Not much has been happening in the past eight weeks since I’ve been back in  California. The fast paced life of everyone here has finally put it’s toll on me so I made the decision to head back in a couple of days. I’ll spend two weeks on Bruadair with David for the holidays, then fly back to California. For the past couple of months I’ve had the good fortune of staying at my twin brother’s house. Raymond with his wife Coleen and three girls have been kind enough to let me use their guest room. My younger brother has been kind enough to let me use one of his cars during my visit, making it much easier to get around. David has been doing good, we email each other all the time. The only big changes going on down there right now is the movement of some of the boaters in and out of the marina as cruising season begins.

It seems to me that everyone here wants everything, and they want it now. Here you can buy  all the things you don’t need, put it on credit, pay for it for the next 10 years, and do it all over again. The abundance of advertising on tv and radio, in the mail, on the internet and through billboards and signs continues to fuel people’s need to buy things they think they need. 

People appear to be so focused on themselves that they forget about those around them.  There is very little courtesy here, why is it that drivers can’t stop for 30 seconds to let a child cross the street? Why is it that people are so eager to show their middle finger but they don’t have the time to show the whole hand and wave?

I miss walking into a store and have someone smile and greet me, I miss having someone walk up to me and ask if I need help. My impression is that so many workers here want a paycheck, they just don’t want to work for it.

So yes, I miss Guatemala and all the other places I’ve had the opportunity to visit. I like the slower pace of life, the relaxed and undemanding lifestyle we’ve chosen. And I’m ecstatic about spending the holidays back on the Rio, I’m heading down in two days.

Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006 S/V Bruadair. No reproduction without written consent.