Learn to dance in the rain: sometimes the only choice turns into the best choice you ever dreamed of.

• Author: Wiesner, Pat
• Position: On MANAGEMENT

I wasn't so sure I wanted to be doing what we were about to do. Everyone aboard the boat, a sailing cruiser with about 130 souls who had paid to be here along with half again as many crew, were gathering on the sea-level deck preparing to get into a canoe-like craft that was going to take us from the ship to shore.

The ocean wasn't seriously rough, but things were a bit bouncy, and it seemed to be getting dark because of the thickening clouds. Also, it was beginning to rain, and the shore seemed to be getting farther away. Was this really the best time to do this?

This took place in the year 2000. We had just come through the Panama Canal on the last day that the United States had owned it. It was exciting for Panama to get ownership of the canal, and it was exciting for us on the boat to go through.

But here we were now, looking at the murky black water with a light misty rain blowing across, being urged to get into these boats of 30 each. My second thoughts were quickly forgotten when the canoes were finally parked alongside a native Indian village somewhere along the coast of Costa Rica.

The Indians did a really nice job of presenting themselves and their products to us. And there was a lot of fun had by all. Lots of gestures, smiles and laughs, although not much English was spoken. They were most pleasant and very accommodating but also very Indian.

The Indians lived in tent-like structures in dense forest with mud paths in constantly wet conditions, no electricity, no cement and no running water. We were told that they much preferred their lifestyle to that of the cities and that we were invited because tourists liked to buy their crafts and it provided a source of income.

As...