Today is the three month anniversary of the start of our year long voyage. We're a quarter of the way through. It really doesn't feel like time is moving fast or slow. It feels just right.
Today is one of those days I want to remember. It may be because we cleared the decks on our two big planning obstacles (I plan to dedicate an entire blog entry to securing a tourist visa to India in case any of you are planning such folly). It may be because we have discovered the award winning Sauvignon Blanc's of the South Island (This is where Oyster Bay comes from Mom and Mo). Or it may be because the weather here in Christchurch is just perfect - not too hot, not too cold. Goldilocks weather you might call it. But no, the real reason I want to remember this day is because of a tiny little swimming pool with a creaky old water slide at the campsite we are staying at.
New Zealand is full of fun little trailer parks where you can spend the night for very little capital outlay. They have tent sites, plug in sites for camper vans, motels and little bungalows for those traveling by car or bike. There are communal kitchens with outdoor grills, movie and game rooms and book exchanges. The vibe is exactly what we were looking for. While cooking our meal this evening we struck up conversations with people from all over the world and learned some hidden little gems about the South Island that are not in the tourist brochures. We met friendly locals who are cheerily staying at facilities like this while their homes and city are rebuilt following the recent earthquakes. The girls lent a hand cooking and washing both our dishes and those of our neighbours. New Zealand is 100% geared towards independent travel. We love it.
But back to why this was such a great day. After spending the morning securing our Indian visas (uggggghhh!) we took the city bus downtown. The destruction that was done to this lovely garden city is still abundantly visible. Empty lots, vacant high rises, closed roads and boarded up shops dominate every street and corner. People are bravely breathing life back into this city, but it is still clearly on its knees. We visited the earth quake museum and heard the stories of residents who lost loved ones and endured those terrifying days. We'd love to come back in 10 years to see how the plans for the future play out. There's lots to do and a superhuman effort required to make it happen. The Kiwis seem to have the right attitude. Cheers mate. No worries.

After dinner Deb and Mira walked to the supermarket to pick up a few things that we need before hitting the road tomorrow. Shannon and I finished the dishes and headed over to the pool. I was sitting at poolside with a glass of Waipara Valley white watching my daughter practice underwater handstands when it all sank in. "This is it," I thought. "I think it just hit home." I had nothing to do at that moment but sit and watch my daughter delight in a crappy little swimming pool. No shirt to iron for work, no meal to cook, no lunches to pack, no housework to do before bed. All I had to do was sit in that white plastic chair and enjoy the moment. Laugh and giggle at her silliness. Put aside little worries and concerns that were knocking gently at the door of my subconscious. "Can I stay 10 more minutes Daddy?" Why not. This "year off" was meant to be about many things. About learning. About adventure. About getting away from it all. About empathy for those less fortunate. About independence and self confidence. Tonight, though, it was about simple and stress free family time together. I'd be lying if I said that our kids have not driven us crazy on a regular basis these last three months. I'm sure they'd say the same about us (apparently Mira has a share all blog!). Tonight though, it felt just right. It felt just like one of those days that I know I'm gonna miss one day. Too often we let these moments go by, no matter where we are. They're fun and enjoyable, but simply the thing that comes before the thing we need to do next. Not today. I was going to pull out the camera and a take a snap but decided against it. This was a moment best left to the memory. We are in no hurry to get anywhere tomorrow. If we stay up late, we'll sleep in. If we don't get our school work done tomorrow, we'll do it the next day. Or the day after. Today was just about, as the cliche goes, living in the moment. Maybe it takes three months to get here. Maybe it's New Zealand and its surprisingly tasty grape. Maybe I'm the last person on Earth to finally feel this way. If so, welcome. better late than never. Either way, it feels great.
Tomorrow we hit the road in earnest. South is our heading. East and then west. We have three weeks to see this island and nothing particular that we must see. Apparently it's all awesome. Before we pull up stakes, we plan to watch The Lord of the Rings on the tiny TV in our camper tonight. You never know when you might meet someone you recognize out on the road. By 10 am we'll regret having let them stay up so late. I'll threaten to pull over a few times and "really give them something to cry about." No matter. I'm not going to forget the little moment I had tonight. I hope there are lots more in store.
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