a larger town. Today, I think nothing of hopping on a plane to Panama to take care of business. I wonder what he would think of all this. He died before I started this latest adventure of mine. Maybe he would simply think that I was being foolish, and that I should stay closer to home. But that wouldn’t be as much fun. Dream big, remember? And we have to enjoy ourselves, because one day it will be too late for anything but regrets. And then, someday, even regrets won’t be an issue. Dead brain cells don’t think. Nothing will matter.

I’m meeting a lot of people here who are chasing their dreams. Some dream of doing what I’m doing, or something similar. Some have other dreams. We’re all different, and that is how it should be. One man I met today wants to move here, live on $2,000 per month, and work in an orphanage. That’s his big dream. He worked as an energy trader in the United States, made a caboodle of money, now he wants to change his lifestyle completely. Maybe the fact that he is going through a divorce has something to do with it. Or, maybe, he really has had a lifetime dream of helping orphans. Who knows? That would definitely qualify as a big dream, in my books. What could possibly be of more value than helping little kids without parents get a proper head start on life? Not much!

Let’s all dream big. The world will be a better place for it.

More of 'Why Panama?'

I write posts about Panama often. I love the place, as regular readers know, and one day I will have a part-time residence there, in our Roca Milagro development in Rovira Arriba, near Boquete.

What is the attraction of Panama? I've never written a long, detailed analysis as to why anyone with a spirit of adventure should at least explore the place, after all there are numerous websites and blogs out there that already do that job admirably.

One of the things I like about the country is its diversity. It is a third-world country in some ways, especially when you are far off the beaten track and you see how the people live who have not yet been affected by the economic boom in the more populated parts of the country. When you are in Panama City, it is a bustling, modern city with every amenity you can imagine -- great restaurants, hotels, interesting things to see and do.

One of Panama's most appealing features is the exuberance of its people. To outsiders, it seems that the locals will use any excuse for a parade or celebration. There is always something going on: loud, colourful and joyous. It is infectious. Life should be a celebration and there is much to celebrate in Panama.

Back to Panama soon . . .

I'm preparing for my fourth trip to Panama since November of last year. I'll be leaving on December 11th and will be gone for eight days. Things are moving ahead with our Roca Milagro residential project in Rovira Arriba, in the mountains of Panama near Boquete. We have the first draft of our building lot and street layout ready, and are preparing to move ahead with all of the studies necessary to get approval to begin construction of roads, water and electricity and other infrastructure, hopefully by mid-2007.

Beginning a project like this has been quite an education for me. Someday, when things are steaming along full-tilt, and all of the start-up frustrations are out of the way, I might write about it. For now, just let me say that my oft-stated requirement that for me to get involved in any investment, it has to be fun, is being mocked on occasion. What keeps me going is the stunning beauty of the development site, my commitment to my partners and investors, and the general appeal of Panama as a place both economically and politically stable. What are a few small frustrations along the way? Look at the photograph of our site above, and imagine extinct volcano Volcan Baru in the background, and the sound of the Rio David as it rushes along one side of the property. Imagine yourself riding or walking along the trails, through the lush green areas we plan to set aside, all among beautiful homes designed for tropical living. That is the image I keep in mind to keep me motivated.

I'm looking forward to my trip. Panama is such a beautiful place. One of my partners, our project engineer, has already moved into a temporary home in Boquete with his wife, until he can build their dream home on our site. I have met other people in the area, both native Panamanians and some who have moved to the area from Canada or the United States. Everyone is friendly and relaxed. It is quite a change from our hectic and sometimes frantic lifestyle at home.

For now, though, back to real life and a cluttered desk.

Mañana

Today was lawyer day. Our Panamanian lawyer is in David, which is about 30 miles or so from Boquete. David is a smaller version of Panama City: horns blaring, traffic noises everywhere, cars and trucks scurrying hither and yon.

Signs proclaiming street names are not in abundant supply, anywhere in Panama. When looking for an address for the first time, you ask someone. Even if you speak and understand no Spanish, people are very helpful. They point, they draw circles or other shapes with their hands, and you eventually get to where you wish to be.

Or, you flag down a cab. For a dollar or two, the cabbie will lead you to your destination. One dollar goes a long way in Panama.

Phil and Temy and I had lunch in a grand old hotel in David and chatted. We spoke of things that are, and of things that will be. We all get along well, and I am grateful for that. It will make a huge difference in the execution of our plans, if we all interact as friends, as well as partners.

