Countdown to travel: 3 months to go

When I look at the calendar, it’s been all GO GO GO GO and now soon to be: Gone. After May, we’re playing a different completely different ball game.

The countdown to travel is on in full force around here!

Our big roadtrip been in the pipeline for what feels like ages now. Thom and I created our first joint bank account, specifically for our “travel savings” in June 2011, just before we took off to Rarotonga for a week. Although  the destination was never officially confirmed, we began tucking away that set chunk of money every pay day. The countdown to travel was on before we even knew when or where we were going! Eventually we even increased the amount we were saving weekly, making the dream come true that much faster. Since it’s an automatic payment on payday, I don’t even notice it missing. But I do love watching the travel funds grow!

Here we are, a year and a half later, and our tickets are bought and paid for, and have been since October. Since then, life has honestly been a whirlwind of busy. If you read my review of 2012, you already know there was lots going on. By the time I finished writing the dreaded school reports and ended the school year, we hopped a plane down to Dunedin for a friends wedding just before Christmas, returning home late Christmas Eve. We had a week at home before my Grandmother landed in the country, and her and I were roadtripped around the the Land of the Long White Cloud for two whole weeks together.

Sit tight – the details of that adventure are on their way very soon, I do promise! I can’t wait to share the details of our adventures.

An unedited photo of one of my favourite spots from our roadtrip

Yesterday was the 1st of February, leaving us with just 3 short months to sort out our lives before we’re on that big bad overnight flight to Vancouver.

Are our plans made? Yes and no. I’m planning on making minimal to no plans, as much as possible on this trip. I plan to ‘go with the flow’ across the country and see where we end up. Open to adventure and opportunity!

Why I don’t make plans:

They never go the way I think anyways!

My original plan, when we bought our tickets in October, was to continue working but as a relief teacher instead of having my own class. But plans never go as you think, do they?

When I thought I was going to have lots of “spare time” I made lots of plans. I found a travel writing course that would be held in Auckland two Sundays in a row – that sounded good, I signed up! Grab One also offered a special on a photography course, the same Saturday as the writing course. I’d recently bought myself my very first DSLR camera, and thought it would be good to properly learn how to get the most out of it.   I bought an online 140 hour TEFL course on a super special, to do in my “free time” before I left. I wanted to open as many doors and possibilities for getting a job abroad in January 2014 and since I thought I was going to be working day to day, I assumed I’d have all of this free time to fill.

Except, I don’t.

I’ve landed myself a full time short term relieving contract for the next 11 weeks in same classroom as last year, with a full on class of amazing 6 year olds!

I still have to do this course, on top of working full time. And I have every intention of continuing blogging, because I enjoy writing.  My plate is going to be FULL.

Hello time management, I think we need to be friends, and FAST. (Facebook, I think this might mean we need to take a break – you are just no good for my productivity).

Oh, and I also thought it would be a good idea to do the Mangawhai Triathlon, on February 24th. 500 m swim, 17 km bike, 5km run… what was I thinking!? With all my jet -setting around the country, I’ve done zero swim training, minimal bike rides and a bit of running- a decent effort for being on the road… This week I started up a 6 week boot camp. It runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 6-7am, so that’s helping to improve my fitness. But I’m still probably going to die.

So the next three weekends are completely booked up being down the line.

What’s left to do?

Lots of work to do here, wouldn’t you say?

I’ve got a basement full of things to figure out how I want to sell. There’s also some visa business to sort. Ah, the joys of being an international couple. Sounds like a little, feels like a lot.

I’m feeling good about recently tying up some lose ends of cash that’s been in limbo for too long. $590 that I have paid but owe to be refunded to me (insurance/past bond). Feels like free money just for sending away the forms.

There’s not much time left on our countdown to travel and I definitely know it’s going to fly by faster than I can imagine. Heck it hardly feels like it’s been a year since I reflected on being in NZ for 3 years! -

My goal for the next 3 months is not wish away the days.

I love where I am. I love the beauty I’m surrounded with, going to sleep to the sound of the waves crashing outside my window, being able to see the sea from my shower and out every window of my house. I love having the job I’ve dreamed of since I was kid and I want to truly appreciate the fact that I am able to work full up right up until we leave. I love the amazing friendships I’ve formed in this close-knit community and I want to really enjoy all the fabulous and unique people around me.

I don’t want to wish away any of that, and hurry up what will come in the same amount of time.

I want to savour every moment I have left here and make the best memories. Actually that’s exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life, but I want my time to be spent enjoying what I’ve got instead of waiting for the next big thing to come along.