We arrived in Salt Lake City (where we are spending the summer) Saturday evening, and Dave left for San Francisco this morning. Somewhere between one of my, “damn it, Dave’s,” to the tears rolling down my face as I held a pillow over my head, I had an ah-ha(-ish) moment.  That is when I said to myself,

“Beth, why in less than twenty-four hours time have lost your Costa-Rican cool?”

Here is the deal. Yesterday I completely freaked out.  I was mad at Dave about who knows what. I could not decide if we needed to move to another apartment down the hall, or stay where we are (true story), and consequently, I made Dave and the boys talk about whether we needed to put the bunk-beds up now or wait until we move. I urged Dave to buy a vacuum (he did). I considered and actually tried fixing my overfull hard drive, and before I went to bed I convinced myself that I needed to finish all my homework (slight exaggeration). Reverse nesting or crash landing?

Friday was our last full day in Costa Rica. We slept in, had an amazing breakfast filled with crispy pork belly Eggs Benedicts, coconut French toast, tamales, and fresh strawberries.  Right after breakfast, Kyle walked me to the up-and-down pleasant and hilly walk to the gym.  Kyle told about friends, summer jobs, and the cute girl he met at the beach club.  As we walked we saw our flower-eating iguana friend. Kyle and I always laugh because the iguana’s slithering through the flowery leaves startles me every time, and yes, I always jump.  Once there, Kyle decided to go back to our room, and I read my assignment while I walking on the treadmill. Sweaty and shocked that I walked on the treadmill for an hour, I took a big gulp of water, and leisurely walked back to our room.  Kyle and Dave were already at the beach by then. Instead of forcing Eli to go to the beach too, I let Eli him play a video game while I began to pack; soothingly organizing and rolling all of our dirty clothes into suitcases. Eventually, I knew time was running out. That is when Eli and joined Dave and Kyle at the pool. As we walked up, we heard thunder and had just enough time for Dave and I to sit at the beach and for the boys to swim. The lightning was still far away so the four of us met in the pool for one last swim. It was no big deal that the boys were crazy fighting with pool noodles.

“Mom, Kyle broke a noodle – again!”

As the words left his lips, on cue, lightning began, and this time it was close. We left, showered, and I packed some more.  We were blessed with  late check out. We brought our luggage to the car, and then we enjoyed a lovely last Rio Bhongo dinner. It was perfect!

Guess what? Somewhere during all of the happy memory making and relaxation I was able to get an awful lot done. Hmmm, maybe real-life Beth could learn a few things from vacation-styled Beth. You think?

And then I saw it.  Between time with my family, cozy beds, ocean breezes, yummy pineapple slices, warm swimming pools, beautiful flowers, howler monkeys, wet swimsuits rolled into suitcases, passports, bureaucratic forms, security lines, our airplane’s engine trouble (three extra hours on the tarmac), and landing back in Salt Lake City, Utah, I went from relaxed to complete panic.

In Costa Rica, I was able to push the world away, yet once home, the world came crashing in. In seconds I went from happy exotic memories to talking like a sailor. Before I could catch my breath, I let myself become crazy overwhelmed with summer camps (ultimate Frisbee camp began this morning and we had forms to fill out), finishing school (me finishing school, that is), paying rent, insurance forms that needed to be signed, doctor’s appointments to make, calling our travel agent (I know. We just got home), Dave’s job, and simply, our crazy reality.  Sure, I can see why my current responsibilities would cause anyone some angst, but back to my question,

“Why? Why couldn’t I leverage the peace I gained on vacation, and use it to pace myself upon my return?”

Is it simply that transitions are difficult? I actually think I might be on to something. See, once I took a minute to stop saying “damn it” to Dave, and once I started washing clothes, and asking for help, life seemed to ease back into normal.  In truth, all of these things could wait.  Even when I am home I can stop to look at flower-eating creatures, and still get my homework done.  Lesson learned from one self to the other!

