finally new vans

Remember when I said we were getting new Toyota vans? Well I finally got myself to Liberia and into the Toyota dealership and signed the papers.
A mandatory Burger King Whopper Tejano combo meal later and James, Rafa, Jonathan and myself are driving back to Tamarindo. Its about time for these vans, our current ones are pretty sad. They've been dying for way too long, and now that we have new ones we can just swap them out every year or two years or whatever. Its funny because I've bought so many freaking vans with WRSC, I can't even remember how many. Now all we need are our bus plates and these things will be there to pick you up at the airport. How do I describe my job at WRSC? hmmm.... every day is different, thats for sure. Tomorrow I get a huge shipment of Nicaraguan blocks cut from a stone quarry. Wednesday I drive up to the mountains to Zephyr, where we've just finalized the floorplan for the sustainable casitas that we are now about to begin building there. Thursday I think I'm going to paint my bedroom. Friday we open the new bar. Thats a work week in paradise I guess. Oh, wait, I'm flying to San Diego on Friday, even better. I miss my family quite a bit as its been two out of the last three weeks that I've been down here, but I'll be back there soon and staying for ten days before coming back. Life down here is pretty classic. I feel more tico than gringo after all of this going back and forth. I love seeing mariachis walking down the beach. I love walking into a tico bar, like I did on my way back from Zephyr on Saturday. I was cruising with my old college buddy-turned-doctor Andrew Illig and Eduardo. Some dude was passed out drunk on the floor of the bar, just wasted, and everyone just goes on like its no big deal.
Tamarindo is still just as difficult to swallow for someone like myself who has been here for enough time to learn how things work. This whole Save Tamarindo stop-thy-highrise is out of control. It seems as if it is supported by rich gringos trying to save their hillside views, which they'll still have, just not the same after a town grows this much. To be honest, it would be best for the growth to continue BUT BE LIMITED TO the town of Tamarindo. At least we can keep the country the country. Town and Country. I'm sure this is exactly what it must have been like growing up in Hawaii. Tamarindo is going to grow regardless, people should be rallying to be shown where our tax dollars are going. Am I the only one paying taxes down here or what? Not to bitch like I tend to do, but what about a sidewalk? hmmm. The surf has been fun, and thats good. The last two days the winds have been howling offshore, and even though it hasn't been huge its been fun on a longboard and fish. I am a little concerned that the rainy season will be here before too long (usually early May). Although it doesn't really start with serious rains until into September, I don't think the town is prepared for the rainy season as they weren't prepared last year. There are talks about a privately funded treatment plant to be built at some point soon. How soon? After going to the Greenbuild Expo in Chicago last November I drafted a temporary water treatment solution that I presented to the Pro Mejores of Tamarindo. I got it posted in a few articles. I finally get the President Federico Amador on the phone, we talk about the issue. He says that the municipality is pumping people's tanks for free. I never got the memo, never got offered any water service, nothing. I'm pretty sure they talked about it but nothing happened. I get a meeting set with Federico for last Tuesday, the morning after I arrived to Tamarindo. He doesn't show up to his office and I return to mine with an email saying he couldn't make it. I've sent another email, again explaining my plan. No reply. I read the paper, and it talks about different groups fighting for the rights to develop a black water treatment plant, which is great, but what about what we're supposed to be doing between today and when that treatment plant project is complete. Digging up all of the roads to install sewer systems is awesome, but for someone who knows Tico Time very well, it won't happen any time soon. Can anyone shed some light on this subject?