The government strikes again....

It seems that it is the season of renewals, and I don't mean just spiritual ones.  As we just passed our 2-year anniversary of living in Costa Rica, we have alot of our legal documents needing to be renewed....more specifically our driver's licenses and our residency.  So, the past two weeks have been full of trips to the capital, San Jose, and errands hither and yonder trying to both figure out what we need and actually complete it.  As of yet, I personally have been extremely unsuccessful.  For our residency, we have to pay into the national healthcare on a voluntary basis which is a reduced rate compared to what Costa Ricans pay as we already have personal international health insurance that covers us both in Costa Rica and the U.S.  BUT, in order to pay into what is known as the "caja", we needed a certified copy of our marriage certificate as we are actually enrolling under Josh's name, not individually.  So, two weeks ago, I spent an entire day at immigration in San Jose trying to make a certified copy of the marriage certificate in our file.  I left with several certified papers in my hand, but guess what...not our marriage certificate.  It was starting to rain as I was receiving the paperwork and I had taken the scooter to San Jose.  So, foolishly, I ran to the scooter to get my rain gear on without looking at the paperwork.  Finally I was able to obtain our marriage certificate, and Josh and I spent an entire day at the Caja here in Atenas getting singed up.  Now we just have to make an appointment to meet with the people at immigration to actually complete our renewal.  Josh and I also went to San Jose this past week to renew our driver's licenses.  Only Josh was able to renew his since I needed an updated medical exam and he had just completed one in the weeks before.  So, tomorrow I have the plan of getting to the doctor's office at 7 a.m. when they open, getting a medical exam and taking the bus into San Jose to hopefully wait in line for less than an hour and a half to renew my license.  I do see the light at the end of the tunnel, and am trying to have patience in it.  It's a lesson in remembering to take each day at a time, not getting stressed at lack of efficiency, but enjoying the life we have here in Costa Rica...even on my third trip to San Jose in two weeks:)