The alternate title for this wrap-up post of our 3.5 week vacation in Ponta Delgada, could have been "What we don't want". I have always felt that when making a decision, it is very important to realize what you don't want in order to crystalize your actions for what you do want.
The couple identified in the title are about 5 years older than me, from Burlington Ontario. He is a retired (well to do) carpet installer, and she worked in marketing. In December they sold their little bungalow in Burlington by Appleby Line for $1.2 million and bought a house on Sao Miguel island, on the northern coast by Fernais de Luz-- a small town close to a golf course. Their home is a lovely looking, 4 bedroom villa on a large property with fruit trees and wonderful vista of the ocean. That much is true, but the 'ready to live in' property that they saw, was hiding bubbling paint due to mold and so the fix/renovation started immediately after they got the house in early January. And, it seems the trades are just as slow in the Azores as they are here. Finish dates have been extended several times and they really have no idea when they will get the house. So they are staying at the same hotel that Ian and I frequent, which is where we met them at breakfast when they asked where we were from -- speaking english. Germaine was born in the Azores and so has dual citizenship. Their only daughter will come and stay with them for a big part of the winter and during the summer they will live in a 2 bedroom annex being built at her property in Collingwood. On the surface, it sounds idyllic. But already they have the problems of the house renovation. They will lease a car, as the bus goes past their gate only about twice a day. They have opened bank accounts and are enrolled in the very generous Portuguese health care system for an incredibly reasonable amount. They are overcoming the hurdles, but it is significantly more difficult on a number of fronts, than they imagined.
Brings me to 'what we don't want'. That! I love Ponta Delgada, but I love that it is a stressfree, carefree time for us. No hassles of home ownership, not even having to clean up after myself. No hassle of big meal prep -- with breakfast taken care of and many opportunities for reasonable lunches -- Ian had his favourite grilled squid again on Monday while I enjoyed my Mister Burger-- and a very easy option for supper. Although we have now been there 8 times, there are still places we have not seen and of course, a number of things we like to repeat. Both of us love being on the harbour -boat watching, walking, cycling, and being so accessible to amenities -- buses (both long range and city), cafes, laundry, grocery stores, concerts.
So, though there is a romance of living on a mountain overlooking the ocean with my own lemon trees in the back yard, I am going to be staying at the hotel overlooking the harbour. It was hard to leave yesterday. We are thinking maybe stay longer next year -- or go earlier -- or both!
