A week into my Canadian trip and I’m just starting to wind down. OK yeah, it might seem strange because I’ve been on ‘holiday’ for two months already but just because I’ve not been working doesn’t mean I’ve not been on the go.
Originally me and Katie had talked about a big Canadian roadtrip up to/through the Rockies, seeing all the things and having all the adventures, but we soon realised that neither of us had the energy for it. It’s been a busy and intense couple of months for both of us, and a few weeks ago we decided to stay on Vancouver Island and rent a little cabin by the ocean where we could chill out and just go exploring if and as we wanted to.
The trip to the UK and Canada this year was always about people, not about ‘travel’. I didn’t really care what I did as long as I spent time with the people I’ve missed so much over the last few years. I told Katie as long as I saw a few nice views and got to hang out with her that’d be enough.
So we find ourselves in the most wonderful little cabin right on the beach with views of mountains across the water. We’ve watched seals and whales play just metres from where we sit with a glass of wine (or mainly tea now, after going way overboard with the wine on the first night due to over excitement), and the sunrises and sunsets every day have been INCREDIBLE. We’re spending our days walking, chatting, reading, writing, eating, and exploring.
It’s perfect.
I’ve been reflecting on my time in the UK. It was the BEST. It really was. I’ve had a decent chunk of time to catch up and reconnect with so many people, and loved having so much fun. I’ve laughed SO MUCH. I’ve been so burnt out the last couple of years it’s been a real treat not having to think about ‘work’, because of finishing up one job in July and not starting the next until I get back. Knowing that I don’t have to rush because I always seem to have that little bit more time is a luxury I don’t feel like I’ve had for a long time.
It’s also been an emotional rollercoaster. It’s so lovely to see everyone, and then such a wrench to leave again. Just as it’s a wrench to be away from my New Zealand life and people, and it feels SO long now. And of course there’s fabulous Ben, the guy I met just before going away. Who I’ve had to date virtually for the last 9 weeks. When I went, I was like, oh yeah, this is fine, it’s only a couple of months. Wrong. It’s the longest time EVER and I’m impatient and he’s LOVELY and I’m excited and nervous and a bit giddy. It’s been so weird having to get to know each other virtually. Great, and nice, but a bit strange because there’s obviously a dimension missing, and all we can do is talk and talk and talk. But I reckon we’ve got to know each other pretty well, and it seems we still like each other, so that’s got to be a good thing, right?
We have a few more days here at the cabin before heading back to Victoria, then I head back to the mainland to catch my flights to Aotearoa (New Zealand). I’m ready for it now. I’m ready for my own bed, for the little red cottage, and some routine. Not sure I’m quite ready to start work again, but I have another week after I get back before I start my new job. I’ll put off thinking about it until then.
In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the unseasonably great weather, soak up the island views and keep ploughing through my kindle reading list.
The Paps Life 