Posted in Uncategorized on 04/14/2003 09:27 am by Tam
So, trying not to think too much about “lasts”. As in, “Friday was my last game night at Pink House.” Today is my last Hula class with Holly, although it is the first with the new blue i’is (Tahitian “hand tassels”) Holly got me. Stephen helpfully pointed out that Saturday’s lunch at the House of Blues was probably my last trip to Harvard Square (and, of course, my last HOB rosemary cornbread with maple butter):
I got Len to oblige me and lean forward into frame, but I see that Karl helpfully sat back so only his arm is in the picture. Pphphpt. Check out how my new digital camera balances out the yellow from the incandescent lighting, though. Pretty schweet.
Anyway, Change is Good — at least, for me. Lasts make way for firsts, and I crave firsts. And the lasts that would really make my stomach knot — hanging out with my friends, taking little trips with my Mom — well, they’re not the Last lasts, because we’ll be coming back to visit. Hopefully, we can lure some of them out to visit *us*, too.
In other news. Packing. Gah. I sure hope the rain we’re supposed to get midweek doesn’t mess up Packing the Can. The thought of unpacking on the other end and finding mushrooms growing out of my art books gives me a nervous tic. At least we can count on Rasputin to help:
Posted in travel on 04/14/2003 08:33 am by Stephen
The laws of thermodynamics state that any time work is done, the total entropy of the universe increases. I believe it. Even as we pack, organize, and move box after box away to the storage area the house chaos never seems to decrease! But the end is in sight, and it had better be as we start packing the container in about 72 hours! It does not look like there is much left, but houses have an amazing ability to hold 10 more boxes worth of random junk even after you think the place is empty.
As for the question, Why New Zealand?
As my long-time friends know, I have had this strange NZ fixation since freshman year in high school. I have no idea where it came from (a parasitic worm in my brain, perchance?). I told Tam about the NZ plans shortly after I met her eleven years ago, to which the reply was something like “huh?”. But years of talking about it slowly stuck the infectious meme in her brain. Four years ago we got to the point where we could afford to go there on vacation (living large on that postdoc salary!), and 3.5 weeks in country confirmed that it was in fact as beautiful and wonderful as I had imagined. Is it perfect? Certainly not, no place is. But with all major moves and life-changes it is a matter of choosing what is important, and in this regard the good aspects definitely outweigh the bad.
It is also true that 9-11 affected the decision to move. Not because we are downwind of New York (though I freely admit I am glad I don’t live in a “target city”), but because I wanted my life to be full of cool stuff. As our friend Rick said “this is not a dress rehersal- this is your life”. I want to do stuff, cool and interesting and noteworthy. When I am 85 I want to be able to tell stories beyond “I got up every morning and went to work”. Moving to New Zealand is going to be a fun adventure. I am certain some things will go wrong, but that is just part of the adventure. Plus basing out of NZ will make it easier to take fun vacations to Asia!
