March 13, 2011: Costa Rica Ed – The Home Life

I would like to thank those of you who have commented and emailed me about my travel blog, and while Jackie and I relish in our time in our newfound paradise, we are just like the rest of the majority of you. We are working towards our vacations and eventually retirement…our retirement coming in 4 – 5 years (hopefully) in Costa Rica. Until that time come, we will be planning our next vacation time to El Sabanero and doing the everyday things of the normal “working stiff”.

My job in logistics has me travelling fairly extensively, away from home for 3 – 4 days each week. Jackie, in accounting, gets to stay at home after working long hours and covers the home-front with our 5 cats and a dog who require her attention during the week. During our home life together, we seem to be always project oriented. Whether it be painting a room or the exterior of the house, reconstructing a bathroom, planning a garden, or refurbishing a thrift shop find, we seem to always be involved in a project.

Our current project is the most bold we have endeavored and that would be renovating our Kitchen and Family Room. This is a project we have been planning for a few years, but finances and time have limited the plans to make a kitchen we would be comfortable in and would have the maximum return on investment we would be looking for. Our current kitchen is very functional, but out of date with laminate countertops, sturdy but dark cabinetry, dull flooring, and appliances that need upgrading.

Old Kitchen

Old Kitchen with Pass Through

Family Room Pass Through

So off we go towards granite, stainless steel, hardwood flooring and cabinet refacing. Being a novice DIYer, I would like to take on those projects that are within my limits. Bering a design idiot, I am leaving the concept creation to Jackie. So, I am refacing the cabinetry, creating a lighter, burnished cabinetry which will brighten up the area. After a couple of design plans to work with the cabinetry within the pass through, we decide to move the cabinetry to a free wall and open up the entire area, meaning more deconstruction.

After picking out the granite slabs, having electricians to do the lighting and circuitry changes needed, choosing the hardwood and getting quotes from installers, the DIY work begins for Jackie and me. Jackie is not fond of painting, but agrees to prime the base cabinetry for my refinishing. We both work on the deconstructing. So now we have progress in works: