A few things I miss

If you haven’t guessed, I love living in the Philippines. Just about everything I could want—my wife, my dog, a loving family—is here. But, from time to time, a “twinge” reminds me of something I miss. Here are the things that pop up most frequently:
• I miss the public library system in the United States. I’m an avid reader for both professional purposes and pleasure, and there’s nothing like a good public library. Larger malls here have some pretty good book shops, but I’m running out of storage space as well as ruining my budget. A good public library would solve both problems and the interlibrary loan system at most US libraries is incomparable.
• I miss my coffee buddies. My set of friends at the Starbucks in Chatsworth, California included people from all walks of life and I miss our conversations about theology, politics, social security, firearms, and the latest Harley Davidsons.
• I miss the cool, crisp mornings on the high mesas in Colorado and New Mexico. There’s nothing like them here; thank God for air conditioning!
• And, I miss the friendly, good natured folks at the Bakery in Mancos, Colorado.
• I miss the pacific storms and surf breaking against the retaining wall at the Sea Gypsy in Pismo Beach, California. And I miss the friendly folks at Brad’s, also in Pismo Beach. The northern Luzon coast and the beaches in Mindanao are beautiful, but there’s still nothing quite like Pismo Beach, especially in the off season. Fortunately, I can keep an eye on thing with the Pismo Hotel webcam ( http://www.thepismobeachhotel.com/Webcam-Events-Pismo-Beach-Ca.php).
• I miss my antique tool and Canon camera collections. Shipping would have been prohibitive and they would not do well in the humidity here, but they were reminders of where life has taken me.
• I miss my colleagues and the visitors at Pipe Spring National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historic Park, and Aztec Ruins National Monument. I spent nearly a year volunteering at the three, and am awed by the dedication of National Park Service personnel as well as the insatiable curiosity of visitors.
• I miss the Jacuzzis at Mesa Verde RV Resort. Of course, there are Jacuzzis here and elsewhere, but there’s nothing like sitting in a hot tub and gazing at the stars above the promontory at Mesa Verde after a day of hiking.
A silly list? Probably, but these are the things I think about when I reflect on my decision to move to the Philippines.
And, if you hadn’t already guessed, there’s a point to this rambling. Moving to the Philippines was a major change in my life and anyone contemplating a similar move should take time to reflect on familiar things they will give up. They may not seem like much, but odds are you will experience a “twinge” or two once you move.