Progress Report
June 26-July 2 , 2005 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #38
Contact phone numbers
Internet Phone:
New York 315-279-6711 // Toronto 416-907-5758
Costa Rica:
Cell 506-305-3965 // Land 506-282-0910
This is a very abbreviated report; I'm still in
Canada. I'll be returning Thursday next.
Pictures: 5 of Unit 107
CONSTRUCTION
Permit: We now have the renewed letters we had before
stating that we have City water available (not that
we are relying on it), that we have installed the
rainwater culvert and have devised a method of
diverting our roof water into it, etc. On Friday, I
will sign the document saying that I won't break any
environmental laws and won't commit the 7 deadly sins
against the environment. Will this be the last
requirement from SETENA? We don't know; my partner
feels a "tone of finality" in the document. I hope
he's right.
Roadways: curbs are done except for that area around
106 which will be a construction site. Curbs will be
one of the last things to be done.
Unit 107: work continued. This unit should be
completed in another couple weeks. The window contract
will be let this week. The 2nd. story is boarded and
taped inside and outside. Stucco is mostly completed
on the exterior. Parking and garden areas are being
defined.
Unit 106: We expect to break ground on this fourplex
soon. The weather is o.k. -raining every couple days- we can live with that. We are getting the final
drawings in place. The current occupants are
relocating to a vacant unit and the existing building
will be torn down to clear the site for the new
building.
Unit 102: I've asked the architect for a floor plan
and a rendering. I've reviewed the rendering and it's
fine -it has all the beginnings of being a fantastic
house. However, in my opinion, he needs to concentrate
on a floor plan first. We can make it pretty later
Marketing: We've finalized the ads for "A Guide to
Real Estate in CR" -a quarterly publication which
will be printed soon. We also finalized the ad for
the Tico Times.
I've offered to put some people up for a few days who
are looking to move to CR. They are expected to be on
site July 8. I promised not to break their arms and I
realize there are not promises. I'll take my chances
on active comparisons; the project will speak for
itself.
Other people to whom I made that same offer are
scheduled to move on site just before Christmas. As
an aside, we're working out an exchange arrangement
with their current house in Tamarindo.
I met up with a friend and person who I consider to be
an excellent marketer; he'll put together some ideas
and we'll see where we go with them.
TRAVEL DEALS TO COSTA RICA: U.S. Air has a
promotional sale on beginning Aug. 29 to Oct. 11.
Round trip fare from Fort Lauderdale to San Jose -
$162. Catch a charter to FL and it becomes a VERY
reasonable trip.
Several friends of ours from the marina are expected
to spend 3-4 months at Los Jardines this winter.
This, however, is largely dependent on us finishing
the units currently under construction. In the past,
we made arrangements nearby for them in a places which
were less expensive. This time, they want to be
onsite. Each will be great social additions and are
looking to create a way for 6mo - 6mo. sustainability.
They are each youngish with families and are looking
for a better lifestyle.
OUR LIVES
Most of the things I needed to deal with are now done.
We'll concentrate on renewing friendships now and
preparing the boat for a "For Sale" sign. In the
mean time, I believe a friend, formerly from the
marina and now floating between Toronto and CR, will
live aboard after we leave on Thursday.
Lita's life really isn't as good here as it is in CR.
All her friends are working here and don't have time
for her. I've found much the same -schedules too full,
no time for spontaneous get togethers.
Paul, my partner, is in CR now. He's getting a chance
to become slightly involved in the construction by
reviewing the drawings for 106, curb construction,
and monitoring work on 107. When not involved in
that, he's getting to know CR better and each time
becomes more familiar with his surroundings in the
area where he's decided to create a new life. This is
one of the advantages of having a partner who's a
builder; he can always double for me.
We are loaning our vehicle to our son and putting him
on our insurance policy as a 2nd. driver. We aren't
using the vehicle, it's residual value is nil, but his
insurance is $4,000 a year. I hope this doesn't come
back to might us; it did friends of ours. Insurance
in N. Am. has become crazy; I think the best
investment is stock in insurance companies.
At times, I've beaten myself up and become very
impatient with teething problems on technical systems
we've installed. The marina where we are docked
continues to have ongoing problems it hasn't solved
for several years. I hope that is not our future but
perhaps I should be a little lighter on myself.
The internet phone is working well now; what a thing
of beauty. The wireless, high speed internet has also
become fairly reliable. I am, however, investigating
some equipment to make it more so. Phone, water and
electrical systems were always fairly reliable and
remain so. The gate? I think we are making
progress.
For Canadians, June 26 is "tax freedom day". The
theoretical day at when the average
Canadian begins working for him/herself. This date is
usually extended a day or so about every other year.
I'm not sure it includes all the various little charge
backs for services being instituted by various levels
of governments. I had a conversation with an
accountant last night; he confirmed that the total
tax bite is more like 72% of the average earned
income. In my opinion the realistic tax freedom day
is about November 26 if one really includes ALL the
taxes, like capital gains.
Brian, Lita, lonely Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the
pigeon toed parrot.
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