This day, exactly two years ago, we made the life-changing decision to leave the familiar comforts of Holland and embark on a new adventure in Costa Rica. What began as a dream of homesteading in paradise, has transformed into a profound journey of self-discovery, challenge, and personal growth.
The reality of our new life has been far from the romanticized vision we initially imagined. The hardships have been real and sometimes overwhelming. There are moments of doubt when the ease of our previous life in Holland seems like an impossible paradise. Some days, I find myself longing for simple conveniences: readily available products, efficient services, easy travel, and - most importantly - the deep social connections I left behind.
The challenges have been more fundamental than we ever anticipated. Water – something most take for granted – has become our most persistent adversary. Our water system is a daily battle of pumps, filters, and constant maintenance. Each water failure isn't just a technical problem; it's a metaphorical assault on our dream of self-sufficiency. Imagine spending hours fixing a water pump, only to realize the solution is temporary, the next breakdown always lurking.
Perhaps more challenging than any technical problem is the growing sense of isolation. Our journey might be seen as something between an exotic adventure and a self-inflicted challenge. Our water pump failures, our daily challenges of homesteading – they seem like footnotes in a life that others can't quite comprehend.
Yet, beneath these challenges lies a deeper truth. This life is one we chose deliberately – a conscious decision to step away from the predetermined path and create something uniquely our own. While Holland offered comfort, here we have something else: purpose and autonomy.
Projects are abundant here, though they often feel like work and haven't yet translated to financial stability. Each day brings new challenges, learning opportunities, and the raw experience of building our life from the ground up. The isolation can be intense, and the loneliness sometimes weighs heavy.
The irony isn't lost on us. We sought freedom, and found a different kind of constraint. Freedom from the urban rat race, yes, but also freedom from the easy connections, the casual conversations, the shared cultural understanding we once had.
But there's an underlying excitement – we are writing our own story, moment by moment. I've learned that purpose isn't about ease, but about intention. In Holland, we would have needed to invent projects. Here, the projects surround us naturally. Every challenge in the end is a lesson, every struggle a potential stepping stone to something greater.
This isn't a lamentation, but a documentation. Our water issues teach us resilience. Our isolation pushes us to redefine connection. We are creating a life that feels authentically ours, challenges and all.
Our journey is far from complete. There are massive rewards on the horizon – I can feel them approaching. This is more than a change of location; it's a transformation of life itself. To those back in Holland, and to fellow dreamers contemplating a similar path: our story is not a cautionary tale, but a real, unfiltered narrative of transformation.