Growing up I always looked forward to the transition between seasons. It always seemed to bring about a fresh outlook on life. That things were changing and for the better. I guess that is because I have always been an eternal optimist. For some reason I have always had the notion in my head that the future would be better than the past. When one thinks of a tropical country like Costa Rica, so close to the equator, what comes to mind generally is a place like Florida where there really is no notable change in the seasons. But that is not the case at all. We have two basic seasons here, summer (or verano) and winter (invierno). Winter is the longest season and lasts from say mid-May until the end of October. During that time we get rain and lots of it. In dense tropical areas like the southern pacific coast it can rain non-stop for days on end. In the higher elevations, like San Jose, the rains are generally in the afternoons. In the northern pacific area, the province of Guancaste, the rainy season is more compact and the dry season longer. On the Caribbean coast the seasons are somewhat inverse to the rest of the country, with the winter or rainy season occurring at the time of the dry weather in San Jose. This tiny country is such an amazing study in contrasts, both environmentally and culturally. It makes living here unique and always adventurous. The period we are experiencing now in my home of San Jose is the transition between winter and summer. It will last from now, mid-November, up through Christmas. It is marked by wind and can be a bit chilly in the early mornings and in the evenings. The mornings are crisp and clear and the evening sunsets are extraordinary during this period. I love it because just like during my Carolina childhood days, this changing of the seasons marks a change in the circumstances of life. We just had an incredible change in the circumstances of life in the U.S. with the election of the first African-American as president of the U.S. While you may oppose his views, you certainly cannot oppose the positive effect of arriving at a point in time where racial barriers to such an event even taking place at all have been removed. That is good. Change is good when viewed from the right, optimistic, perspective. I love Costa Rican weather. I love the sun and the rain. I embrace the change, the contrasts that make life seem more alive and worth living. Embrace change and change will embrace you. Pura Vida!
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