As Dave and I sat at Playa Prieta Beach Club, Costa Rica earlier today, we talked about travel stories. While we were talking, my brain was completely distracted by the poolside chairs we were sitting on, and the sea of empty chairs that branched out in a big long semi circle past Dave. Earlier, when we arrived at the beach club,, we were greeted by a member of the staff. I like how the beach club people greet us upon arrival and walk us to our chairs. They assign us specific chairs, which did not make a difference today, but chair assignment was a really big deal when we were here last time during high season. Because our chairs are assigned, we have recourse if someone tries to, say, move our stuff and take our chairs for themselves. Then the staff member places a terry cover over the chair cushion, rolls up a blue beach towel, and makes it into a comfy headrest. It is nice that these chairs are close to the ocean, and this is the only beach club or hotel my eyes can see. Today I recognized our pool assistant, Hener (I believe that is his name), from last time. I was happy to see him and he said he remembered us (which made us even more at home). I like that he and his co-worker took the time to tell us about the beach club. They were sure to warn us about big sharp rocks in a certain part of the beach, and the hot sand. “Be careful,” they said, followed by, “let us know if you need anything.” High fives to you, Prieta Beach Club, Costa Rica. Today you are definitely our number one. (It does not hurt that Kyle and Eli also met a very cool and adorable girl that they hung out with all afternoon).

As I consider the merits of the Prieta Beach Club beach chairs, which are pretty awesome beach chairs, I begin comparing them to all of the poolside chairs, the super comfy chairs, the beach prison prison-factory-situated chairs, and the chairs that were simple, yet did the job, that we have had the privilege or displeasure to sit upon.

There are many. Keep in mind that even the best hotel poolside chairs are often situated somewhat close together.  I cannot remember them all, and my guess is because some of them are forgettable. If you you were to ask me what my two favorite beach chair experiences were, my immediate response would be the Hilton Los Cabos and the Andaz Papagayo. In truth, the Andaz is number one, but the Hilton offers free beach bed cabanas. And let me tell you, nothing beats a free beach bed cabana (enclosed by curtains, a giant and comfy beach bed, up on the hills overlooking the Sea of Cortez)

The Andaz holds the top the poolside chair spot, because it not only offers several varieties of chair and poolside chaise (my favorite: the hacky sack chair, and Dave’s favorite, the beachside hammock), it also pleasantly arranges the chairs to accommodate the capacity of the hotel while simultaneously giving the hotel guest enough space to enjoy the pool or beach. The Hilton Los Cabos (my true second place) comes very close. The chairs are comfortable, but in many places around the pools, the chairs are arranged too close together. Hence, at the Hilton Los Cabos, it is much harder to escape the space of the stranger lying next to you.

In the category of not a beach, but best beach chair the Waldorf Astoria, Park City, Utah wins. The chairs are cushioned and comfortable. Again there is not an overcrowding issue. They also offer a variety of chair and poolside lounge, like the poolside bed.

Third place goes to the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island. Again, the chairs were comfortable. They were also plastic. There were spaced very close together, especially by the pools. I found it much better to get a chair by the actual beach. What I did not like was that I had to find a chair myself and mark my territory with something like a towel or beach hat. Note* Holding your chair so no one takes it is not unique to the Fairmont, by the way.

And now I come to my least favorite chair: The plastic chair of the Grand Hyatt Maui. Ironically, my number one poolside chair experience is also a Hyatt. See, I am sure you and I could come up with much worse poolside-chair-situations. Take Las Vegas, the cattle call of all poolside chair experiences. Unless it is 35 degrees Fahrenheit, the pools are jam packed with tourists, and if you find a chair, you probably fought hard to get it.

Now let me return back to the Grand Hyatt Maui (need to get back to the states to get one of our pictures). Why the Grand Hyatt Maui is our pick for very worst poolside chair experience is because of expectation. We are not in Vegas, we are in paradise. We are not at Motel 6, we are at the Grand Hyatt Maui, and at the Grand Hyatt Maui our expectation is that our resort experience will be top notch and not a cattle call. The chairs were inexpensive looking and not very comfortable. Come on, they were plastic. They were arranged very close together, and yes, this chair-touching-chair-touching-chair arrangement made me feel like I was stuck in some sort of pool prison hell. And no shade! The chairs were so close together, it was hard to escape, I mean, get of your chair comfortably without stepping on someone else. Grand Hyatt Maui, I know your space is small. You can do better.

And really, isn’t it funny how something that seems so insignificant as the arrangement of a chair can make or break your experience? And it is something that seems so insignificant that also reflect the place you are in. I prefer comfy cushions over plastic any day. By the way, Prieta Beach Club Costa Rica, you do it right! You too, Andaz Papagayo and Hilton Los Cabos!