Comfort and Joy

Yesterday felt like we had, what seemed like, an early Christmas, because we scored a wine source and put in an order for a sofa. While this kind of news may not make everyone get goose bumps, it certainly had me doing the Snoopy Dance of Joy.
 

Let’s start with why finding a wine source is important. First and foremost, I like to drink it. Next, I like to cook with it. And thirdly, well, I guess we’re back to me liking to drink it. But sadly, wine is not readily available in most stores here in Corozal. You can find a few brands here and there in a few of the grocery stores, but they’re usually pricey. As a result, imbibing wine has become relegated to the occasional times we go out to eat. 
 
But we had heard that there is a Mexican import warehouse located right outside of town on the highway leading to Mexico. And sure enough, we found it and checked out what it had to offer. Besides being able to purchase canned goods, detergents, softners, veggie oil, white vinegar, Pringles, and a host of other things, they had the Holy Grail: four different types of Chilean wines. Be still my heart.
 
We bought two bottles each of the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. One of each is chilling in the fridge at this very moment, and I might have to give into the temptation to uncork one of them later today. 
 
After finishing our wine excursion, we headed back into town to see if Aventura Furniture happened to be open and, if so, to see what sofa options might be available.
When we moved here, we opted not to bring our leather sofa mostly because we didn’t think the leather would hold up with all the humidity and the fact that it had a wood frame. There are very strict regulations when it comes to importing anything into Belize made of wood, and we didn’t want the angst of determining if it would make it through customs.
 
As the house we bought came partially furnished, including two recliners, we figured we would buy a sofa once we moved here. Unfortunately, the recliners are, in a word, horrible. There’s no back support, no side handle to aid in obtaining a reclined position, and the fabric is very scratchy feeling. And when it gets as hot and sticky as it does here, you don’t want to plop down on a chair that’s going to make you feel even more uncomfortable. 

For the sake of full disclosure, I should also mention that I really have missed the ability to sprawl out on a sofa. Whether it be to watch TV or read a book or just because I can, there’s something comforting about nesting on a sofa. David would probably agree with me on this one, if he ever would get the chance to sprawl himself. I usually take dibs of having my feet on his lap, which makes it difficult for him to take full advantage of the sofa area. Don’t be like me; share your sofa.
 
Anyway, the furniture store was open and the owner, Mr. Montalvo, couldn’t be a nicer or more helpful guy. We described the type of sofa we were looking for, and he steered us to a handful of floor models that might work. We found one, in particular, that we thought was very comfy and then proceeded to the next step of picking the fabric. Once that was done, it was just a matter of finding out the total cost and when it would be ready. Mr. Montalvo’s factory is about a mile away from his store, and he told us to expect delivery on September 1. Total cost, including delivery: $550 USD. That, my friends, is for a custom built, right here in Belize, piece of furniture and there was no extra charge for the fabric. Is that crazy or what?
 
So this time next week, you know where you’ll be able to find me…sprawled on our new sofa, wine glass in hand, with a big smile on my face. 
 
P.S. I’ll be sure to post pictures of our new piece of furniture, along with a shot of our existing chairs, in an upcoming post.