Pinch Me

The Captain and I have had been fortunate to travel a lot. Knowing that we didn't want to stay in Nashville, for the last five years or so, everywhere we've been we've asked each other "could you see us living here?" Even in places we really enjoyed, the answer typically came back "no", with a very few exceptions.

I am not sure if it was brilliance or insanity that inspired us to pick a city completely across the globe, a city that we had never been to, to live the next phase of our lives. We talked about visiting first. Part of me thought that if we visited, we would not like it enough to follow through on our wild plan. On this side of the commitment, I wonder what my impressions would have been?

Again and again I find that my breath is taken away here. My inner response to living here is that I feel like I've happened upon the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It is a constant gasp of "what luck!" I don't really relate to "luck" in general, but that is the best descriptor for how I feel. I feel lucky to live here. Time and again I exclaim to myself, to the kids, and to The Captain, "I can't believe we live here." I am giddy with pride and love when I say, "this is our city."

I don't know if it is the perfect coming together of right place, right time, right climate, right everything, or what. Everything just feels kind of...sparkly. Maybe that's waking up and looking out my bedroom window at the cove every morning and seeing the face of the sky mirrored in the texture of the water created by the wind. Every day is different and new, and even on the days when I am tired and lonely, it feels amazing.

So, here are a couple photos I took today of my city, on our visit to Taronga Zoo for Small Sun's birthday.

Look in the far upper right for a tiny, tiny Opera House.

The zoo is in Mosman, across the water from the Opera House and Circular Quay, on the north shore.

To get to the zoo, we took a bus to Circular Quay, which is the major hub for water travel in Sydney. From there ferries, jetcats, and water taxis head off in every direction. In Sydney, sometimes the fastest way to get somewhere is on the water. So, bus, to ferry, to cable car was how we got to the zoo. Getting there was almost as fun as the zoo itself.

Comments

[Margie]

You are on an amazing adventure - relish every minute of it!!

Happy Birthday, Small Sun!

[caro.d]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMALL SUN!! We love you!
I think water makes a HUGE difference! Its so life giving. Ads and I have gone out on our boat 2 times so far and feel like we are on a permanant vacation. Water is just awesome! Very balanced.

[Amie R]

Oh stop bragging! ;) It looks amazing! I just might have to come visit!