Happier Than a Billionaire: Quitting My Job, Moving to Costa Rica, and Living the Zero Hour Work Week by Nadine Pisani
Author:Nadine Pisani [Pisani, Nadine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Autobiography, Biography, Humour, Non-Fiction, Travel
ISBN: 9781458112279
Google: 1v77oQEACAAJ
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2014-10-30T00:00:00+00:00
Residency, Jehovah Neighbor,
& Italian Parts
I don't quite understand how electricity works, but I am guilty of taking it for granted. Small offenses like leaving the television on after walking out of a room or staring repeatedly in my refrigerator for something to eat were never a problem in the States. Outlets were always grounded, and my little electrical world was abundantly filled with lots of reliable overhead lighting and ice cold Dr. Pepper. I remember those fond days with the tenderness one might have of their first summer romance.
It is unclear who wired this house, but surely it could not have been a licensed electrician. He must have called in sick, so the builder used the landscaper to finish the job. There are absolutely no grounded outlets, not one. This morning, I foolishly wanted to make toast during a storm; a surge came through, zapping the appliance and launching my flaming bread two feet in the air. It was an incredible production only outdone by the incendiary crumbs dissipating across the floor and burning my socks. There is no better way to watch your toaster bite the dust and ignite your feet simultaneously.
Another thing that you don't usually see in the States is here, people steal electricity. They jimmy-rig cables and create a connection from the high voltage lines to a pole on the top of their house. When I first witnessed a guy doing this, I wanted to applaud the man, give him a well-deserved standing ovation after tossing him a bouquet of carnations. He's the guy you can rely on when you need a job done. What's a few zillion volts to your head when your fiancée wants to watch the Real Housewives of San Jose? Bravo, Sir… bravo.
It's strange to live in a place where you can't even count on the utilities, but on the flip side, it does keep you focused on the more important things. I don't have time to scrutinize every wrinkle on my face when I need to figure out why we haven't had water for eight hours. In fact, periodically shutting off the water or giving a well-deserved electrical surge to the American public would definitely keep them off their anxiety medication. Who cares if your mother-in-law is coming to stay for a week if you are busy extinguishing a fiery crock-pot? It's just a matter of priorities.
It also explains why people are so nice here. They don't sweat the small stuff, and they focus on the present moment instead of obsessing over the past or future. Valuing what is mundane in your life, not just the spectacular, might be the long sought key to happiness. Something as simple as turning on your faucet and seeing clean water should make you ecstatic each and every day. This is another lesson I've learned since moving here. It took an exploding toaster and first degree burns to convince me.
Happiness and a carefree attitude do not come naturally to some people, including me. Nevertheless, I
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