LITTLE NIGGLES, BIG PLUSES

As the day of my final departure from Mornington Peninsula draws near and the advent of my Great Journey (sounds a bit epic, doesn’t it?) starts I am amazed by what is bothering me and what isn’t! Do I care that I am leaving the security of a house to come home to, to relax in, to have a base where I can be found. Does it bother me that I have had to sell or give away most of my possessions in order to do this? Well… no. It seems to be more the little things that are niggling at me.

Loads of showers if you look for them.

The shower, for instance! I’ve had two yesterday, and will probably have two today  and definitely have my usual morning shower before I leave on Saturday morning. I LOVE my showers and it is probably the one absolute thing that I will miss on my travels. My little traveling shell does not have one.  A deliberate decision on my part, as, even if it did it have one, it would just not be the same. Having to quickly dive in and out of a tiny enclosed cubicle, in order to conserve the water from the small tank I can carry. Don’t worry, I won’t be wearing au de sweaty armpits – I’m still going to have showers, wherever I can find them (and I’ve been told there are actually loads around) and strip wash every day. But it’s not the same! I can spend AGES happily letting the warm water run over my hair and onto my body. Lathering up a sponge with minty shower gel. Then rubbing the shampoo in my hair, then conditioner, and the long rinses in between.  I kid you not. Some like baths- with me it’s showers. How I will miss them.

Another niggle is my constant need for cups of tea and coffee. Forget the food. What about my tea and coffee? Fine when I am occasionally at a powered site. Then I can plug in my kettle to my hearts’ content. But when I am not it means boiling up a huge flask of water on the little gas stove I have, to try and last me all day. I’m not sure I will make it through . I’m trying to convince myself it will be much healthier for me as I will be forced to drink more water. It’s the word ‘forced’ that defines this act.

And another thing is the electricity. Oh how I will miss the ease with which I can normally just switch on a light, the TV, my laptop, my kettle. Instead I will have to gage how much power I have left every day, unless I want to be in bed when the sun sets. If I stay in one place I can get my solar up and running, but if I am traveling… well …..

On the plus side, whilst I have been here this week, I have spent my nights in my shell and found that although my TV is now just a DVD player, I have actually really enjoyed snuggling up in my little bed and watching a favorite DVD at night. And my bed is AWESOME by the way! Best bed ever!  Most comfortable I have been in for some time.

And as I am still on electric power at the moment I can also do stuff like this! I have my little table all set up (it folds down when not needed) and on goes my laptop! Blogs away!! That’s the truth about today’ camping. It’s not exactly pioneer style, lol. Here I sit with laptop, internet, phone and DVDs, and could even do this without a powered site, so long as I set out my solar.

Another plus is that I will not have to listen to my poor little Muppet across the street, barking and barking for attention. She is the sweetest Cavoodle and I don’t think her owners are bad people just unwilling to change and believe they love her and are doing the best for her. Unfortunately they are not. I have tried to get them to see that she needs to be walked and played with and spend some time inside with them. But to them she is an outside dog (a Cavoodle is part King Charles Spaniel- a dog particularly bred as a LAP dog, to stay inside with you) and they think by locking her up in a tiny shed with two tiny little windows every night they are protecting her. That to me is utter cruelty. Especially in hot weather. Why not a purpose built outside shelter, if they insist she stays outside? RSPCA? For me, as a strong believer in animal welfare and rights, this has been the hardest thing of all to bear whilst living here in Rye.

So whilst my little niggles irritate me, leaving does not.

Till my next fully fledged , Out There, Doin it, Grey Nomading  post….

Have fun and build your Good Karma.

The Grey Chihuahua

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

While sitting with some friends, over a glass of wine, the other night, the subject inevitably reverted to my impending journey. Some just get it, some don’t. And I’m cool with that. I understand what security and having a family means to people. I love my family very much, and have a large one covering three states. And if circumstances were different, there’s a strong possibility I would not be doing this either. But if I couldn’t make this journey I doubt that I would ever be satisfied or really happy with life. Even with a family.

I have no children, though there was a time when I wanted them very much. But it was a life choice I made. And I cannot, honestly, say I regret it. Circumstances are not all the same. Many of my friends have children.. and grandchildren now, and for some of these going off on long trips around Australia is inconceivable! For others it is still a possibility. Maybe those who prefer to stay with their family have already been on their journey and found that ‘home’, that haven for the soul. It is there with their family. Even some of my single friends, don’t need to find where they are. They already know it. Jobs and security, family and friends have given them a deep sense of peace.

So when my friend Sue asked the question “what are you looking for?”, I tried to find the words to explain. A sense of peace and happiness; a sense of belonging; a sense of being in a place I wanted to stay / lay down roots; finding my ‘home’; being at peace with who and what I am. And no, I don’t need to find someone or be with someone. I think being with someone just so you are not alone leads to its own unhappiness.  I am looking for me, not them. Like I said. some get it, some don’t.

