Time flies when you’re having fun and that’s my excuse for
not writing a blog in such a long time. Mark and I have left the San Blas
islands almost four weeks ago! Finding an arrangement for Irie was quite the
challenge after planning (and reserving) everything very carefully and months ahead of time,
but I’ll leave that ordeal for another time. We hope she is safe on her mooring
ball. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing, since communication seems to be
a problem. If anybody is around to take a quick look at her mooring lines, we
would appreciate it…
To get from the middle of Kuna Yala to Panama’s capital took
a while and required careful planning as well. We spent the night before
leaving the country in a homey B&B to be on the safe side. You never know
around here and you have to account for anything. Transportation to Panama City
included a 40 minute boat ride with a lancha and a 3.5 hour trip by jeep. To
acclimatize for the Westernized time to come, Mark and I visited the Albrook
Mall – easily the biggest shopping mall we have ever seen. Just strolling the
main aisle on the lower level took hours.
Our frustration with the problematic internet situation and
our decreasing tolerance for a hot and humid climate, made us leave for the United
States two weeks earlier than planned. Mark and I were both ready for a break
from the tropics and the boat life, after living aboard 1.5 years non-stop.
Everybody needs a little vacation once in a while, even we do! :-) This decision also
meant that I was able to be with Mark’s family and friends during this leg,
instead of spending just 12 hours in the airport on my way to Belgium. We
stayed at Mark’s parents’ place, where we caught up on some of the tasks we
were unable to do for months. We ordered boat parts and other goods, went
shopping in real stores, researched stuff (hurray for working internet!!!) and
ate fast food (and healthy home cooked meals as well). We also spent a fun
filled weekend with Mark’s best friends and joined Mark’s sister and her
husband in Connecticut for a handful of days.
When it was time for me to fly to Belgium, I was ready for
the change in culture, language, company, familiar environment, “long lost”
friends and activities. I brought the sun with me, as they say in Belgium and
after months of crappy weather here, the temperatures turned pleasant. Of
course, it started to rain while I write this. I am quite content with the dry and
crisp air, the pressurized showers, the space around me and the happy summer
vibes. Belgium
is awesome in the
summer. Of course, it is always great to be the subject of attention after
people haven’t seen you for ages! I can’t believe I have been back for almost
two weeks. Every day, there is something nice or special to do, see, experience
or eat! Or to take care of. Next week – on Friday the 13
th – Mark
will join me and then, our vacation can start in earnest.
Boston from the air.
Lunch in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts with Mark's parents Carol and Stan, and niece Jo.
Family dinner at Tim and Kristen's place.
Typical American BBQ - with a buffet of yummy food and good friends - on a sunny day.
Ryan mans and masters the grill, while the rest of us relax - and trust him.
Scott and Lisa's new car has a lot of "specials" (gadgets?).
Enjoying the lovely weather on the property Dru and Brian maintain in Connecticut. Could we live like this?
Tasty and healthy dinner with Mark's sister Dru and Brian.
As a couple
being in a long, healthy relationship – married or not – the all-important
question about kids will eventually pop up. Do we want one/them or not? Living
the lifestyle we live, Mark and I have postponed that question, or more
importantly the answer, for years. But, the clock is ticking… I will turn 37
this year and we feel it will have to be decided soon. I have come as far as
wanting to have the kid(s) before I am 40 or not at all. To us, it is the most
important and difficult question of our lives and coming to a conclusion is not
easy. Instead of “just” answering with yes or no, like land-based people with a
steady income, job, house, family, school system, health care arrangements and
routine, we have to (re)consider our whole gypsy lifestyle, finances, plans (?),
living quarters, location, amenities, hygiene, and more. While mulling
everything over and spending time in Belgium, we are surrounded with plenty of little
ones to be inspired!
I was only in
Belgium for a few days, when I found out about the “SIS-camp”, a long weekend
old friends and Scouts leaders organized to spend time with their families and
with each other. For me, it was the perfect time to reconnect with these great men
and women and to meet their – many – kids. The weekend was fun-filled with
activities, relaxation in the sun (yes, back then there was sun) and exchanging
life stories. I got to play with kids of all ages, hear “different” visions
about having and raising kids (nobody could live without them anymore or
regrets having them) and find out whether there is a mother figure hiding
inside.
The family
Collaert is small. My only brother has one daughter and then it is on to
cousins to hang out with kids. It is important to me to spend some time with my
only niece Lena. I first saw her in 2009 when she was nine months old, then
again when she was 1.5 years old and this time, she is three and a half. She is
growing up fast and all I can do every year is send her a birthday card, which
in itself is hard enough to do from countries like Panama, where random mail
boxes are non-existent. After her shyness during our first encounter, we are
best friends now and each time she visits her oma and opa, aunt Liesbet gets to
play with her!
Last weekend,
Mark arrived and both of us visited my good friend Rosy and her husband Peter.
It has been a tradition to spend the whole weekend with them, each time we
visit Belgium. This time, there was a big difference: their eight month old
daughter Yanou. Like many friends before them, they “gave in” and decided to
have a baby. They are travelers by heart and planned to not change their
lifestyle too much. Being at their place for a couple of days, Mark and I
experienced life with a baby, just as it is. Yes, husband and wife still spend
quality time together and yes, they go on excursions with the whole family, but
… everything takes much longer and life has changed enormously, with different
routines and a whole bunch of extra responsibilities and less time for oneself.
The weekend was great and interesting, but whether we want kids ourselves has
to be seen in the (near) future!
