Part 3.b: My Second Time

"If I'm going to be sad and stressed I may as well have beautiful scenery."~Me

I didn't know what I was doing. Only that temporarily I couldn't live in my home until my husband and I worked through some things and that it was cheaper to swim in the beautiful sea all day and try to work it out over the phone than to get a studio apartment in our town. So that's what I did...

My second flight out of the USA was to the exact same destination, Sosua, Dominican Republic. Chelsea was back and honestly, I couldn't think of a place I'd rather be. This time things were a little different. No more all inclusive resort, of course. Chelsea had rented a tiny studio bungalow with a double bed and no kitchen in the back of a complex on the beach. I was there about a week when we were able to upgrade to something with a mini fridge, gas burner and sink area (still a single room with one bed!) closer to the front of the complex making it a 2 minute walk to the crystal blue sea.

Life was very simple...Every morning, afternoon and evening I went swimming. I especially loved the beach at sunrise and sunset. After my morning swim I drank coffee, half heartedly studied Spanish and looked at the water. A few times a week Chelsea and I would go to Playa Sosua, the main tourist beach about a 15 minute walk away and after Chelsea left for Colombia I went there to snorkel a lot. I've always loved baking, and being without an oven gave me the opportunity to figure out how to bake on the burner. Very tricky but it can be done with good results! This is one of the earliest adaptations I can remember making...Life has changed dramatically in many ways for me over the past three years and I have changed to accommodate. These changes may seem difficult to some people but they were a welcome boost to my personal growth and self esteem.

I did a lot of writing and crying. I attended my support group back home via zoom and individual counseling and counseling with Dave via phone. He and I talked and texted a lot. All of this got more intense when Chelsea left for Colombia and I was alone. I was often in a panic of anxiety over trying to fix my marriage. We had been together since I was 16 and this was not my plan for 53! The only thing that seemed to calm me down was swimming in the sea or listening to the sea or playing in the sand...Or talking to Smiley...

More about Smiley below, but just take a moment to look at this dog...

The DR was our first introduction to Latin American street dogs. I have a lot of pictures of dogs from the DR and all the countries I've visited and I almost shared pictures of dogs on motorcycles, rooftops and in restaurants with you but I could choose no less than 12 pictures of SIMLEY (and believe me, I have more)!!! Smiley and Carmen (not pictured, but a lovely dog as well) lived in our complex. When we came or went they often walked us through the grounds. Super sweet dogs who didn't really belong to anyone but also belonged to everyone. Smiley took an extra strong liking to us. He always sat with me at the complex restaurant when I had my morning coffee and once even walked to the other beach with us to wait around while we swam and then walk us home. When Chelsea left for Colombia, Smiley seemed to know I was alone because he began to sleep on my doorstep and spend all day with me. In the afternoon he would rest under the tree just outside my door. I did not lure this dog with food as you may be suspecting. He was well fed, probably by many people. He was not looking for food, only to share friendship. I missed my 3 dogs terribly and Smiley filled a void and will always have a special place in my heart...And probably in the hearts of many people!

In December I cried when I left my tiny one room apartment. Though I had shed many tears there, I had grown and found some peace as well. I was also terrified! I had to get on a bus to Santo Domingo, find an airbnb I booked for a couple of nights so I could see the city, and then get on a plane to Cali, Colombia all alone and in SPANISH!!!! Well, I'm writing this today so you know I made it. And it was mostly a fun challenge!