A Week of Not Much Progress and a Slow News Week

ISSUE #168: Dec 24-29, 2007

2007-12-29

» NOTES

When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly news letter —determined to tell all the good, bad, and the ugly. I knew some readers would be interested in the construction process. I expected others might be interested in the lifestyle of two people who had decided to live outside the box. For others, the adventures of lita, the parrot and the cat took on an entertainment saga all its own.

Residencias Los Jardines is finished. We periodically have resales and rental availabilty. Some readers may be interested in this information.

More and more, the content will be dominated by events of our new project, "El Dorado" for short. While the future is always uncertain, I again aim to tell it like it happens —the good, the bad, and the ugly, and that is what follows.

In an effort to make the format more interesting and visually appealing and to field inquiries re. El Dorado, the news letter is now being distributed by Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager, Hacienda El Dorado. I will remain the author.

» MARKETING, WEBSITE & SALES

Website: Our website support said they would have all changes made between holidays;  we're waiting and hoping this will be the case.

Sales: We have been receiving potential buyers this week from all walks of life starting with young couples from the United States and Costa Rica to investors/part-time residents all the way to potential buyers looking for a home to in which to retire. We are aware that we are not selling used vehicles and that people need some time to digest information, compare the wide range of options available on the market before making a final decision.

» CONSTRUCTION LOG

Architect: We still don't have a complete package

Surveyor:  He's done his work—for now

Fence:  No progress;  the crew has returned home to their families in Nicaragua

Well:  It's capped and sitting there. The rig has been moved closer to the guard house for night time security. We'll start drilling the 2nd. well around Jan. 2.

Bridge:  It's holiday season; no movement on this..

Retaining Walls:  We were stopped by a different government branch which says the information we were given was / is incorrect. We'll sort it out in the new year. This is typical—it's hard to know who and what  to  believe here since there seem to be conflicting, vague, ambiguous or selectively applied rules, overlapping jurisdictions, and perhaps petty jealousies and big egos involved. Who knows…... Given this backdrop and the Tico culture, which wants to avoid confrontation (in N. Am. this would be written as "problem solving") sometimes we have to force the issue.

Land Fill / Earth Moving: We continue to carve out surplus soil from the future site of Maya Tower. This is being moved to an area where we have extended the culvert for the quebrada. The remaining cement culverts have been placed and are being covered. We have a two registers to build and a retaining wall and that will complete this work.

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

For Sale:  Nothing available at the moment but January should see two units on the market.

Poster Boy!!! Yes, RLJ has our own "poster boy" on the calendar of one of the Santa Ana gyms. He's offered to sign his picture—for a beer…..Our 104 resident was front and center when the camera found him.

» OUR LIVES

Weather: Lots of overcast, cool, some drizzle—very unusual—but at least we don't have to shovel it!!!!!
 
Work: Nothing going on so with the Christmas cigars and new shirts, the hammock and I have gotten re-acquainted. Perfect for the year end reflections which I always do.  Re-uniting with life long friends is certainly near the top of my "unexpected" memories.

Parrot:  She's behaved herself—she was caged except when Lita played with her.

Seasonal Socials:  This whole series of eat fests started with an elaborate appetizer party, a Christmas Eve  roast pork and trimmings. On Christmas Day we enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner. Lita and I have organized a pool side casual  pot luck get-together –make your own Dagwood sandwiches, chili con carne, home made nachos, chicken wings, several salads and a variety of deserts--on Sunday Dec. 30 for residents of Los Jardines and their guests.   We are also on for  a roast lamb and beer can chicken on New Years Eve followed by another person's ham and  scalloped potatoes on New Year's day..  My wine cellar is being seriously depleted.

Friends Arrive:  We have friends from Quebec and Ontario arriving Saturday night for a week. They were last here 3 years ago and we lived in a very different home and the development was under construction. This time will be a significant change for them.

Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies— Chico and Chica.

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