Community

I like being part of a community.

Rob and I had a bit of a disagreement about a year ago on this very thing. He'd applied for a couple of jobs on Norfolk Island, and was hoping to be successful so that we could move there. I was, of course, against the idea. One of his arguments was that it would be nice to be a part of a community. I counter argued that you don't have to be in a small place to be part of a community.

I believed (and still do) that I can make a community wherever I am, for example within my own suburb with neighbours and local groups. I can be a part of my work community. I am a member of Toastmasters so am a part of that community. I can be a part of my church community, part of a volunteer group community - and so on and so on.

But ..... you know ..... there is something nice about being in a small place and feeling that you belong. It's been brought home to me twice this week. Walking to church on Sunday morning I was stopped by a neighbour who wanted to introduce himself. He recognised me because I walk past his house on my daily walk and so he wanted to say hello. And today, again on my walk, someone I'd met on Sunday afternoon at a friend's BBQ, stopped to greet me in the street.

I guess it's no different from having that happen at home, but it made me feel that I had made it here, that I was starting to belong - that I am becoming a part of this community. And I guess I also feel that sadly, these little shows of friendliness may not have happened back home, in the big city.

So Rob - I agree. Norfolk Island, Thursday Island, any island - in fact any place, anywhere - there is something nice about being a part of a community.

Feeling like you belong - life is good.

Blossoms

I will have been here 3 weeks tomorrow. So far, so good :) And I haven't really been here long enough to miss anything yet, apart from my family of course ...... and Lily, my cat. But there is one thing that I do miss already and I wish I could do something about it. I miss fresh flowers.

If you've ever been to my place you will know that I always have a vase of fresh flowers on the dining room table. It helps to make the place homely. It brings a warmth and friendliness to the room, to my space.

So once I'd moved in, rearranged the furniture and made the place my own, I stopped to get the flowers. But where were they? There is no florist and the supermarket does not sell them either. I waited for the monthly Saturday morning craft markets because Rob told me that they sometimes have a flower stall. But not this month :(

So to that end I have planted some flower seeds in the back garden bed and hopefully, with regular watering and some TLC they will grow into beautiful blooms. But until then, I do have an alternative.

There is a wonderful bouganvillea bush in the front yard as well as a hibiscus. And the neighbour across the road has a frangipani tree that drops its flowers daily. So now instead of a vase of flowers on the table I have little bowls of floating frangipani flowers placed here and there, and little vases (glasses) of deep purple bouganvillea and ruby red hibiscus that unfortunately only last a day.

So together with the bowl of fresh fruit on the table and the little vases of flowers here and there my space is now looking homely and fun.

Waiting for my flowers to grow - life is blooming :)

Birthday musings

I love birthdays, especially mine :) Why not feel happy about celebrating the day of your birth? So today ..... I did. And I had the best day - low key, lazy, pleasant and fun.

What was the highlight? Well, there were lots. The phone calls from my family, the text messages from friends, the skype session with my daughter and son-in-law and the celebrationary BBQ with new found friends and acquaintances.

But the best thing about my day was the realisation that I'm happy where I am, that I'm happy being here, that I am where I'm supposed to be.

Happy birthday Silvana :)

Life in the slow lane

Walking to the shops
Aussie Post

I updated my Facebook status yesterday and commented that I was liking life in the slow lane. And it is slow up here - there is no traffic, there are no traffic lights, there is no peak hour. The shops are basic and adequate. There are no malls, no arcades.

The island boasts:
Australia Post
a bank
newsagent/homewares/shoe retailer/babywear/Billabong & Retravision outlet - in the one shop
a hardware
a butcher
a pharmacy
a hairdresser (unisex)
a nail technician (?!?)
jewellery/pearl shop/clothing - in the one shop
clothing/haberdashery/touristy stuff - in the one shop
a 'dollar' shop - only there's nothing there for $1 :)
a travel agent
a library
a bowls club
a hospital
a nursing home
medical centre/dentist
and:
2 supermarkets - they sell everything from chewing gum to TVs
4 pubs
6 churches - all lined up neatly in a row :)

As you can see - all needs are met. Surprisingly the shops all carry a decent and varied selection of stock and once you get your head around the higher prices, shopping is just as much fun as it is anywhere else.

Apart from the hospital, nursing home, the bowls club and 1 of the pubs - everything else is on the one street, the main street - Douglas Street.

