(I stole this entry off my friend, Colin’s, blog.)

So, I end up getting invited to a social evening one night with people I know and some people who are visiting area.  From what I can see, everyone looks like a progressive liberal bunch.  I think… great.  Sane people, sane conversations.

Well, the evening was progressing nicely and I got talking with this one guy who was traveling with his wife around the world.  I thought WOW!!  How neat.  Here they are in their 50’s and traveling the world via back packing.  I found it really inspiring. (and yes they were from California!).

Then we get on this conversation about growing number of expats in Costa Rica and I mentioned what I thought that was in part fueling that growth and that was the current government, policies and problems in the United States.  He looked very confused and said "What problems?".  I was shocked.  I did not know what to say, and just said well from what I can read and the many people I talk to, people are not very happy with what is going on.  He said, "Well, it’s obvious we don’t agree on this subject and maybe we shouldn’t go down this road."  And then after agreeing this was not a good topic he proceeded to make clear his point of view on the current state of affairs in the US.

He stated quite frankly, that his big problem with the Democrats was taxes. I said, "well then you should have a big problem with the invasion of Iraq as you will be paying for that for generations to come." (Maybe why that is why he is considering a move to Costa Rica to avoid future taxes and virtually free health care)  He could not see that how he would be paying for that.  He said "well we pay for the military anyway, they might as well be doing something." (Sure… why not go invade a sovereign nation around the globe).  I agreed that much of the military might be sitting idle at the time, but there are many "added costs" to launching a war and occupying a country.  (How about "smart bombs").  I asked him how many times did he see Bush go to congress to ask for more money for the war (or was that too deep of a subject for CNN?).  It did not seem to clue with him that he would be paying for that.

He choose quickly to leave that subject and asked me "Where would Iraq be in the US had not intervened?"  He was now suggesting that they were now on a humanitarian mission.  My jaw dropped. What happened to WMD? I pointed out that there were countries in much worse situations with it’s citizens than Iraq, but they do not have oil or allow the US to set up a military base in the Middle East.   I also asked him if he felt it was the US position to be the "world police" and unilaterally decides what governments should be toppled in other countries.  He felt they had no choice as the UN was corrupt.

Now, how does a middle age couple with what looks like a decent education be that ignorant about the economic realities of war?  Or am I totally wrong?  Maybe "the Coalition of The Willing" foots all the bills (I never knew Poland had that kind of cash).  What does most the rest of the developed world see that many Americans don’t?

It has been my experience that many of the conservative types don’t like the Caribbean and especially with all the Bohemian types (hippies).  They also seem somewhat alarmed with so many African Caribbeans that are roaming free and not behind a Wendy’s counter.  Here Well I thought by moving to East Coast of Costa Rica I could avoid the gun-totin’ Republican Texan types, but alas, that myth has been shattered.

So, a few days later this nice local gringa women (yes… from California) comes over to chat with us about building a house since it is known around town that we have so much experience in that area.  She is quite nice (not a Republican) and we are enjoying conversation with each other.  A little while later, she lights up a joint and Roberto and I do not imbibe.  After the joint settles in she informs us that she is gifted with the ability to speak with animals and proceeds to tell us about the conversation she had this morning with her cat.  Roberto and I dared not look at each other and listened intently.  I always wondered what my dogs would say to me if they could talk.

I guess this is all what makes this place so special.  It’s just one huge soup pot of all types of people from many different places all doing their own thing.