Westport

To celebrate THREE months living in Paula, here’s a little series of tres.

Things I haven’t worn:
1. A bra
2. A watch
3. Makeup

Things I’ve learned:
1. When you have less, it takes less to be happy
2. Elegance is an attitude
3. Numbers are meaningless when you let go of comparisons

Things I miss:
1. The ability to stand up straight at home
2. Relaxed poops
3. Nephews

Things I don’t miss:

1. Tipping + added sales tax
2. Sleeping alone
3. Feeling like a consumer rather than a human in a business exchange

Habits I’ve acquired:

1. Looking right THEN left before crossing the street
2. Wearing the same outfit days in a row
3. Making the bed daily (REALLY making it, out of a table)

Things I’ve been better off without:

1. Mirrors
2. Numbers
3. Unlimited internet access

My greatest pleasures on the road:

1. Hot coffee every morn in my little nest of pillows
2. Reading and writing for hours on end, with no greater demands upon my time
3. Clean hair day, especially when it’s hot, private, and unlimited water from an enclosed shower.

My greatest struggles in this lifestyle:

1. Sharing my personal space with my man person
2. Talking through my moods and feelings in real time, all the time
3. Being fully content–appreciating rather than comparing my reality

The best moments so far:

1. Coming upon the congratulatory rainbow at Liverpool Hut
2. Countryside driving during one glorious golden hour
3. A Christmas morning hike on the cliffs of Golden Bay

Goals for the remainder of our time:

1. Nail a Milky Way shot
2. Pick up a hitchhiker
3. Stay in a hut

Ways I hope this will positively influence life back home:

1. Purging my possessions, living with less
2. More mindful disconnection from my devices
3. Seeking solace outdoors when my mind, body, and soul feel misaligned

-K

&Now: an overdue roundup of all the photos that have been lurking on my desktop, waiting for their moment of blog recognition.

2016-03-15_0005 2016-04-03_0001 2016-04-03_0002
^ That one time we hiked up a hill in Queenstown with cold beers in our bag. #bestideaever

2016-04-03_0003
^ Really, the best way to enjoy Queenstown: intoxicated and from a good distance away.

2016-04-03_0004
^ IVE ALWAYS WANTED TO FIND ONE OF THESE!

2016-04-03_0005 2016-04-03_0006 2016-04-03_0007
^ Dapper dude’s gotta stay dapper.

2016-04-03_0008
^ A little honey for my honey. (The obvious caption.) Seriously though, honesty boxes? Melt my heart. (Although to be honest, I Photoshopped out the big, ugly sign that said there were cameras surveilling the area for the bastards that don’t leave their $7. GIMME A BREAK.)

2016-04-03_0009
^Eric enjoying a beer after his afternoon craft is complete. (Giggle, giggle, giggle)
^A random cafe we happened upon in the middle of nowhere. MINNESOTA!

2016-04-03_0010 2016-04-03_0011
^Snail mail is 2348x more exciting here. Especially when it’s from my friend Amy: owner of the cutest set of stationary. #hardcorecovet
^Nin’s Bin! A coastal icon.

2016-04-03_0012
^Eric didn’t believe me that this was a sea star. PFFFF.
^Meow.

2016-04-03_0013
^ Watching the waves. Laughing when they’d come up to nip my toes.