But forget urgency, deadlines, punctuality - it happens when it happens, it arrives when it arrives. It's know as T.I. Time. Mostly Rob and I have a laugh about it, but sometimes it can be challenging or downright annoying. But - there's nothing you can do about it, so ...... go with it. Find something else to do, fill in the time, find an alternative - learn to adapt.

Living in the slow lane - life is good.

My space

From where I sit here at the computer I can see the rest of the living area of the unit. It's actually one longish room that's half kitchen and half lounge/living (oops, I accidently typed 'loving'). And it looks great :) It's homely, comfortable and comforting. It's lost that sterile temporary-place look. It's amazing what a bowl of fresh fruit on the table can do to a kitchen :)

What makes a place homely? I mean this room isn't going to win any interior design awards and I doubt that Vogue Living is flying up to photograph us for it's latest issue, but - this place, this room, this living space feels and looks good.

Years ago I stayed with a friend. I stayed in the guest room - white bedspread, fresh flowers, guest bathroom complete with fluffy towels and potpourri - it was beautiful. But it wasn't homely. Every time I used the bathroom I made sure that I wiped down all surfaces until they were clean and dry. I felt guilty for using the towels. My friend's hospitality was generous and without question, but her beautiul home was not welcoming or ...... homely.

So what is "homely"? It's a feel. It's when people walk into your space and smile and feel compelled to make a comment. It's when they stop and look around and want to take it all in before they do anything else. It's when you like being there - in that space - and you want your friends and family to come and share in that space.

And it doesn't have to be Vogueish or trendy or picture perfect. But it does have to be inviting and warm, friendly and fun. And that's what I see when I look over to my right - I see warmth and hospitality, I see a living and yes a loving space.

Come and see me in my space - life is good.

How wide is my comfort zone?

"Get out of your comfort zone" - now that's a phrase that's bandied around liberally. You need to "get out of your comfort zone" and stretch yourself, do things that make you uncomfortable and in that process you grow.

Now I thought that coming to live here - on Thursday Island - was getting out of my comfort zone. I mean listen to this - I was moving out of the city to go and live in a remote area, I was leaving behind family, friends, job, house and pets and going to live in parts unknown .... well unknown to me. Let me tell you - that didn't even touch the sides!

This morning I got way out of my comfort zone. This morning, with my full consent and with my full knowledge I went on a helicopter ride. OK, I hear you asking, what's the big deal? I mean, that's exciting isn't it? A scenic helicopter ride over the reefs - the weather is fine, the sea is blue, the pilot is experienced ......... and the helicopter is very, very l-i-t-t-l-e.

I was terrified. I was so scared. I didn't enjoy it. I wanted to be anywhere but where I was - up in the air, away from the ground, in a little tin bubble.

Let me ask ..... how far do we have to go to prove to ourselves that we can do it? How far do we have to go to conquer a fear? I think, today, that I went above (pardon the pun) and beyond.

And this is what I found out. Helicopter joy rides are not for me. I don't like them. I don't enjoy them. And you know what? - that's OK. I tried it, I didn't like it ..... and that's OK.

My comfort zone is not very wide. I'm prepared to stretch it a bit ..... to extend myself and become uncomfortable. I do believe that in doing this I will develope and grow and become, not so much a better person, but a more broad-minded person, a better balanced person.

But do I have to extend it to the point where it's no longer a growth experience but an experience overcome with fears, albeit irrational, and trepidation? I don't think so. I know I will continue to look for experiences that stretch me, that make me feel uncomfortable. Because ultimately I do want to continue my growth and development and feel that satisfaction that comes from extending the comfort zone.

But let me tell you this - I will not, in fact never! get into a helicopter ever again.

Life on the ground - that's where it should be :)

Just rolling along

I've lost track of time. One day rolls into the next. But it's a good feeling - I'm not worried. Somehow my days are full but if you were to ask me at the end of the day what is it I have actually done - well, the list is not long.

But I guess I'm getting belonged, I'm marking my territory. The unit looks way different from what it did 7 days ago - flowers in little vases, kitchen organised, mess tidied away and pot plants lined up along the front wall. And I haven't finished yet :)

I look around the unit and it's so different from what I've left behind and what I thought I could live in. And even though cosmetic changes are on the way, the place has a nice feel about it. Our spirit is here and it feels good. We're happy here and it feels good.

There is work to be done and I look forward to starting. But for now I will continue to settle in and become belonged.

Life is good.