We spent the twenty seventh day of the new year touring a couple of beachy towns along the coast. Some we'd visited before and some we hardly knew existed.
Towing our caravan behind us, pulling up when we felt like it, walking around, drinking coffee, discovering history, visiting the op-shops, paddling in the water, coming back to change and have a rest, reading bits of books, knitting rows, fighting over the mirror, making everything sandy, sharing cookies, slipping back into old and familiar and lovely routines.
Even though it's been ages, we couldn't help but notice how easy-breezy it all was. Even though some of us are so much bigger than last time, we couldn't help but fall in love with the road tripping way of life. And even though we have overseas plans for this year, we couldn't help but wonder if we should scrap them in favour of a trip up the east coast. Possibly starting today. There was the most gorgeous caravan park just up from where we were...and we have friends in the next town...
On the way home I thought a lot about it all, what it all means and what we should do with it. For some reason I can't get out of my head how speedy time feels at the moment, and how much we need to make the most of all our situations and decisions.
But when we came home, even though it was blowing an unsettling gale, I immediately remembered why we keep choosing this life. I had that gift of seeing home with fresh eyes and I fell in love with it all over again. It may not be the cruisey, spontaneous, sandy life that we have on the road, it may include small doses of angst as we get ready to go back to the school routine his week, and it may have the realities of house work and deadlines and responsibilities. BUT it has orchards of plums and apples ripe for the picking, it has animals to visit and hang out with, it is surrounded by forests to explore and admire, it has my parents at the bottom of our hill, it has our town and our community not five minutes away, it has veggie gardens to work in and eat from, it has baskets and bowls of produce on the kitchen table, and it has all sorts of other bits that we love.
It's really nice to get away, but it's so lovely to return too.
Wishing you a bit of fun with your what-ifs.
Lots-a-love,
Kate xx
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ReplyDeleteLove your ending "wishing you a bit of fun with your what-ifs." Your writing is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteHola! Yo también me enamoraría de un lugar así. Habitáis un lugar privilegiado ! ! ! ¡¡ ¡ Las fotos preciosas ! ! !
ReplyDeleteI love your writing too. Hope you had a nice break. Love the photo of the girls following their Dad. By the way thank you again for putting the slipper pattern on ......I've made 5 pairs. Its my favourite slipper pattern.
ReplyDeleteLovely. I do the same when we travel...but then we arrive home and it's just SO good to be back. Love all the pictures.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Such a beautiful post. I love the way you write. It conjures up such warmth. And your gorgeous photos......well......I just always leave here feeling like I've spent a few minutes in such a lovely world.
ReplyDeleteTake care
Vanessa x
It's always good to come home Kate. It's where the heart is .... xxx ♥
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, it's great to visit new places and experience new things but it's lovely to return home too, so glad you've had fun :) xxx
ReplyDeletePears! I imagine they are as delightfully intriguing and photogenic as my pomegranate! peace and love shine through all of your photos and words Kate. x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sentiments Kate. I think those of us with the wind in our souls need to leave home so that we can return and be grateful. Most of the time, I have wanderlust just under the surface of my satisfaction at a quiet life, I crave it like some people crave chocolate, especially if I'm pregnant, which is just bizarre... Anyway, much rambling from me.
ReplyDeleteI've been loving reading your posts everyday, especially as we're doing a lot of similar things around our place... especially getting through the plums. Anyway, off I go, the bread has finished proving and it needs to be knocked back. Who would have thought two toddlers would go through a loaf every couple of days!
Enjoy the remains of Summer. Linda. x
I couldn't agree with you more! Your home life sounds like a place I would find very hard to leave..even for a great holiday on the road or at the beach. You are blessed! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove your photos and words, yet again Kate! Those pears.. calling my name!
ReplyDeletekate love the pictures., lovely to have the freedom of the road.
ReplyDeleteRosezeeta.
Gorgeous photos Kate. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you enjoy your girls now. My eldest turned 17 in December and got his P's. Now I feel like we hardly see him. We didn't think this would happen with our boys. If you do travel up the east coast we live on 3 1/2 acres with plenty of room for your caravan. We'd love to have you stay for a while. xxoo
ReplyDeleteYour post makes me want to go camping so bad. It is winter here so we might have to wait a few weeks. Love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words and pictures as usual.
ReplyDelete