Today marks the one month countdown to a completely new life for my family and me. I’ve decided to try to carve out a little time here and there to document the experience, but also to try to answer the many questions from some of my friends and colleagues such as “How did you choose Costa Rica?” “Why there?” “What about your career?” “How are you going to make a living there?” “Aren’t you going to get bored?” “What about your kids?” “Why remove yourself from all of this?” “How are you going to remain mentally stimulated?” Or my favourite of all: “Why?” OK so here goes. I learned from my family that we have many paths in our lives, and that staying in the country you were born in and working without a break until you’re 60 is only one of them. They showed me that there was another way. Sure, it involved working really hard and being laser-focused on a goal.

A goal to live life more slowly, to wake up to the ocean every day, to be more present for my wife and kids, to live in better harmony with the natural world, to eat better, to live a more active, healthy existence, to be in a position to think clearly and serve others. And to know that in the end, I lived life to the full. And so, one month from now, we’ll board a plane from Southern California to San Jose Costa Rica, and then drive three hours to our new home on the Southern Pacific coast. I will take a couple of weeks to help get the house organized. The kids will get a whole month to be with their friends, and become familiar with their new environment before going to their new school. Then, I’ll fire up the satellite internet connection and from the rainforest of Southern Costa Rica continue in my role as an executive for Sungevity and as a Board member for Empowered by Light.

But I’ll also surf every day. Sail twice a week. Go scuba diving at Cano Island. Learn about my new culture and environment. Go and catch dinner. Learn Spanish. Take an evening walk with my wife. Take my kids to school and pick them up. And know that if it were all to end tomorrow, I gave it my best shot.