Loving Life

I haven't been writing due to sheer enjoyment of life. We have grapes at work and this is the start of 6 12 hour days a week. I enjoy the work and am looking forward to enjoying the money to keep traveling. My life here in South Australia is so great and I need to leave before I decide to never leave. That being said the current departure date is set for June 21 to New Zealand. Who knows though my mind is like a tumble dryer of ideas with different ones on top with each new cycle and each new day. I have been seeing heaps of Kangaroos, drinking great wine, mediocre beer, and spending time with wonderful people. I've also been getting the hang of surfing and bought a wetsuit today after surfing early in the morning. Today I made my first conscious turns on the board and was immediately transported to the state of "pumped beyond comprehension!" It really is such a cool sensation and it is a very unique environment to enjoy. The perspectives of the beach, and the spray from a wave blowing back at you from offshore are very unique. I am very excited for the wetsuit as I originally bought some for cheap out of a classified to later find out that I could wear cold cardboard for the same effect. I ended up cold and very chaffed from the $45 special. It may strike you as odd that the water is cold, but keep in mind that if you went as the crow flies from the Fleurieu Peninsula that I live on the next land is Antarctica.

Enjoy the pictures, I miss everyone heaps!

I love my life.

I haven't written any words in a long time. This if you care to read may be a source of distress, but for me is a great sign. I am feeling very comfortable, content, and happy with my life here in South Australia. I am at the point where I am getting over the hump of being a traveler and feeling at home. I remember getting to this point when I was in college, but this time it was much more of an expedited process. I have made a few really close and wonderful friends, and have been surrounded by so many quality people that I can not even fathom that possibility that I ever doubted that this trip could be what it is. There were of course times when I wondered if getting a visa, and purchasing plane tickets across the world was a good idea. There were doubts of course, but without them the trip would not be quite what is is.

I can hardly believe how good this trip has been thus far. I am consistently overwhelmed with how special, and privileged I feel. If it is possible to convey how I feel it is to consistently insist that I do not write often enough because I feel as though I owe it to anyone who is not in my position, to make the absolute best of my time.

I love my job, I love the people I am living with, my stomach is often sore from overdoses of laughter. We drink good wine, mediocre beer, and eat great food. We work hard, get dirty, absolutely covered in vino. I have been trying lots of wine, learning to surf, going for long runs, man-handling 300 liter barrels, pondering different thoughts about the world, and wondering what it is that ever makes me hesitate to put myself out there and see what the world has to offer. I have talked to a few people since I left that say they are jealous, or that I am so lucky, or they wish they could do what I am doing. Rather than get a big head about being in my position I am humbled that anyone could ever be jealous of my dirtbag/vagabond style in the first place.

My inspiration and courage can be summed up simply in a Thoreau quote: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." Though I have often plagiarized the confidence, and my imagination falls short repeatedly, I know that by following this small piece of advice, my life will be very rich. I also realize how many great people I have always been surrounded by, the best of friends and the finest of family. Bloody Oath, its the truth. You should all come visit!