The Big News

Image by me, of the wide open spaces in another place we call home, 'Inverness' at Boort

Anyone who read my old blog Cinderella at Brindabella, or knows me personally, knows our journey. One of big dreams, hopes, plans for a future, a home. My heartstrings pulled us home to the rolling hills of Gippsland in late 2010 from our happy place at Ythanbrae, our utopia in our little cottage that we walked away from, tears streaming down my face driving out the driveway, but full of hope that we would find our place...

But then...the year of 2011 was one I'd rather forget, one of scratch that, start again. One of struggle, difficult decision making, more struggle, stress, tears (oh the tears) and that sick feeling deep inside you where you know that you are not living the best life you deserve. It was full of that, and more. It was also the year we were married, the year we learnt so much about ourselves and our judgements, the power that we have when we work as a united front. Together.

Of course 2012 was the year of so much adventure, of self-discovery, of exploring not only our country but where our future would lie. If 2011 was the year we fell apart, 2012 was the year we put it all back together again. Over the course of our 14 months as homeless nomadic gypsies a picture was formed clearly in our minds - not of what 2013 would look like for us, nor even 2014 or 2015, but what our future would be like, what it would be full of and surrounded by. What was definite was that our future was just rosy, we had the fabulous luxury of time (so much time) together as husband and wife, talking, thinking, praying, always talking. If the inside of Luxie could talk he would have much to tell you. 

And so we move on. To bigger, better, more fabulous things. A new role awaits my clever husband, so clever he doesn't know it, so humble it is his greatest downfall. We have found a new home in the sandy hills of south east South Australia. A home with opportunities and challenges, with lots of cattle and sheep. Just the way we like it. We are moving far from family and friends, but not as far as some of our plans were. We won't know anyone, nor the area. I've been to Adelaide once on a business trip, but now it will be 'my city'*. We will be jumping head first into new challenges, a new community, a new way of life. We will be living a fairly remote lifestyle, 60km from the nearest 2 horse town, 80km to the nearest shops. I will be (hopefully) continuing to work from home, blogging, photographing and studying my way. Yes studying. I'm going back to school. More on that later.

Since we arrived home to our families at Christmas time we have had a time of reflection and big decision making to do. So many options, all extremely different and diverse put in front of us. What a problem to have: spoilt for choice. Where would our future lie? Those damn heartstrings were pulling at me again, back to our beloved Murrindindi hills. But I'd listened to that little voice before, I listened very, very closely again and we decided the voice was saying no, not yet, that part of your story is finished, move forward not back. Another little voice was whispering as well, saying no to one opportunity put in front of us, that's not what you want, not where your future lies. The little voice kept whispering, then chatting away merrily, then shouting until it became a roar. Then I realised the little/big voice wasn't saying 'no' - it was saying 'yes'. We decided to listen to the little voice.

We are happy. Happy to have made a decision that sits well with us, we feel this is the right step for us, an intermediate step before the next great leap. For now it is a step. We are happy to be having a home again to fill with love and laughter and memories. 

This step we feel is very much a part of our journey, just as the sadness of 2011 was and the joys of 2012 as well. It's all part of our story, which makes the journey all the more sweet.

Our story will continue, I promise, in the form of a blog. But not this one, this chapter of our story is closed. I will post again on 'The Happy Campers' as I develop a new blog for a new chapter. Until then I am going to soak in our last weeks with family and friends in Victoria and try not to think about the horror that is moving day! I'm going to dream of a new home to decorate, a new garden to grow, new friends to make, new wedding presents to finally get out of storage.

Thank-you for your words of support and encouragement throughout our journey as 'The Happy Campers' - it has been a blessing to share our story with the world wide web.

* Melbourne will ALWAYS be my city, just so you know.