Well, we made it! Just over six months ago we packed all our clothes and headed out on what we were sure would be one of our biggest adventures. So here we are halfway through our initial commitment to this journey; which, just so everyone knows, our parents thought we would be home by now. It seems like only yesterday that we left everyone behind and now just six months out I can say we have truly learned so much. We quickly realized that, much to our dismay, the parents were in fact correct when they told us money does not grow on trees! We now fully understand why you turn the light off when you leave the room and also no need to turn a faucet on and walk away while it is running; yes, we are growing up. We live in a one room apartment that cost as much as a luxury monthly car payment, yet it is a weekly expense. We both have been able to maintain jobs, mine a temp position that is still going strong; Lindsey’s a more permanent part time roll. We have for the most part, made a little life for ourselves and are enjoying it to the fullest. We have been on several adventures, with more in the works. We have been through our first ever Rugby World Cup, and even managed to squeeze in a couple of games.
The seasons are finally starting to change here for the better. We are trading in the cold damp days of winter for the dry and warm days of summer. Everything is so green and beautiful, the weather is warm but not hot and no humidity, comparable to Mississippi. Even better than the weather, I am even more thankful for the leaves on the trees. I say this because our neighbor across the street is rather large and refuses to wear pants or close his blinds, and now thanks to Mother Nature we now have natural window coverings.
All in all, it truly is shaping up to be the best decision we could have ever made; having said that we do miss our family and friends more than we can say. We are slowly coming to terms with not being home for Thanksgiving or Christmas; a first for both Lindsey and I. The only thing I think that will help make it easier is the fact that it will be the middle of summer here, so maybe we will not even know we missed it!
It is also hard to believe it will soon be one year since I married my best friend! Time truly does fly when you are having fun and we are having a ball!! We are truly blessed to have found each other and equally as blessed to have such amazing families. Not everyone’s family would have been so supportive of a move around the world, but thankfully we both come from families that are not afraid to let us make our own mistakes!
So after six months we are still alive and well, and still dreaming big. We greet each new day with a passion for what it could become. Along with our dreams we continually look to the future and how we see our life going. Where do we want to live? What do we want to do? How can we make sure that we always keep this passion we have for life? So with that said, we have a few options to decide on. One of my dreams has all ways been to learn how to sail, and maybe even one day own my own sail boat and sail around the world, well not literally, just from place to place. This dream may be closer than we realized; I will soon be enrolled in sailing classes here in The City of Sails, Auckland, New Zealand! So with a passion and plenty of ignorance this is sure to be a fun journey. Another option we are playing with is not coming home in April…… Pause for reflection. Rather than coming home we may hop across the ditch and spend 12 months or so in Australia! Oh by the way, we have not told our parents about this option so…. SURPRISE!!!!!
These are all options and decisions we will be making over the next few months, but all the while enjoying and living in the moment. My parents always told me, don’t worry about it, you have the rest of your life to work! Unfortunately for them, I actually listened to this bit of advice. While most of you probably think we are crazy and do not know what the hell we are doing; I have to say it is one of the best times of our lives.
Ray
