Achieving Equilibrium

Throughout life there is a continuous flow of high to low and back again in an attempt to achieve an equilibrium. It's that equilibrium, that stability, that we usually consider our everyday lives. Mick and I have had many highs and extreme lows during our blended lives; the highs you always relish and the trials are there to make us stronger. For now, and hopefully a long time to come, we are once again on the proverbial mountain top. There is so much excitement flowing through our veins that it is truly beyond description. It seems that every day there is something that must be accomplished in order to make our deadline for departure. Currently, the deadline, in itself, is somewhat of a moving target. Mick made the announcement this morning that he thinks we can be in Cuenca by the end of August! Moving targets are always difficult to hit but, perhaps this is feasible.

A few days ago we made a list of Cuenca things: things to take, things to ship, things for Nick, things to buy. Last night I began concentrating on the list of things to buy. Our "to buy list" included 2 Kindles, those should be here by the end of the week. The list for Nikolas is a bit more important. Nikolas demands very little of us in the way of things; however, he is enamoured by a special freeze dried beef liver treat. Yes, it smells as badly as it sounds; but to Nick, it is far superior to filet mignon. I've ordered four large tubs of the tidbits. His food can be purchased at the vet before leaving. We've picked up a collapsible house to use at restaurants, plus other items for our little one.

Another thing on the "to buy list" was a grill. Gas grills can be purchased in Cuenca; however, the quality did not seem to be quite that of a Weber. Mick decided to get one to go in the crate and we picked it up this afternoon. This crate may turn into a container.

Although we have only been documenting our little adventure for a brief period, we've surprisingly been contacted by quite a few interested souls; some have even been in our own area. Today we had lunch with a couple from Mooresville, NC that had contacted us while we were in Cuenca. We met at Azteca for a delightful lunch. The couple is Dale and Joan Lance. Both are on the verge of retiring and are extremely interested in Cuenca. They were really good company and we'll see them again before our departure. Then we'll see them in Cuenca in February, when they are planning to come down to peruse the area. Below is Dale, Joan, and Mick outside the restaurant.

In the past few days we have had many moments of reflection on the past year. The reflection included many things. Last July we were in Brasil, planning on making the permanent move there. Things happen. We don't always understand why or how, but there is a an unknown force driving the sequence of events. If there is interference at any step, the outcome would be different. Last July, Cuenca was not an option; but look where fate has directed us. As a result, our lives have been enriched by our many new friends and acquaintances. Our baseline for life has been raised and as a result, the peak is becoming the equilibrium.

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy