I found it challenging to move into the hectic pace from Central America to North America. At one point I was severely scolded for being 12 minutes late. The tempo of life here is dictated by the clock. Distances are such that a car is essential and always allowances need to be made for traffic.

Where we have been living in Costa Rica in harmony with the days and nights, the transition to an American mode of living, according to the clock, has been challenging.

We made the St Vrain State Park our home, on the front range, just east of Longmont, Colorado, for nearly a month. That time allowed us to get Molly ‘ship shape and Bristol fashion’ , as well as visit many old and dear friends. The location was an oasis in a very densely populated part of America. At our backs was Highway 25, which saw the passage of more vehicles in 15 minutes then existed in all of the Caribbean part of Costa Rica where we lived. Our neighbors included great blue herons, pelicans, ducks, Canada geese and osprey, among others. Our front yard was the sweeping snow covered vista of the Front Range. That place still has a hold upon me and I always feel at home when I visit there.

A ritual campfire on Saturday evenings with two of my more hardy friends, Sandy and Robert, was another experience of an extremely physical transition. The howling North West wind and frigid cold had my body screaming: ‘What are you doing here, man?!’

Thank you, everyone in Colorado who made our stay, and transition, enjoyable.