Bienvenidos a Casa Ingaso, Altos del Maria, Republic of Panama

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APRIL 2011: “Six Years and Counting!”

(NOTE: Newcomers, who would like to get an idea of what this site is all about, would be well-advised to click on "2005 Pages" and read that introduction. Enjoy!)

As of last month (March), TC and I have lived in Panama for six-years; also, on January 15th, we celebrated our fifth-year in Casa Ingaso. After almost thirty years of living together, it's the longest we've ever stayed in one domicile. (Yes, you're right, we moved around a lot—didn't want those authorities catching up with us.)
During our time here, we've seen lots of ex-pats come and go, not finding for one reason or another what they'd hoped for—whatever that was. Whereas, I've never been happier.
Now, far be it from me to interpret why others don't feel the same, but I believe one thing you need here is a high threshold for boredom. Myself, I never get bored. Can't say why, but boredom isn't something I'm prone to—it's not pertinent to my introspective lifestyle. So, living here in Altos del Maria is ideal for me. (Although, you'd think with our lack of access to excess I'd lose some weight...)
Besides that, it seems a little odd to me that people "our age" wouldn't know themselves well enough to know whether they could deal with living in an isolated, albeit bucolic setting; a locale without much in the way of "modern" entertainment—the Internet aside. But then, the flippant epigram occurs to me: no matter where you go, there you are.
If you don't know you're the problem, then making a fresh start might look like a solution. So, some people think that by moving, their lives will improve, not knowing or not wanting to admit that their lives are the way they are due to themselves; and, sad to say, it's a condition upon which age appears to have no mitigating influence.
What's all this have to do with Casa Ingaso? Nothing, except that maybe it sheds some light on why TC and I are so happy here. And, I believe that's part of what Ingaso's galleries reveal: our abiding joy. It's a quality of the photographs that I, myself, find contagious. How? Well, I don't need to tell you that I'm pretty burned-out with writing these updates (it's why they're so few and far between).

(In fact, I recently came across an animated gif that perfectly illustrates my frustration. Click the image for the animation, then click anywhere to stop it.)
Yet, when I start sorting through our recent photographs, their appeal infects me and I begin again to re-engage the update process. It's the images that inspire me, that remind me, and that dispel in me my sense of inertia.
I don't know about you, but I smile a lot when I go through the pictures—and not just over my poor attempts at humor. I think they reflect the joy that seems to permeate our lives. We feel lucky to be here, fortunate to have found a place we love so well, and a life so free from conflict, whether internal or external.
Now, it's uncertain as to whether the fact we also like ourselves is part of the equation. But, I no longer feel the need nor the desire to move. Quite the contrary, I never want to leave Casa Ingaso.

Okay, I guess it's time to put my money where my mouth is (what a strange idiom), and give you some photos to illustrate my point.
So, with all that in mind, let's take a look at the latest Casa Ingaso album. Just click on Mama-jama to begin, and like always, the link on the last image will bring you back here.

Some of you might remember our friend, Dennis, who visited last summer. TC and I have known him for decades—he was co-owner of the dinner theater where we met. Well, while digitizing boxes of old slides, I found this image of Dennis seemingly mesmerized by some Easter-time marshmallow chicks. But, no one remembers it.
Oh, before you click on the image, Dennis asked me to mention that living in Arizona has some benefits as far as personal protection is concerned.
[Click the photo to continue...]

Also, since last we talked, TC traveled to yet another yoga school. I'm sure the fact that this one was in Guatemala, near the town of Panajachel, situated on Lake Atitlan, an area she spent a lot of time at back in the '70s, had nothing to do with it...
Anyhow, the retreat was held at Villa Sumaya, and focused mostly on Kundalini yoga. It also featured a lot of mantra music and chanting, so our iTunes now has several new playlists.
To view TC's photos from her trip please click on the photo, and a new browser window will open over this one. Close it to come back. Enjoy!

Our next gallery documents sister Andrea's latest visit. She barely made it out of the frigid conditions in the midwest before flights were cancelled, plus she escaped hours of shoveling snow. I can't imagine...
Coming here in the middle of a horrible winter must be like stopping hitting yourself over the head with a hammer, if you get what I mean. You sit on the terrace of Ingaso and ask yourself, "Why was I doing that!?!?"
Anyhow, click on her and enjoy!

Almost as soon as Andrea left, Douglas arrived.
We knew Douglas back in Southern California more than fifteen years ago, but we had lost touch and never thought we'd see him again. That is, until the wonders of the world's social networks made it possible.
TC has been trolling Facebook looking for old boyfriends and acquaintances. Well, her searches have proved "fruitful" on several occasions, and finding Douglas was just such a one.
So, when Douglas planned a trip to Costa Rica to visit friends, his itinerary also included a couple of weeks at Casa Ingaso.
Click his face to see the results...

And that brings us to the last event of this update: Beach Week! That's right, once again our intrepid women wanted time away from their insignificant others so much they were willing to pay for it. And who could blame them? Men are a motley bunch, better taken in small doses.
And, once again, if you click on the picture, it will take you to TC's Kodak Gallery documenting the extreme silliness women only exhibit when there are no men around. (If you want to see a larger version of this picture, click HERE.)

Well, friends and neighbors, that's all she wrote. Time to make like a leaf and get the flock outta here! Hope you all had a good time, and we'll be seeing you real soon, you hear? Keep those cards and letters coming; the cats appreciate 'em...

“¡Happy trails, Amigos!”

[click here for our next update...]