And there’s also the aspect of travel! Let’s face it.. I’ve been restless since being a little kid! I love to travel. Seeing the beauty of sunrise and sunset,  the crashing of waves on a wide, golden beach or the tall mystery of cool forests, uplifts me. Even an individual rock on a desert shore is stunning in its aspect. And Nature is such a great healer. Meditation, for me, is much easier away from suburbia.

Which doesn’t mean I want to avoid all humanity. On the contrary, nothing is more wonderful than finding someone you just ‘sync’ with, or a great character or fascinating stories. How do you think I found such beautiful friends?

And, of course, there are the other animals. As a huge animal lover and animal welfare supporter I hope I can find sanctuaries and conservation areas to work/ volunteer in as I go. I deeply believe all species of this planet need each other not only to survive, but also on some deeper level which enriches our souls and our lives. And I know there’s great evidence of this. Older humans thrive better and live longer with a companion animal. Sick humans have been known to recuperate better or quicker. Dogs in particular sense human needs or moods and respond accordingly and I love them deeply for their amazing ability to give loyalty and love so unconditionally. But there’s a whole raft of other species who bond with us. If we let them. If we don't destroy them.

So what am I looking for? A life worth living.

Till Next time. Have a Great Day.

The Grey Chihuahua

EAT, PRAY AND MIND THE CROCS!

Beginnings are like many strings wound tightly into a ball. You’re never quite sure where one began and one ended until you start unraveling them. And even then, some overlap or get tangled together.

So when did I decide to start this journey? Even as a child I was always curious and BORED! Terminally bored in fact, was the way I would describe my small town childhood. I wanted to move. To experience life. To travel. To see and do exciting things. And so when I grew up, I traveled Europe for a few blissful, energising, enlightening years…. but Life happens. Somehow I ended settled again, this time in the UK.

Over the years I gained a very successful and well paid career with several other fleeting jobs to keep me even more occupied on the side. I had looked after my parents and sister in England, until their deaths and even  managed to pay the house off. And I had been with a partner for 17 long years. It was then that my body decided to make me take notice of what was really happening, as my brain had obviously switched off. My stress levels were frying me! As the pain and anxiety took its’ toll and I ended up unable to work for months, I realised I hadn't wanted to be here for a very long time. I wanted to finish work. Was it then that I decided to start the journey? Well, no, though that was when my partner and I amicably split and I returned to Australia.

Was it on my return to Australia? Well I had intended to begin a whole new life of more living in the ‘now’ instead of the ‘tomorrow’, which had been my ethos all my life to that point. You know, earn as much as you can today so you can have that big house tomorrow. To be truthful I no longer wanted the big house (been there, done that, did not enjoy the experience). Nor the successful, top role job. In fact, money was no longer my God in any way. I was back to being a kid again. I wanted to LIVE! To enjoy life. And for a year I did! I met some amazing people (even worked as an 'extra' on TV shows and films- best job EVER!) and explored the city and its sights, its smells, its sounds. But, then, somehow, I ended back into the same old groove that I had been used to. An apartment in Melbourne. (In fact , 4 apartments over 4years as I found it hard to settle.)  A stable job (with AWESOME colleagues/friends though!). Part of my wonderful family close by. And so came the second crash.

Again unable to work and even move from bed because of the pain, this time I went to a Specialist who happily informed me not to worry. There was a reason for the pain, the brain fog, the dizziness and nausea, the high anxiety and the all the other wonderful symptoms that were presenting. I had Fibromyalgia. Permanent Fibromyalgia.

It was then I decided to start my journey!

All my life I had been trying to make my journey happen. It wasn’t just a journey about travel, about seeing beautiful places or wonderful new experiences. It was a journey to find ME. A journey to find where my soul would find the peace and happiness that is so elusive in life. I knew that time was running out to do that now. At 58, with little money and little health…. It was time.

So, I sold or gave away everything I possessed  that would not fit into my 2005 ex-ambulance, Mercedes Sprinter. One which I’d bought and had converted to a small, very basic Motorhome, as cheaply as I could. My plan was..... not to have a plan. Other than to travel around Australia for as long as it took. There were to be no ties left that would hold my spirit back.  As a good friend laughingly told me it was like the book/movie, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, only in my case ..’Eat, Pray, and watch the Crocs!’

 Oh. And why  'the Grey Chihuahua'? Well traveling Australia as a Grey Nomad plus I love animals especially dogs and have been told I resemble a Chihuahua on occasion. Small, feisty and refuse to behave myself! (I think they mean do as others tell me I should do.)

So for now. Have a Great Day.

The Grey Chihuahua