Larry Felder is one of those Baby Boomers who never took his eyes off the prize. Years ago, Larry and wife Linda decided they wanted to move to Costa Rica when they hit retirement. They'd been coastal residents for years and decided that the people, terrain and quality of life in this Central American country made perfect sense to them. After years of research, planning and preparation, they took the big expatriate leap - left their family and art gallery back in lovely Port Aransas, Texas - and landed in the jungle near Playa Hermosa.
Painting is the love of this Boomer's life...and he's wonderful at it.
The gifted artist paints oils and sends them back to the Felder Gallery in Port Aransas and when he's not painting or beachcombing, you may find him working on his blog An Artist Moves to Costa Rica. Since it'd been a while since we'd talked, I thought I'd begin by getting Larry to give me the lowdown on Costa Rica....
What are you doing these days?
After three kids, my wife (of 40 years) and I retired in the hills near Playa Hermosa, a small beach town in the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. I paint oils and send them back to our son's art gallery in Port Aransas, Texas. I am writing a book and a screenplay and writing a blog on my art.
I like to grow things and everything grows here (no freezes). Today, I finished making curtain rod holders out of the bamboo we have on our property and a friend came over and helped Linda sew the curtains. Also today, with my machete I accidentally cut into a PVC water pipe that was running along the Hibiscus bushes belonging to the Yoga retreat next door, so I had to fix that! Thanks to Skype, we talk with our kids frequently and get to watch our new grandson grow up. Moving to a foreign country is not for the faint of heart, but it was right for us -- life is good!
Where is your favorite vacation?
My favorite vacation was the many times we went offshore fishing in Costa Rica and then rented a 4 x 4 explored on our own. Friendly people, Pacific Ocean, Beaches, Mountains, Rivers, Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Tropical Plants, Monkeys, Toucans, Scarlet Macaws and Crocodiles -- right weather -- not too hot or cold -- rain in late afternoons and evenings with sun in mornings). I haven't worn long pants in six months and don't plan on it. I'm there now and plan to stay.
Dog or Cat?
We are basically dog people, but don't have anything against cats. There is a program in Costa Rica called the Mckee Project which takes starving and mistreated dogs off the streets, gets them well and puts them up for adoption. We adopted two when we moved here, Diego and Frida. People were not adopting them because Diego was too large (Great Dane/Weimaraner mix) and one was too fat. They are now healthy, spoiled and loved.
What are you reading now?
The Path Between the Seas -- The Creation of the Panama Canal (1817-1914), by David McCullough. Actually I read it years ago and am re-reading it. It was the most important engineering project of its time. It almost bankrupted France and cost tens of thousands of lives (they didn't know mosquitoes carried disease and thought poisons were being unleashed from the tropical soil they unearthed). It took the heavy-handed leadership of Teddy Roosevelt to complete it, thus giving America superiority over the seas -- and basically using the Navy to steal Panama from Columbia. A dry read, but interesting if you want to know what really happened. We shipped a lot of our books to Costa Rica when we moved. We'll be donating many to the local library that is in need of books. We also volunteer our time to help them.
What time do you go to bed during the week?
In Costa Rica the sun goes down at 5:30 p.m., and comes up at 5:30 a.m. -- year round. We go to bed at about 8:00 p.m., sometimes earlier. I wake up at 4:00 a.m. (or earlier) and usually work on the computer until the sun comes up. Being retired means there is little difference between week days and weekends. We often forget what day it is. Nirvana!
What kind of car do you drive?
I am waiting for my car to pass the rigorous emissions inspections in Costa Rica after we imported it. I'm on my third mechanic now, so we are currently without a car. We borrow friend's cars and get rides. I had an old 1990 Jeep Cherokee completely rebuilt with heavy-duty suspension and oversize mud tires. Right now, I'm getting a new computer module for it from the states. It'll be my jungle car -- if I ever actually get it!
Who do you want to play you in the movie of your life?
This is a good question since I'm writing a screenplay about my life as a "Hippie" in 1969 Hollywood. It's about time our stories are told -- or should I say it's been long enough that we can't get into trouble telling them. I'd choose Johnny Depp because he could pull it off!
1726 State Hwy 362, Suite F
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361.749.2388
Larry & Linda today...and back in the day...
An this is their backyard...any questions?
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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