Have you ever noticed how things come together? if you are reading about it in one place, you see it in another?

I've had that with a couple of things lately. One was Costa Rica; the other was patience.

Another book I've been reading and enjoying is Leap!: What Will We Do with the Rest of Our Lives? I read about the book in a catalog I received and thought it was one I'd like to own. Good choice!

Sara Davidson talks turkey about being a Boomer, born between 1946 and 1964 and the sea changes that will happen and are happening as that group comes of retirement age. I think the book will speak to those older than Boomers and younger.

She interviews a great many people, and I found the interviews touching, funny, inspirational, educational and worthwhile. I recommend the book to anyone thinking about it.

The basic premise, sort of, is that there are three ways of dealing: those who want everything to stay the same (and they might have been or will be forced out); those who only want to retire; and those who want to do almost anything than what they've been doing, but don't wish to retire. And within that broad range, she places her interviews.

At one point, she hears that many people are retiring to Costa Rica for a variety of reasons including affordability and (lack of) taxes. She goes on a fact finding trip to see what is available with a couple of real estate people in Costa Rica along with the group they are taking around. It reminds me a bit of time share visits, though not the pressure. She ultimately realizes it is a bit out of touch for her, with travel time and lack of connections to market her writing. But it is beautiful and the beaches are to die for.

I had just read that section, when I saw part of a segment on Costa Rica on TV. At first I thought it was a vacation spot, and it was so unbelievably gorgeous, I said, I don't care what it costs, I would book in for it....for one night...no matter how long it took to save. Then I found out it was a vacation home. I wish I knew more about who owned it and how they built it, where they live and how they made their money. That's a lot to ask, isn't it!

Basically, there were separate circular pods all open to the beach. One large pod was a kitchen big enough for everyone to cook in. I'm not sure if that was adjacent or separate from the large family room with fireplace that overlooked the ocean with about 150 feet of invisible sliding doors and overlooking a pool with no edge. The grown children each had their own pod. And there was a bunker pod equipped for hurricanes where they would gather in a storm, though each pod was supposed to be bunker worthy too. Furnishings were minimal and white so all the emphasis was on the view.

I realize the photography was perfect; the lighting was perfect...perhaps being there (or getting there) would not be nearly as beautiful or perfect as it was on TV. But I have never seen a more beautiful place ever.

I've never been to Costa Rica, have you? [Addendum -- we went on a cruise in December 2007 -- one of the things we did was traverse the rain forest from the canopy.]

Karin

Originally posted 2007-06-16 13:48:45.

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In case anybody was wondering about Katie Holmes' hair extensions and beautiful look when she attended the movie premiere in Japan and its cost, the Daily Mail has reputed that it was a a £30,000 makeover.

Yowser.

And she has removed the long hair extensions which supposedly took six hours to put in and cost £2,000.

And how was the rest spent, you ask? I'm glad you asked.

£7,000 in spa treatments,
£20,000 in dental veneers
£1,000 for premium make-up.

And how long did it take her to achieve this flawless look? Evidently, more than two days.

Youth by itself is normally gorgeous. We don't half appreciate it at the time.

I could make a joke and say that I could understand it costing me £30,000, but Katie Holmes?

The bar is ratcheting up in today's market.

It used to be enough to have your own teeth; now they need to be white. And they should be straight. But have you ever noticed how many movie stars' teeth are not, when they are projected on the wide screen? How come is that, when the rest of us are bombarded daily with adverts promising us white, white teeth and a perfect structure. And quickly too!

Whatever happened to wanting our own form of beauty rather than becoming a copy of someone else, because everyone is being made over by the same doctors and their look is the in thing?

And have you seen the photos where Madonna now looks eerily like Kate Winslet? It used to be enough to be Madonna, even when she looked like her real self a la Desperately Seeking Susan.

I refuse to believe it's that hard to be a woman.

Of course, if they have money to burn or want to be unrealistically, perpetually young, they will have to go the extra mile. And then the bar is ratcheted up once again for the rest of us. But first, I'd take a trip, then I might consider taking another one. Then again, I can't conceive of having that kind of money.

How about you?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-21 18:49:34.

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