Hit by a scorpion at 4 am on a small island - what to do?

Waking up at 4 am from a sharp pain is no way to wake up. It messes with our head. And that head, for some inexplicable reason, was sure that the pain was from a scorpion bite. I turned the light on, shook the sheets, and, sure enough, a plump, yellowish scorpion wiggled out. Until it met my slipper. Mind you,I am an environmentalist and do not kill any bugs unless in danger, but scorpions have really bad rep. I took the photo of the offender, or what was left of it, in case I had to choose a right anti-venom. Yeah, right. I live in Utila, off the northern coast of Honduras. Quite off the northern coast. About an hour off. Even looking for a doctor in Utila, at 4 am, was not an option. Waking up Dr. John at that time might be more dangerous than a scorpion bite. So I did what any reasonable Utilian would do: I made myself a drink and sat on the porch to watch the sunrise. Poured some rum on the bite, just in case. I also did what any technology-addicted Westerner would do: I turned the computer on and Googled Honduran scorpions. I found out that they can kill chihuahua, what was bad for chihuahuas, but not my immediate problem. I also learned that one does not die from the scorpion venom in Honduras, what was actually all I needed to know. But, curiosity won, and rum was doing its thing, I was feeling much more relaxed, so I also learned that the pain and swelling on the bite site disappears in few hours. In some extreme cases people feel numbness in limbs, tingling, and in extreme cases, eyes rolling and respiratory problems. None of which I felt, so I went to sleep. Lesson learned: 1.When in the tropics, check for scorpions under your sheets, in your shoes, under the towel and in all other dark places; 2. turn the light on when you go to the bathroom at night, so that you do not step on them by accident; 3. Never, ever be without rum.

Home sweet jungle home

After six months in Costa Rica, I am back where I belong: on Utila, my crazy little island, in my house with no walls. I am so happy, I go around smiling like an idiot. I am at peace with the world again.
Costa Rica adventure was a disappointment. I accepted a job with an environmental organization working on conservation of squirrel monkeys. Great job, charismatic little primates, new country, it all sounded great. I forgot a tiny detail: lifestyle. The town in which I lived, Manuel Antonio, is a tourist heaven, luxurious, beautiful, with no community spirit whatsoever. Hell, it did not even have a community. I spent six months there without making a single friend. Well, maybe two, my two lovely colleagues Juan Pablo and Isaias. After my son came to visit and found me watching day TV, I realized that I was miserable and that the monkeys will have to cope without me. I feel guilty about leaving Juan Pablo and Isaias to cope alone, we started several great projects and things were just picking up. On top of that, they have to cope with a Mickey Mouse Board of Directors, who are treating the organization as their own pet project. Sorry guys, I promised myself I will not put up with anything any more. Part of my alternative lifestyle. Too old for that. I am going to enjoy every day as it comes, as there are not too many left.So, I am back in my garden, moving soil, replanting heliconias,cleaning leaves and smiling at the world. My dogs and cats are content too and follow me around to make sure I am not doing anything interesting without them.

The dream of a child

When I was a little girl, my dream was to live on a little island in the tropics and run a library. I would have a garden full of flowers, dogs and cats would sleep in the sun and people would drop by to pick up a book, have a chat or a cup of tea.


Many, many years later, many jobs, countries, carriers, marriages and dreams later, I find myself on a little island in the Caribbean, in a little house in the lush tropical garden. Two dogs and one cat sleep in the sun, and friends stop by to pick up a book or have a cup of tea.

The dream turned into a reality. Not all at once, not even completely deliberately. We do forget our childhood dreams. Sometimes we believe that they are not possible, often that we cannot make them happen, or other things become more important. Life gets in the way of dreams.

Getting old does not have too many perks, but doing what you wanted your whole life is one of them. There is no more carrier we care about. We found out that success is relative. Things do not fill life, only space. Possessions are anchors around our necks. Money does not matter since we need so little. People we love are scattered all over the world and often the only way we know what they are doing is by checking the Facebook.

What we do need is peace. We need life to be simple and we need every day to be filled with what we love. We do not have to put up with anything.

We do need a bit of money. Even the simplest life has its material limitations. Having an internet connection is expensive. Dog food is expensive. On the island, electricity is expensive. Making a money while living simple life on a small island behind god's back is not easy, but it is possible. More about that later.