I have been MIA for the last two months for the very best reason.
Chronologically, we moved out of our rental and into an apartment. We welcomed Jake, Dave’s youngest son, 6 days later. After touring the central North Island (Waitomo for its glorious caves and glow worms and Lake Taupo for its lake-iness), we welcomed my sister, brother in law and two gorgeous nephews for a two and a half week visit none of which we actually stood still. North, east, west and even very south to the South Island.
Some four days after their departure, we moved into our home. Fast forward a week of unpacking and settling and unpacking some more, we welcomed my mum for a month’s stay. In said month with mum, we went to Australia for the Oz Open and to drive the Great Ocean Road (seriously unreal), Waiheke for a weekend of beach and wine, Rotorua for natural wonders, the Coromandel Peninsula for our Pacific Ocean fix to the east, Muriwai Beach for black sand drama to the west and loads in between.
All of this company and having a home has filled me up – charged me for the next four months to come. It has made me introspective around how far we have come, what the impact is of being around easy, comfortable love and how flipping hard it is to make good friends.
The Ease of What you Know
I always knew this but in a “back of my mind” sort of way – something I didn’t consciously think of. Being around people you know and love is the bomb. Conversation is effortless – silence is equally easy. You can be 100% yourself, leaving pretense and good behaviour for the ladies at school you think you need to impress. This will be the hardest to adjust back to now that everyone I know has fled the nest – not having your peeps really sucks. It just does.
The Thing about Things
I have shared too much how we have lived out of our bags for the first six months in New Zealand and how poorly I packed said bags. Here’s the thing: I miss the simplicity of the bag life. The initial Christmas morning buzz of opening all of our lovely things has mellowed and I find myself purging further. The reality is that we are moving back to Canada at some point and I don’t want to do through the weeding again. Would rather weed as I go, buy only what I absolutely ‘need’ (let’s face it – what do we really need…) and lose something for everything I acquire. One in, one out.
Friends
I have made friends. People are overwhelmingly kind and friendly here and keen to lend a hand. My problem is what I am measuring them against. Most people in my life have always been there and even for newer friendships, I seem to attract people who feel like I have known for always and forever. So when THAT doesn’t happen, I wonder what I am doing wrong. Well. Nothing. I am just realizing how lucky I am to be surrounded at home by the people I am.
NB: MANY future posts to come on this glorious country and the oodles of travel we have already done. This is a bucket list place. Seriously.