Meet my neighbor

Many of my posts mention my neighbor. Meet Hector. He is one of the funniest, happiest and most generous people that I know. Someday I might actually write a book called, "Hector Says..." I have learned from him that more people die from getting hit by a coconut than bit by a snake. When discussing that we did not know anyone that had been hurt badly by either a coconut or a snake, he casually mentions that he only knows 2 people that have died from snake bites. Yikes!

When discussing with him how disturbing it was that every time we would come back for vacation there were always more nests of bees, he explained how bees are harmless if you leave them alone. Then one day when Rick and Hector were talking, Hector asks Rick how he handles killer bees. He goes on to explain that the fire department down here is tasked with spraying foam on them and that one of his horses died at the other farm from killer bees. Yikes!

Hector has seen and done it all! He has won judo championship titles, met some incredible people, traveled all over, and keeps up with current events from all over the world. Not only does he own a coffee farm, sheep farm, white-water rafting company and hostel, he always has time for his friends. 

When I try to describe Hector, I always think of Mr. Miyagi. Each lesson from Hector comes with a story and some of them are funny and some of them take me awhile to fully understand. I can't tell you how much we have learned from him, but it is a lot.

I think we are a source of amusement for Hector. I think we make him laugh almost as much as he makes us laugh. Just for different reasons though. Hector makes us laugh because of his good humor. We make Hector laugh because we are bumbling our way through Panama and it amuses him. Such as the time where we put gas in the diesel truck, or the time Rick went on a hiking trail and was afraid of bugs that he almost ran the whole trail while trying to keep his feet from touching the ground, or the time that ... well, I could go on with a ton of stories that have made him laugh.

Rick and Hector are a lot alike. They both are constantly looking for ways to improve things and are both busy from sun-up to sun-down. The two of them have worked together in the wood-shop making lamps, a bed, gates, fixing welds ,,, always something. They both are happiest when they have accomplished some sort of fix or improvement. One of them might be working on a project and have to leave to do other life-related things and the other will come in and know exactly what the first person was doing. Then they will do the next step of the project or make an improvement to it....it is like they have one mind at times. 

Hector and his wife are more family than neighbors. They watch out for us and make sure we are on the right path and I help out when I can with computer related stuff. Hector gave up his computer a while ago, so I help with his website and presentations stuff he might need to do.

It is an honor to have him and his family in our lives. (Picture was taken last night when he stopped by to check on us.)

I thought that the packaging on our paper towels was funny, so I am adding it here. This could be the new diet trend, it absorbs calories. :) My Spanish is a little bit better, but most packaging takes me a while to understand what it says. This one...I got it!!!

Coatimundi
My husband saw his first coatimundi driving up our hill the other day. He did not get a picture, but it was the first sign that they are actually around our house. They look like a ferret (face), raccoon, bear mix. Their paws are a cross between a bear and a raccoon. In the wild they live about 7-8 years, but in sanctuaries they live closer to 15. They eat spiders, lizards, eggs and fruit. In captivity they can be really tame, buy my neighbor says that they can use their claws on the dogs if they are threatened and it does a ton of damage. Here is hoping that my 2 dogs are smart enough to not get too close!

Tambi....you already got your insect this week, so you get a mammal today. :)