The long drive south was therapeutic ...
After pulling away from Clark's Beach late Wednesday, we decide to stop at Grafton for the night. With left over gyoza filling from our Japanese cook up, Maria had grabbed some casings before we left Byron so we enjoyed extending the Japanese theme an extra night. From Grafton to Goulburn on Thursday, and the windscreen wipers only got turned off as we neared Sydney ... a wet and dreary drive. But the boring road between Sydney and Melbourne offers lots of space for thinking and talking. And with some adventures and decisions ahead of us over the next 6 months we had lots to do.
So now I'm sitting at my little desk in the corner of the bedroom back in Brunswick contemplating the work week ahead. Its been a good weekend to prepare to switch modes. A lap swim in the chilly morning air, croissants from the Abruzzo Bakery out our bake gate, an expresso made on my machine, and I know its Sunday morning. Ferrying Heidi to parties and babysitting jobs, Rachel to work and friends' houses, and I know I'm home.
I have a nervous energy about the next six months. Three of our children use their passports for the first time; Rachel to Fiji in late August to do volunteer work for 3 months, Zac to China and Hong Kong with Jan in late November, and Johanna with Maria and I to the Middle East in September. Heidi is contemplating another south east Asian adventure in January ... scattering with adventurous intent.
... and circumstances around our little business mean that things will change significantly. How we don't know, but the ending of some long term contracts has offered us opportunities to reshape that hadn't been planned for. Adventurous intent.
Every day is a gift. We anticipate many more yurting excursions, but if we've had our last, we are thankful. We know that what matters most is inner peace and joy - the external realities of life in and of themselves don't offer satisfaction. The challenge as our little mob faces the circumstances and opportunities of the next 6 months will not be to manipulate or control the circumstances, but to cultivate the inner condition that enables our spirits to thrive.