One Year, Part One - Leaps Of Faith
On March 30,
2022 Ashley and I will celebrate our first year of living in Costa Rica. As we
approach that date, I wanted to take a series of articles to review our first
year living as ex-patriots. So many unknowns. So many angels. So much growth.
In this
first piece I’m going to cover the lead up to the leap. What happened? Why did
we do it? What were we expecting? Join me on this journey and find out…
Death, Moves,
A Breakdown and the Pandemic
The real
roots of this story began in the winter of 2017. After taking another leap of
faith into the Harley-Davidson motorcycle business in February 2012, I left my
incredible learning ground at Woodstock Harley-Davidson in Illinois and
returned to where I grew up in Philadelphia’s Delaware Valley. I accepted a promotion
from Assistant Sales Manager at Woodstock to General Sales Manager at Rommel
Harley-Davidson in New Castle, Delaware. My real desire to return home was
driven by the serious illness of my lifelong friend Gary. He was battling Stage
4 throat cancer and I wanted to be near him during that time. I’m incredibly
proud of our team at Rommel Harley-Davidson, New Castle. They committed to the
rebuilding program I put it place and made an incredible effort to become
Cardone University Master Sales Certified. The entire team achieved this distinction,
and it was reflected in the numbers and in the culture. During this time,
Ashley’s successful Harley marketing experience became known and she was
selected to run the marketing operation for six stores. Unfortunately, this is
where the good news would end for quite a while.
The Rommel situation became untenable, so in the summer of 2018 I began investigating new leadership opportunities elsewhere.
I connected with High Country Harley-Davidson in Frederick, Colorado and interviewed with them in August. I earned the job and started with HCHD in October of 2018. A real bonus was that Ashley would get to be close to her family for the first time in twenty-five years. Unfortunately, the six months at High Country became a very very dark time for me. Promises were made. Lies were told. I languished, became depressed and in six months it was over. When I parted ways with those folks, I cratered. I experienced panic attacks for the first time. I cried. A lot. I had a nervous breakdown. I got lost. Little did I know, this was a new beginning.
After numerous chats with Taylor the General
Sales Manager, I joined the sales team at Greeley. Unlike the poorly run High
Country, Greeley had experienced and engaged ownership/management, a very
friendly atmosphere and the added benefit of a comprehensive power sports
selection in addition to the Harley line. I sold a bike my first day! I loved
what I did, but the toll had been taken. Ashley shined in her sales position (duh!)
and was promoted to Finance Manager as quickly as anyone I’ve ever seen. Then
came the pestilence.
The dreaded
and enduring COVID-19 hit us before anyone was quite sure what was going on. It
hit before they even had a test for it. She was presumptively diagnosed with
COVID in February 2020. Ashely got very sick, and we were both quarantined. She
got better. I never got sick. However, the world did. Ashley became the only
working Finance Manager at a vehicle dealership desperately trying to survive
crazy operating rules and restrictions. I had to work from home.
Ash was a
one woman show and quickly became exhausted. I was approaching my 62nd
birthday and burning out fast. Something was going to give.
“Why Don’t
You Just Retire?”
I’ve always
stayed tight with important friends. My childhood friend Rick and I were chatting
about shit and I shared how I was feeling with him. Rick listens and says, “Why
don’t you just retire?” This thought had never even occurred to me. I said,
what the fuck are you talking about? Rick went on to point out that I was turning
62 and could take early social security retirement if I chose to do so. That lit
a spark. A week later I’m chatting with my great college friend Dino. After
sharing my feelings with him, Dino says, “Why don’t you just retire? I did.” Now
my wheels are spinning, and my awareness of angelic intervention was acute.
Dino shares his story, along with some things to be aware of when taking early
retirement. I research it, weigh the pros, cons and realities and decide to
talk with Ashley about it. We chat, she supports the idea, and a decision is
made. I officially retired on July 1, 2020. I’m now on a fixed income in a pandemic.
Ash is killing herself at work during all this shit for twelve hours a day and
I’m home alone.
The
pestilence continues with no end in sight. Retirement without my partner sucks.
I’m bored and have WAY to much time to think. Normally as an alcoholic that is
a recipe for disaster. In this case it really worked out!
“How
Would You Feel About Retiring And Moving To Costa Rica?”
After a
summer of COVID and converting to a fixed income for me, new realities began to
emerge. To make ends meet Ash would need to bust her ass in perpetuity. I would
need to work. I decided to pursue a part time position with The Green Solution
(Retail Medical/Recreational Cannabis). I secured my license and went to work
for them. Great company and work environment. The hands-on ability to help
people every day was rewarding, and the employee discount didn’t suck either.
I learned so
much about cannabis that I’ve eliminated all manmade pharmaceuticals from my
life. Much more on that in an upcoming post.
Over the years I had pondered retirement. I’ve never been afraid of new experiences (I’ve lived in New Jersey, Kentucky, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Delaware and Colorado). The idea of Costa Rica had been floating around in my head for years. Friendly people. Incredible nature. Affordable… With money tight, Ash worn out and me ending up having to work anyway, a leap of faith took shape. I decided to ask my wife a question. The question was “How would you feel about retiring and moving to Costa Rica?” Ash has never been afraid of new places and experiences either, but her answer was legendary anyway. She looked at me and said, “Well, when were you thinking?” She began her own exploration and investigation. She became all-in. We’re talking to the kids, completely leaving the workforce, selling all our shit and moving to a country neither one of us has ever spent time in before. Sounds crazy. Sounds impulsive. Fuck it, we’re going!!! God I love us…
Everything
Has Gotta Go!
We’re typical U.S. citizens and hard-working folks who have acquired quite a bit of stuff. However, with the moves preceding this one we had already pared down from when we were raising kids in a four-bedroom home. That said, we still had a lot of shit. Now it had to go. Ashley became the Queen of Poshmark. Our Harley wardrobes were big sellers. The dealership purchased Ashley’s Heritage Softail. I sold my Ultra Limited to a private party. We sold our guns. I sold all my H-D memorabilia. Our newly purchased in Colorado furniture was sold to close family who are just starting their life together. Kitchen stuff went to them too! Most of my hat collection? Gone. My Harley belt buckle collection? Gone. Our stress? Going down with everything we sell. Car? Surrendered it. Phones? Bought them out. Transportation plan? Done. Place to live? Researched, selected, lease signed. Residency paperwork? Started in advance. Harmonicas packed (This decision will become instrumental (pun intended) in my Year One story later on).
The Farewell
Tour
Our time in
Fort Collins came to an end in late March 2021. Our wonderful fur babies Gidget
and Gretchen were coming on this new adventure with us. Rather than put them
through multiple flights and to avoid complications, we decided to rent a Ford
F-150 and drive to Los Angeles. On our way, we planned to see our Tyrrell
family in Las Vegas and got to meet the wonderful Josie Wales Tyrrell for the
first time. We drove through Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and Nevada during
winter and saw the beauty of our home country up close. All of our Tyrrell
family were there, including my bestie Mike. We enjoyed a perfect visit and
were soon back on the road to LAX.
The time has
come. We have four giant suitcases, two giant dog kennels with two giant dogs,
stuffed backpacks and tons of nervous excitement. Too late to turn back. Dogs
are loaded. Sittin in First Class. Wheels are up. Next up it’s Sandals On
The Ground…
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