Home is where your heart is, or a more philosophical, poetic view of home, encouraging the soul to remain boundless.
Hello all, and welcome to my monthly journal. This month, an invitation to join me, in spirit, in the beautiful land of Costa Rica. I share with you five points, things that have inspired, kept me busy, or that I have found interesting.
1. My New Home Office
I’m writing from beautiful Nuevo Tronadora in northwestern Costa Rica, waking to an incredible lake view every day. The temperature ranges from 20°C to 24°C—near-perfect shorts-and-tee climate.
The photo below, “Lilly,” is a painting on the side of our house. The painter, Carlos Solano, is a local artist who does some vibrant paintings on the town’s houses and landmarks.
One day, I made the mistake of chatting with friends on our patio for over an hour. It was a cool, comfortable day with the sun shining brightly, and I learned a valuable lesson: even when it feels cool, sunscreen is necessary.
2. The Windsurfing Capital
This area is the windsurfing capital of the world. Every day, the wind gusts at about 50 km per hour. In my section of the lake, I’ve seen sailboats, kayaks, kite surfers, and boaters—no windsurfers yet, surprisingly.
The lake is named Arenal after the town that once stood here. In 1968, a volcano erupted and destroyed the town as well as the towns of Tronadora, Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luis.
The hydro company created Lake Arenal from the devastation and provided former residents with two new towns, Nuevo Arenal and Nuevo Tronadora.
Another of Carlos Solano’s paintings, this one on one of the town’s schools.
3. My Daily Routine
Since arriving, I’ve established a rhythm: wake at 8 a.m., meditate for half an hour, followed by exercise—stretching, karate, and yoga. Shower, breakfast, then my morning writing ritual. These past mornings, I’ve been inspired by the ospreys who soar through the sky effortlessly, seeming to float on the wind currents.
4. Life in Tronadora
I walk about 10,000 steps every day, enjoying the small-town vibe and hanging out in family-run eateries—sodas, as they’re called in Costa Rica—or quaint coffee shops like our favorite, Lava Lake Cafe.
Sometimes I swim in the lake, about a 15-minute walk from my home, to an easily accessible area to enjoy the cool, clear water. A group of Howler monkeys greets me from their vantage point high up in the almond trees. I took the above-featured photo of one of the Howlers.
5. Back to Work
At some point, I must return to work on my Samba Book 4. It’s been hard to dive back in after missing my opportunity to publish in 2025. My new publishing date is tentatively set for April 2026.
My hearing is returning after an ear infection, and another project waiting for me in the wings is the audiobook for Scratchy the Squirrel: A Time for Friends.
I’ve been spending my evenings with John Irving’s The Last Chairlift. He is an excellent storyteller with a gift for weaving marvelous, engaging narratives.
Recently, on Sunday evenings from 4 – 7 PM, I have enjoyed concerts at the Lava Lake Cafe. A quartet, with marimba as the lead instrument and accompanied by other percussionists. Great fun and listening enjoyment.
Make sure you check out my Patreon page, as I have a new children’s story, perfect for a bedtime story. Remember, reading to kids makes for great future readers and writers, too. Reading to young children, starting in infancy, can support language acquisition, communication, social, and literacy skills.
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Stay safe, be well, and keep reading.
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