We traveled to Bhutan and Thailand in March, a trip of a lifetime. Fortunately, for me, my second trip to that part of the world. It was not yet monsoon season, late winter, so not as green in Bhutan in October when I previously visited. As compensation, though, the skies were clearer, so we saw Mount Everest and the high Himalayas as we flew. We took a long hike one beautiful day and watched a farm family preparing and planting its fields with potatoes. This was physically hard work, done only with a tiller and by hand labor, but harkening to a simpler, happier time. Bhutan, its emphasis on Gross National Happiness, is a lesson for America where Gross Domestic Product is everything. I heard at a retreat years ago, “What you value is your God.”
We retired, giving us time for travel to Brevard, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina. Lots of concert music and sights to see! It also gave us time to visit and spend more time with family. We enjoyed kayaking, Indian artifact hunting, and the total eclipse with granddaughters, Olivia and Mya.
We ended the year with one more trip – Costa Rica. I had visited there about 15 years ago, but was able to enjoy more of the country, including a side day trip to Nicaragua with its volcanos and colonial history, so beautifully on display in Grenada on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. We saw its dry and rain forests, each with its own flora and fauna. The wildlife included crocodiles, caimans, sloths, coatimundi, monkeys, and an incredible variety of birds.
Costa Ricans enjoy a much better life than many other Central Americans, but there is still a great deal of poverty compared to the rich life we enjoy. Nicaragua is even poorer. Many work in Costa Rica even though the lowest paying jobs. It was evidenced by the border traffic as people traveled home to spend Christmas with their loved ones. We saw several horse drawn carts filled with hay and one team of oxen pulling a cart laden with firewood. This was along the Pan American highway, a major roadway. Bicycle travel was common, dangerous with the proximity to traffic.
Nativity scenes and other Christmas decorations were everywhere. A highlight was Mass at Iglesia Catolica de Playas del Coco on December 17. The themes of my life have become focused on richer spirituality and trying to become less materialistic. Materialism is such a disease of modern America. It leads to selfishness and shallowness. The rich family life of the Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans, despite there material poverty, is enviable. In many ways, they are richer and happier than we.