Having less and doing more....

When we were in the deciding stages of leaving our Canadian life (for a while) the idea of having less and doing more rolled off our tongues daily. We really felt like we needed to rid ourselves of the "stuff" as it seemed to bog us down. Now that we are here and living the Kiwi life we deliberately make choices not to accumulate stuff. It has been going well. There are a few things that we have bought, things we have needed. The days of wandering through WalMart and loading the cart with things that we liked, not needed, are long gone. It feels good.
Last week Dan came home with a 5 litre slow cooker, new, because a used slow cooker made me gag. We had been watching the sale prices and my sweet groom thought that $60 was the right price, so along with his weekly grocery shopping trip he returned with an appreciated surprise. The slow cooker makes our Tuesday and Thursday nights simpler with dance/hockey/rubgy/pottery. It is really nice that it is only two nights a week that we are busy.
Back home I was all about the way my house looked. I thought about matching plates, cutlery, sheets and bedding, a set of towels that matched the bathroom, sofas that looked good together, and the list goes on. I can say that that part of me has shut itself off here in NZ. Our house is tidy, uncluttered and very cottagy, which I am okay with. I do not feel the need to redecorate, paint or buy furniture that all matches. Our second hand furniture is functional, not hideous, but not pretty either.
Living with less is freeing. People ask mostly about living with no clothes dryer. It is good. When it is wet and cold, we use two drying racks that we have set up in front of large windows, one in Abby's room, one in our room. On beautiful days like today, we carry them to the porch and use our clothes line. Laundry rarely becomes an overwhelming mountain in the laundry room as we do a load each day so that we can hang it out in the morning. It feels kinda good not to be using all the energy as well.
The "doing more" part of our experience is not extreme, but certainly satisfying. During our week we play cards as a family (Phase 10 is our fav.), we build rabbit cages, weed gardens, bike, walk, hike and do the mundane jobs as a family. On weekends we tend to travel and explore new things together. Dan and I have been out together once while the kids were at school camp when we first got here. Back home, we felt like we needed "date night"...time away from the kids. It is different here, maybe because we do not feel rushed, tired and stressed here. Rather, we go and see new things and do new things together. Next weekend is Sammer's 11th birthday. Sam has asked a friend to go with us, he plans to bungy jump for his birthday. I hope he does, this is the kid that is afraid to swallow a pill and sleep on the top bunk....we'll see. If this new life has affected anyone of us in a positive way, it has been Sam. He has grown physically and emotionally here. I hope he does do the jump as it represent his new found self here.
My school is sending me to Christchurch to observe a new program that is being implemented in schools in NZ. Inquiry learning is the latest thing in education here, the Head of English and the Senior Management Team asked me to go and observe, learn and start the program at Gore High. So we get to go and see Christchurch where Dan will be playing for the Southern Men's Ice Hockey team at the national tournament that same weekend. (The Kiwi NHL..hee hee) We leave Tuesday Aug. 19 and return Sunday Aug. 24. While we are there we plan to do and see a lot. I am particularly looking forward to Hamner Springs, north of CC...soaking in the hot mineral springs for most of the day. The kids really want to go to a Build a Bear store, and we are needing to stock up on Body Shop and LUSH products. Going to a big city will be nice for those 5 days to see some familiar stores and restaurants. There is even three malls in Christchruch! We have not been in anything but small shops in 7 months.
Surgery for my right knee has been booked for September 26th. My knees have been sore and crunchy, making daily pain relief necessary. I am glad to get them done, however Mark, Kris and Emma arrive Sept 23, which might me a less then spectacular hostess. We are looking forward to them coming, counting down the days.
Today, the boys are 3 hours away in Naseby and Abby and I decided to stay home. We have a list of things to accomplish. We have two vegetable gardens that we are getting ready to plant. A bunny run to finish and, of course, laundry to hang out. The slow cooker is a roasting, the sun is a shining, a bike ride is on the list...life is good.

Until next time, Samantha.