So I Eventually, Suddenly Decided to Go

Yes, after many months of deliberation, several weeks of hemming, a few days of hawing, a couple of hours' worth of dilly-dallying and a last-minute schedule change, I have finally decided upon a destination for the next leg of my transient existence: Costa Rica.

Granted, my decision-making prowess only extends to generalities, and narrowing the field from country to town has proven a conundrum. I could explore the remote jungles of the southwest, soak up the ragga-vibes of the Caribbean coast, or join the expat-surfer community in the northwest Pacific. It all sounds pretty good, right?

So, very much like those old childhood days of perusing Nerds, Starburst and Sweet Tarts at the neighborhood candy counter, I have scrounged for change in my pocket and found just enough to go ahead and blow it all on the works. I won't exactly cover every inch of coastline, but I do intend to see and surf what I can, riding a lot of buses and working from many internet cafes in the process.

I'm packing as light as one can with boards in tow, happy to be rid of the cumbersome objects and material possessions that stack up when you sit in one place for very long. My music's all on the iPod; the couple of books I bring will be traded away once read; the clothes will require a couple of washings per week whether they get them or not; and the laptop slides conveniently into my backpack, from which hangs a small sleeping bag.

I will miss San Diego, particularly the neighborhood of Ocean Beach, an alcoholic little beach town where I made my home for the past year. The good times were never further than walking distance, and the friendships were good enough to overshadow the inevitable hangovers. All in all, a pretty homey place, enough so I may return someday. the same could be said of the USA.