Life Updates Five-Year Update July10 December 2007 December 2005 Bio April 2005 Writing Roots 2002 November 2000

Retired Home Pages 2002-2003 1997-2000 1996-1997

Photographic Journey
Friend and photographer, Chris Willis, traveled with us around Costa Rica to family and touristic events and in the process taught Jon much about how to improve his photography.

Martial Artist
December. Dion becomes a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do and continues his recent turn to the water. After a lifetime of being an aquaphobic, now he's growing fins.

Traveling A Lot
Jon has already made two trips to Vietnam,two trips to Montenegro/Macedonia, and two trips to Colombia this year. Marisol as well visited (May) Switzerland representing the Scouts of Costa Rica for an international workshop on Scout environmental education centers in the world.

Home Alone
In May Dion had his first night away from any parent, followed shortly by a week without Mommy as she trips in Switzerland. So far so good.

2009

Santa Discovered
This year Dion discovered the beauty and mercy of Santa Claus, repeating his wish list every day for the past two months, each time a little different.

Car Sold
October. After two years we finally sold our 1994 Mitsubishi Lancer and replaced him with a 2009 Hyundai i10.

American Trip
September. Jon, Marisol, and Dion go to Boston for cousin Mathil's wedding as well as business and personal meetings in Washington, DC.

European Vacation
July. After Jon’s trip to Africa with the US State Department, the whole family met up in Germany for three weeks of European vacation.

2008

Talking Portland

November. The whole family went to Portland, Oregon to attend the National Association for Interpretatioan conference. Marisol and Jon both presented. We also recruited Jon's father and stepmom to take care of Dion, hang with us, and allow us to stay at her sister's house in Portland.

Dion Featured in Woodworking Blog

29 May. After visiting the This Is the Place State Park in Salt Lake City, a living historical village from the time of Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith and so impressing the furniture maker with his hammering skills, Dion appeared on his blog as the craftsman's youngest apprentice. See full text or see blog live.

1 May. In accordance with tradition, we visited a new Costa Rican national park (for Dion) on Dion's birthday. This year, we visited Braulio Carrillo National Park. On 11 May, we celebrated with a more traditional party at our house.

2004-07

Two-year end update posted and in español.

Travels end. In September Jon traveled to Bolivia and Ecuador; at the end of September he met up with Marisol and Dion in Bariloche, Argentina. He came back for a few days and then flew to Mexico and Belize. He came back for a week and off to Guatemala. Now he expects no more travel outside of Costa Rica this year.

11 July. Jon earns Costa Rican residency.

16 June 07. Just in time for Father's Day, Dion begins to walk and then quickly run.

1 August 06. San José. I was named an adjunct professor at the Latin American School for Protected Areas, part of the University for International Cooperation.

June. San José, Costa Rica. Jon and Marisol facilitate the creation of a group to establish an ecologically sustainable intentional community in Costa Rica. The group split into two in July.

1 May. Jon & Marisol give birth to Dion Kohl, our May Day Baby. For the full story visit Dion's birth page.

27 February. Jon & Marisol move to Costa Rica to start up a new family and intentional community.

22 February. Jon presents at a World Heritage Centre-sponsored seminar in Granada, Spain.

25 October. Jon & Marisol announce the impending arrival of the newest member of the family, expected on 21 April. Gender Unknown.

19-30 September, Jon attends Vipassana 10-day silent meditation retreat.

July, Jon attends the Whole Thinking Leadership Retreat at the Center for Whole Communities in Vermont. He learns to carve a wooden spoon.

13 April, Jon appears on Voice of America.

4 April, Dartmouth College publishes a biography as a career services tool.

March 05, Jon works principally with Fermata, Inc. and freelance writing more than any time in life.

March 05, Jon and Marisol adopt Mae and Poe.

Dec 04-Jan 05. Marisol and Jon honeymoon in Galapagos & Costa Rica.

4 Sept 04. Jon & Marisol move to DC into green architecture apartment.

23 May 04, Jon & Marisol are married