Time For The Taking

As of March 17, 2020, the above photo is the current state of my little shop in Tamarindo. Geez, where to even start with this post? Everything seems to have happened so quickly, yet also there were many parts of this that I had been thinking about many months before anyone was even hearing about Covid.

So let’s back up.

On March 11, I flew to California to see my family. I was welcoming the trip and the time away because I had been working non-stop since the second week of January. I was utterly exhausted. About 4 days into my trip, everything with the virus started to develop very quickly worldwide and I knew I needed to cut my trip short and get back home before things got worse. And worse they did. I arrived home from California on March 16 to the announcement that Costa Rica was closing it’s borders on the 18th to everyone other than citizens and legal residents (I’m a citizen). A decision that I applaude the government taking so quickly. It was recommended that I self quarantine for 14 days since I had been in southern California where they were beginning to report lots of positive cases.

I packed up all the stuff in the shop I would need to work from home, stuffed it all in my car and decided to keep the shop closed until further notice. It’s worth noting that I’ve wanted to set up a home studio since I moved into my place nearly 4 years ago. But who has the time? Apparently, now I do.

Everything starting closing down rapidly. For people who’ve never been to the shop, it’s in Playa Tamarindo which is one the busiest little tourist towns on the pacific north coast of Costa Rica. Nearly all of my clients are tourists who visit from all over the world. If borders were closing then obviously really quickly, travel would be shut down completely, meaning my client flow. Even if this clears up in the next 2 months — the time has passed and it’s doubtful our little town will be up and ready to bounce back. And will people be wanting to fly internationally so soon after such an epidemic? It’s anyone’s guess. Besides, then we’ll be in the rainy season.

Costa Rica is a seasonal destination. May/June starts the beginning of our rainy season and also the low season for tourism. Things slow down significantly and remain that way until late November or early December. Obviously everyone in the area was going to lose the last 3 months of our 7 month season. It definitely wasn’t an ideal panorama.

Since both of my businesses are tourism-based and seasonal, I’m essentially not working until further notice (like nearly everyone else in my community). It’s been quite surreal to watch my town transform in a matter of days from a bustling little international community to empty streets, shops closed, many having vacated the spaces completely leaving empty windows. Me? I’m just closed until further notice.

And you know what? I’m not as panicked as I maybe should be. While I’m not thrilled at the financial aspect of this, I’ve been thinking about my businesses a lot these past two seasons. More than anything because while I’m thankful that I’m busy, does being busy mean the same as being successful and profitable when time is factored in? I’m running two full-time businesses essentially alone.  I’m not working smart. Know what? I’m working just as many hours as I was when I was working at the law firm in LA. And surprise, surprise, I’m just as exhausted. 

It’s hard sometimes to call what I do “work” because they’re both creative jobs and I love them both so much. And I think that’s how I’ve arrived where I am. I’ve over stretched myself and haven’t factored in any restorative time at all. I’ve not left any time or energy to do the things that make me feel rested and restored. Workout, cook, hike, write. I was recognizing the signs of job related exhaustion (been there, done that), but simply wasn’t taking the time I needed to reconsider how I’m working and see what changes I could make.

Mentally I’ve toyed with the question of whether or not to maintain a physical shop. Or to maybe expand it to a slightly larger space and really start investing more time to develop the jewelry courses (I love teaching those). Or maybe finding a shop partner, another jewelry artist with a style different than mine, but one that compliments it. ((Do you know of anyone?!?)) Someone to split the costs and the face time being in the shop. Maybe close and sell only on-line and to other boutiques (wholesale). Perhaps it’s as simple as learning to delegate more work so I’m not doing it all. ((What?!? Relinquish total control of everything?? Are you kidding??))

I’ve met so many amazing people in my little space in the past 12+ years.  Many who are now my closest friends on the planet!  I love the social interaction with such a world wide variety of people. It’s hard to imagine not having it. I love seeing the same people come and visit Costa Rica over and over, and always pop by to at least say hi. So who knows what’s next or how things will unfold. It’s ironic that I unexpectedly find myself with nothing but free time to 1) try out what it’s like to work from home and not have a shop 2) get some rest 3) have lots of time alone to think about what my next steps might be and 4) set some goals so I can develop aforementioned plan, etc. etc. etc……

And so then. I find myself here in quarantine with my amazing doggie pal and a sense that somehow despite some losses on one front or the other, that this is all going to be ok. Maybe different. Maybe better. Maybe a little of both. But regardless, this is happening. I’ve promised myself that I’ll set aside the obvious negatives in all of this and try to tune into that part of me that is really glad I have this chance. Because honestly, I really needed this. I clearly was not going to take the time without well, some time to take.

Stay tuned……