Progress Report
January 29 - February 3, 2007 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #121
Contact phone numbers
Internet Phone:
New York: 315-279-6711
Toronto: 416-907-5758 // 416-461-2203
Costa Rica:
Cell: 506-305-3965
Land: 506-282-4142 Ext. 101
NOTE: the New York and Toronto numbers are "local calls" for people in the area codes; calls from outside the area code will be billed at the normal rate from the caller's area code to either the "315" or the "416" area code.
NOTE: NOW THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIALLY FINISHED, THE LOG WILL FOCUS MORE ON THE RIO ORO DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL BE INFORMATIVE TO THOSE PLANNING ON BUILDING, THOSE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PURCHASE OR TO LEASE, AND FOR THOSE WONDERING WHAT EXPATS DO IN COSTA RICA AND THE LIFESTYLE OF TWO ORDINARY PEOPLE.
The STORY: Rio Oro inches ahead and TECHNOLOGY!!!!!!
CONSTRUCTION
Rio Oro Development: The meeting with the City on
Tuesday was very productive and cordial. The reported
issue of wanting specifications on the black water
treatment plant seemed to fade away and was never
mentioned. (Odd that it ever arose at this stage.)
The City has given us permission to continue doing
what we are doing: cleaning up the land of debris and
underbrush and to scrape in access roads. They also
said they would approve the application to build the
perimeter fence. They also advised us on applications
we should get in the works now because of the length
of time it takes for approvals -the bridge over the
stream, a catch basin at the headwaters of the
stream, and covering the water runoff we want to put
underground and then level the land.
As the land becomes cleared of accumulated debris and
brush, it becomes more and more clear that our choice
was excellent and that we have such a great
opportunity to create a beautiful development with
virtually each lot offering a view of
something-valley, stream, hills, and some even all
three.
We have continued to make two more tiny refinements to
the site plan. We have the lot sizes calculated now
and numbered. This is necessary information to
determine what can be built on each lot. We will now
begin to work with the electrical - mechanical
engineer to determine the specifications and layout
for services. We have divided the land into phases
for construction.
RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES
Satellite TV: I'm still having trouble but all 9
other people are enjoying their systems. DISH changed
the receiver codes twice on Thursday/Friday -just
before Super Bowl. The new codes were published
within hours. We reprogrammed and were up and
running. DISH and others must hate this "free to air"
technology.
Irrigation System: We are still making above ground
irrigation systems; I keep seeing new opportunities.
We'll probably be at this task for the next week. When
finished, we should have about 75% of the area covered
by these simple systems. Total installed cost will be
less than $1,500 vs. an installed cost of an in-ground
automated system of over $15K.
Rentals
Unit 121: Two story, 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathrooms
including Jacuzzi, terrace facing east looking at the
sunrise and the mountains. 1,650sf. Beautifully
furnished - $1,600 mo.
Unit 123: A beautifully situated unit nicely
furnished is available for lease - $1,650 mo. this two
bedroom unit with 2nd. floor terrace overlooks the
lighted garden and one swimming pool as well as the
mountains.
Unit 126: This is leased.
Resales
Unit 106B: 1 / 2 bedroom, two bathroom, two terraces
(east and west) 1,250sf. Fully furnished - $150K.
Note: vendor owns another unit.
Unit 108: 2 floors, 2 bedrooms (one on each level),
2 1/2 bathrooms, Jacuzzi, walk-in vault, executive
class furnishings including a 42" plasma TV, east
facing terrace looking over the large pool and
mountains and a ground floor back terrace for outside,
private dining - $270K.
Unit 120: Single floor, 1,300 sf, 2 bedrooms, 2
bathrooms, executive furnishings throughout,
beautifully decorated - $190K.
Note: Same owner for both 108 and 120; the owner
wants to sell one of the two units.
OUR LIVES
Technology!!!!!! You've got to love it to put up with
soooo much frustration!!!!! I would probably have
some of the same problems in N. Am. so the frustration
is only partially location based and partially
personal incompetence.
VOIP phone: This system failed several weeks ago and
was solved by various people's help including bringing
components from Canada.
Satellite TV: Loss of satellite signal in the
evening: this is a problem looking for a solution and
has been going on now for a month. Other systems are
working fine. Mine isn't!!!
Ink cartridges for my printer: a new HP printer and
it took a day to find cartridges. Inventory management
is not something that has reached CR yet. What would
have happened were I to have be located in someplace
other than near San Jose?
Personal Safe: I couldn't get it open. I requires a
key and an electronic code. I'm into it several times
a week; never a problem. All of a sudden, I just
couldn't get in. I could not find the override key -I
always keep a box of "mystery keys" but after having
moved 4 times in the past year, I now don't know where
that box is. After accepting defeat, I locate a safe
cracker. He opens it after a few holes in the front.
The safe worked fine; I had the wrong combination -I
was entering only 4 of the 5 digit code!!! Now I
jokingly worry that this is the beginning of
Alzheimer's; I didn't have it written down-I certainly
will from now on!
It takes a lot of people to keep me functioning.
Fortunately I have a community of friends who know
what a techno-idiot I am and fortunately I'm located
in an urban area where help and products are available
(more or less).
Golf: We have several people on site who love to
golf. The local course was offered a special price at
Los Sueños on the Pacific beach about 2 hrs. from Los
Jardines. All three were very disappointed -even if it
were not so far to drive, it was too hot to enjoy
playing and mediocre course for even the discounted
price.
More birthdays; more laughs and Lita seems to be in
the middle of it all making it happen. She always
tries to encourage the shy and usually does a good job
because she doesn't take "no" for an answer!
I find it difficult to understand how there is always
something new to laugh about, some new story untold or
relived in a different light, some new practical joke
planned or executed, and some new story about
someone's over exuberance or over indulgence and the
subsequent kowtowance to his wife. Periodically we all
have to retreat into our own company for a few days
only to emerge and carry on again.
Lita and I will be going to Granada this next week.
I'm not looking forward to the bus ride but once there
we'll enjoy it as we always do.
Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon
toed parrot.
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