Tomorrow, we will be meeting a bunch of potential investors at 'Olga's,' for breakfast. Fortified with her delicious cooking, we will all drive to Rovira Arriba, to look at our Roca Milagro project. We will share cool drinks in the shade of the orange grove on our property, and we will enjoy ourselves. Interesting people, in an exotic setting, in a beautiful country -- what could be better? We will have fun.

It is difficult, sometimes, for me to leave Panama. By Sunday, I have to be back in Panama City for my flight home. I do look forward to seeing my wife and son again, and to finding out how my son his doing at high school. Still, this is a difficult place to leave behind. I console myself with the knowledge that we have accomplished so much, in such a short time, and that there will be many more trips to Panama in the future.

For now, I am here, and I am enjoying myself. I'll worry about other things tomorrow, or the next day, or next week, or...

Mañana.

Boquete Again

I'm in Boquete, Republic of Panama. My partners, Phil and Temy, and I arrived early in the evening. The temperature here in the highlands is considerably cooler than it is in the coastal regions. It is a welcome change.

Temy is off staying with his relatives. Phil and I went to dinner together, in one of Boquete`s charming restaurants. The bar area was packed with American expats. We`re both bone tired, so we stopped in at a variety store for some snacks, then headed to our usual abode while in this area, the Boquete Garden Inn. At the variety store, I bought two packages of local ground coffee, totalling about 680 grams (Panamanian coffee is excellent,) two packages of local cookies, a large Snickers bar, and two cans of fruit juice. Total cost: $5.29. Translation: it doesn`t cost much to live here.

Tomorrow, we`re off to look at our land, chat with the surveyor, and hopefully meet some people who are interested in investing with us, or in purchasing building lots at Roca Milagro. It should be a fun day.

A few moments ago, I chatted with my wife and son back in Canada. My son made me promise to bake him homemade waffles "until they come out my ears," so of course I agreed. As my wife and son appear well, and everything seems as it should be, I am going to cut this short and get some sleep.

More in the coming days.

Trees

Roca Milagro Residential Community site - Rovira Arriba, Panama

I have made my lists and checked them twice. I have printed out reports, maps, projections. I have packed my laptop. I have located and packed my passport. I have a supply of U.S. dollars. I am ready to head off to Panama again, to deal with my Roca Milagro project.

I feel guilty, though. Yes, it's a business trip, with a very hectic schedule. But I am leaving a house full of unpacked boxes for my wife and son to deal with, while I entertain clients and investors in Panama. Yes, I know, life isn't fair. I will have to make up for it all somehow, when I get back.

I am taking my laptop and my digital camera. Maybe, if I can organize my time well enough, I will get time to take some photographs and write some blog posts. I hope so.

My family and I made our last visit to our old home yesterday. There were lumps in throats and tears in eyes. Nearly fourteen years in one place. A long time. Lots of good memories, and even some not so good memories. All together, it was a slice of a sometimes too eventful life.

As it got darker outside, we strolled around the property and I remembered planting some of the trees that were now twenty or more feet tall. The Chestnut Tree, I transplanted from my parents' yard, something to remember them by. The Larch Tree, I planted because my mother often spoke of the Larches beside the river in Poland, where she grew up. The Tulip Tree found a home with me because I loved its large glossy leaves, and its tulip-shaped blossoms in the spring. It is a Carolinian tree, and I was afraid at first that our climate might be too cold for it. No problem. All the evergreens around the perimeter of the property protected it and it flourished. It will be 90 - 100 feet high one day. The Linden trees were reminders of my family's' time in Germany, where Lindens abound. The varieties of Locust trees were planted because I loved the thin, feathery leaves and the speckled shade they provided. The Dawn Redwood was planted because I thought a tree that would tower over 100 feet high would be just the thing, in one corner of the yard. I am going to miss those trees. They grew up with my son. They grew older with me.

Now I have a featureless back yard. No trees, no shrubs, no flowers. No room for more than perhaps a single tree and a few shrubs. Less work, though. More time for living.

And living is what I hope to do, for a long, long time. I want to enjoy my family, my work, my life.

And I will... all of those things. Occasionally, though, I think I just might drive back to our old home, cruise around the block, admire the natural beauty of it all, and remember.

Good memories.

In the meantime, there are lots of trees on our property in Panama, and I will enjoy those.