Ok, just to be clear, I don’t want this to be a “whoa is me” post. But there are some challenges to the life we have. They aren’t bad challenges to have, they just take some getting used to.

Challenge number 1: What do I contribute?
This was a big one for a while, two years into it I am feeling a bit more comfortable in what I contribute to the relationship/household/etc., since I don’t contribute much financially. I realize that Chris values the fact that I like to cook and I take care of meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, etc.

I remember a friend asking me what I was going to “do” and I used the word “companion” in my explanation and she asked – “is that enough?” I’m still figuring that part out myself. I try to place myself in Chris’ shoes. Let’s say I have enough money to quit working, to travel where I want and to do what I want. Wouldn’t that be more fun WITH someone? When your friends are all mostly married and having babies and have work commitments you can’t just call someone up at 2pm on a Tuesday to see if they want to go for a mountain bike ride. I have to remember this is what he wanted too, he offered this life to me. He wanted someone with which to experience all that is amazing in life. Don’t we all? I enjoy the same activities – hiking, biking, travel, etc. that I enjoy the same things and I make pretty good sandwiches just helped seal the deal.

Challenge number 2: Friends
I had great jobs with social outlets and worked with great people who became close friends of mine. It’s difficult to keep up with everyone, especially when you don’t live in the same city, state or even country as they do. We live in VERY transient places, friends I made last summer were only here for the summer and are now gone. I come and go as well every few months making it very difficult to become really close to people. I was never the type to have a large group of friends always doing something but do miss the ease of making friends through work. Still learning on finding other ways to build strong relationships.

Challenge number 3: Routine? What’s that?
This can drive me up the wall. I’m a former stage manager, remember. So when my life goes from knowing my schedule 6 months to a year in advance and limited time off to a wide open schedule I get a little flustered.
We have no set schedule. Every day we wake up, look out the window and depending on the weather and how we feel we decide what we want to do that day. This can drive me crazy when I am trying to maintain a workout routine, or want to take a class or schedule an appointment. I find this WAY easier in Hawaii where I easily wake up at 5:30 or 6am for a sunrise bike ride followed by some yoga only to bring Chris some tea at 7:30 while he is waking up. Queenstown, not so much – WAY too cold for me at 6am!
Life is short and we want to take 100% advantage of every day (especially the nice days) that we have.

Challenge number 4: House envy
Ok – so this is a bit of a joke, but it seems like every house we visit we get a bit of house envy. In Queenstown we live in a $500 house shack :) with a million dollar view, at least that is what it feels like. We don’t have nice things because we don’t feel we need them, so to visit with people who just bought a real house that has a REAL kitchen I get a bit envious. That being said – I don’t think either of us WANT to buy a house and deal with the costs and work associated with it.

Challenge number 5: What do you do?
This one is all mine as Chris has his business but I do struggle with the “what do you do” question. I’m really lucky to have this life, but I do want to contribute to society and have something to show for my time here. I do have my Beachbody Coaching which I do part time, sometimes TOO part time. I want something to be proud of and excited about, it’s not always easy with such a mobile life style.

So there you have it… hope that wasn’t too whiny.