CHAPTER SEVEN

New Possibilities — Costa Rica

1970s

Friends of Jim’s—Bobby, Richard, Gailon, and Jan—had been looking at jungle property in Costa Rica and wanted him to invest with them. Their goal was to create a metaphysical retreat devoted to higher thinking. It was all very tempting. Sight unseen, Jim bought into the shared venture.

Costa Rica, with its stable politics, also became an appealing destination for establishing a dress manufacturing business. The caveat was finding a Costa Rican citizen willing to become an investor and business partner, since businesses could not be solely owned by foreigners.

In an effort to repair the marriage and reunite the family, James discussed with Barbara the possibility of moving to San José, Costa Rica. The proposed plan was that he could open a dress manufacturing business in the city, while also maintaining a jungle retreat the group named Finca Avabacu (Avabacu Farm). Barbara would consider the move but only for the city; however, she and Bonnie, now seventeen years old, were both working and did not have the freedom to take time off to visit. She agreed to let Giovanna and Zebedee go for one month during summer break to see if they liked San José and to explore the schools. Gino traveled ahead to San José to find a rental house for the family.

Shortly after arriving in Costa Rica, James drove out to the jungle property he now co-owned. The children stayed behind in San José with Gino, where they explored schools and familiarized themselves with the local area. At that time, donkey carts were still a part of city life—a wildly different experience from the world the children had known growing up in West Hollywood.

After ten days, Jim returned to San José. With less than three weeks left of the original agreed-upon month with Barbara, he realized he didn't want to send the kids back. There was too much for them to experience in this new world. Jim had found paradise. He purchased essential supplies and packed up kids into a Land Rover, and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Gino closed up the house and joined them on the journey. There were no plans to return to San José. Instead, Jim hoped Barbara would sell the house and join everyone on the finca .

The sixty-acre finca was located approximately seven miles south of Dominical on the Pacific coast. The drive along the rural, unpaved roads was rocky and rough. Under ideal conditions, the 135-mile trip took about eight hours. However, while navigating a narrow mountain road during torrential rain, deep mud caused the Land Rover to tip onto its side shortly after sunset. There the group sat through the night, unharmed, hoping sunrise would bring help.

Just after dawn, Jim climbed out through the passenger side of the Land Rover and encountered a man walking the road with his donkey. The man gladly agreed to help pull the vehicle from the mud. After much pushing, digging rocks beneath the tires for traction, and relying on the strength of the donkey, the Land Rover was finally back on the road. Everyone was covered in terra-cotta-red clay but grateful and happy to be moving again.

The next stop was San Isidro de El General, where they ate a quick lunch, stretched their legs, and Jim fueled up the Land Rover. Gino walked the children around the plaza, past a cathedral where a priest standing outside waved them in. Gino declined, explaining that they needed to get back on the road. The drive ahead was still another three hours over rough roads. Their goal was to reach Dominical before the afternoon rains and high tide at the river crossing. Time mattered because crossing the river to reach the Finca Avabacu became impossible during high tide.

By the time they arrived in Dominical, the Barú River was already beginning to rise, leaving no time to stop for a leisurely drink. The drive continued as the afternoon rains set in. Finally arriving at the clearing of the hillside finca brought a mixture of elation, exhaustion, and wild curiosity for the children.