I can't stop pinching myself - an internal job bubble pops as I do, floats to the surface, and forms again. I live here, I live here, I live here. It's all the more miraculous for the leaving - like getting well after you've been sick, or feeling free when you've been chained. The life journey to get back to the coast I grew up on has been an adventure, and I appreciate the journey, but damn - DAMN - am I happy to be back.
I can't even explain the beauty of the place I live. I live a kilometre from the beach, so at this time of year I'm still swimming in the ocean every day. It's not cold, but not tropical warm, as some of you would expect it - I live way down south, as close as to Antarctica as you can get unless you're living in Tassie, the small island off the coast of Aus. Even then, my best mate tells me the water is only two degrees cooler than here. At the moment, it's 16 degrees Celsius. I love it.
On this particular morning, I took out the goPro whilst Jamie sat on the beach (he'll swim, but only if the sun is out, and if he fancies it - I go in like a fish whose gills are drying out). The GoPro is a pain - I can't get teh controls right because of the water on the screen. I've never used a less intuitive bit of tech.
Still, in these photos there's a sense of what it's like out there, first thing in the morning on the high tide. The water at eye level. It's as close as I can get to surfing without my board. It's funny the things you settle for. As long as I can get in the ocean, I've been thinking, I'll be okay. I've even been looking into gut sliders - prone boards that you still arm paddle but don't need to leap to your feet. Whatever keeps you wet, right? :P
I think I'd bo mad if someone took my ocean away.
This morning I was called into work (first for the year, emergency teaching) so I high tailed it down for a quick swim. The sun was coming up all lemony. Fuck, fuck, fuck I'm lucky to live here, I think.
I think of Dad, and how he never got to see my new home or know I made it back. Here's here though - he punches my arm playfully and tells me I'm pretty lucky too. I miss him walking along the beach, talking to him in the carpark and doing up his wetsuit before we paddled out. I'm sad that my son lives in Melbourne and I won't build that ocean relationship with him or my grandson. I text my uncle instead and see how his gutslider shape is going. He might make me one, if I'm lucky.
For now, I'm starting Bowen therapy to see if that helps, and seeing the ortho surgeon for expert advice - I hope - soon, and continuing physio, and a boatload of hope.
With Love,
Are you on HIVE yet? Earn for writing! Referral link for FREE account here
Sounds like a fantastic morning before you go into work. It must make for a relaxing start to the day.
Gald your getting treatment for that hip. I know it has been really hurting you for somet time now.
Take care.
Thanks love. It's hard to believe I can be so happy and so miserable at the same time!
Well, hopefully you will get fixed up soon. Then you will just be happy. :-)
I'm sure I'll find something to moan about, but at least I'll be able to go surfing and forget about it haha!
We are all humna and will find something to complain about. It is just the nature of things. Maslow's Hierarchy and all that stuff I guess.
I can only daydream that Kim and I would one day be able to make a trip to your beach some day for a visit. It would be so cool.
Oh man it would be an honour up host you in our humble home!
That would be so cool!
An early morning swim has got to be the best way to start any day. We had a quick dip at Shellharbour this morning before heading inland.
It is. I've even sucked Jamie into it though, in his very English way, hell only admit it's 'not bad' 😆
plenty of adventure and beauty
My husband was sort of like that. he didn't have to be in it, but able to see it every so often. His thing was fishing, deep sea fishing. And I am sad he never got to see this house as it is now....
The ocean is the best spa/therapy in the world. I'm drawn to it too. My wife would have a very tough time getting me out of the water when we used to vacation in St. Thomas and St. John. You're so lucky to have it right on your doorstep!
Pretty damn lucky, yeah. Very envious atm (it flows both ways, see). At the same time, not just luck, is it? You worked hard and sacrificed, braved change to live this life you craved. Not all luck, I think. Enjoy <3
I guess. Still, it was more luck we bought the first place just as the market started to recover after financial collapse, and that our property quadrupled in value, and then we happened to find a tiny house that no one else saw the potential of right in the middle of a mid winter market slump, and that the couple needed to sell asap so would accept our offer, and that someone wanted our place so much they were willing to pay what we needed when we needed it, just before Jamie's contract expired and we had no means to pay the mortgage. It felt like a whole heap of things lining up in a fortuitous way.
Either way, I am finally home after much wandering. Lucky, because I can't even get on a plane! I keep telling myself that I have travelled heaps, I don't need to be one of those retirees spending 💰 all that money on overseas travel because I've worked my whole life... Would rather be broke and happy with where I am and the memories of travelling wildly in my youth.
Wild swimming as they seem to call it here is getting more popular with ladies groups especially in the morning. Too bloody cold for me though, now your water I agree with Jamie, when the sun's up it is so much inviting.
I think it takes a rare breed to swim in Scotland and in February it'd still be arctic wouldn't it? Woken at least don't have balls to freeze off! I think the coldest I have swim is 12 degrees - I just googled that it's 6 degrees now in Edinburgh - are they flipping bonkers?