Pura Vida

emilyklein
Feb 28, 2017
4 min read

When I last left Nosara, Costa Rica I thought it was anything but the “Pure Life.” I had two ninos under the age of 3, was recently recovering from a 2 month bout of some sort of parasite, and was covered in layers of dust mixed with sweat. It’s been exactly 5 years since we left the birth place of our two oldest children, as well as the birth place of our Love and Marriage. Costa Rica holds mucho for us. It was the foundation of US……

5 years later, one additional bebe, several different jobs on the resume, 3 houses filled with memories, and new friendships in the books and hearts…..

I’m reflecting on that Nosara life we lived with and without kids. It wasn’t an easy life to live, yet it was the easiest I’ve lived in my life. A friend that still lives in Nosara just shared her feelings on that little pueblo and it completely resonated within my soul. And I’m just realizing that she and I moved there within a few months of each other. Thank you for sharing, Sarah…..

“8 years ago this month, we packed up and headed South. I craved the solitude, adventure and aliveness that I knew Nosara had to offer. In need of these unpaved roads, genuine exchanges, sense of freedom, change of pace, simplicity and sunshine…

Just a few short months after my dads passing would be the perfect time to make the leap, take the plunge and allow myself to go deep…in whatever forms that would be. Looking back, I couldn’t be more grateful for the many years of friendships, adventures, heart breaks, heart openers, and endless work travels and opportunities that have unfolded. This place has thrown me on my ass more than several times, shown me those lessons I still never seem to learn, and forced me into expansion when I didn’t exactly feel ready to expand. But isn’t that just bittersweet life?..…

When you remove the distractions, there you are….there it is…every last bit of everything you may or may not be ready to see. Without TV, shopping, the convenience of ordering at any time of day, the “convenience” of being distracted…you sit…and play…and adventure…and dream. Many times alone, and many times surrounded by a group of like minded friends after an ATV ride to a waterfall or on a beach with thousands of turtles nesting. Life in its simplest form is done so well here. Less is more, every single day.

The locals perseverance and sense of community show you humanity. The struggle an old man faces as he pushes his bike up a dusty hill gives opportunity to lend a hand. The late night wake up calls by a tarantula on your face or a scorpion on your leg remind you that you’re in their home. The monkeys moving through the trees allow you to slow down and watch. The power outages make you say, “oh, shit….will I sleep tonight in 90 degree heat with no fan…is someone about to rob me?” The sunsets explode your senses. The water shut offs make you cry…and learn to conserve. The lawlessness makes you simultaneously feel alive and know that death is one wrong move away. The ocean humbles, the dust kills, the energy awakens, the community feels, the heat exhausts, the rain enlivens, the lack of things make you appreciate…a hot shower, a good meal, a friends stop over for coffee, an everyday glimpse into the life of another culture.

Here in Nosara I may never have a street name or house number to receive a piece of mail to, have a TV, or fast enough internet to stream movies. I may go to bed shortly after the sun sets and wake up with the Howler monkey alarm clock, and feel that Im missing out on some city life, but not the city noise. I may get frustrated with the zoo Ive adopted, or the “Tico Time” mentality when it comes to getting shit done. But damn, this is an awesome, awe-full and liberating place with some of the most mindful, life enhancing people I could ever know. I can’t know where the next career or personal life move or travel will take me, but I hope these lessons are forever engrained in my being. The lessons and opportunities are endless….without material things, life is more abundant. Nature brings out the best in all of us. Forever grateful for this little corner of the Earth and all its delivered these past 8 years

“

I can’t imagine Spencer and I going back to live there…. but I do hope we can get back there with the kids someday soon for a few weeks to share this special place with them. After all, two of them ARE “ticos.” After reading Sarah’s post and looking back at a few pictures, I am refreshed by the simplicity that this place offered my soul.