Hits and Misses of a Wanderlusting Homebody

Most people I talk to about our impending trip (um…when we actually get organised enough to y’know: leave!) say things like: “Oh I could never do that!” or “I would love to do that!” or “Oh I wish my husband/wife/partner would be that adventurous/I could never get husband/wife/partner to do that.” Truth be told, that is me. I am that person. That husband/wife/partner who needs the big ol’ shove off the cliff. I would never do a trip like this if it were just up to me – I would be quite comfortable at home in my cosy little farmhouse thanks very much. I don’t have much of an adventurous bone in my body. Of course, I enjoy the adventure whilst it’s happening (ok, sometimes that comes afterwards, in retrospect) But making that leap? I’d never actually leap if it weren’t for my husband.

I think that’s really important in a relationship – building each other up and pushing each other to do things outside their comfort zone. It’s headbutty-teeth-gritting annoying at the best of times…but oh so rewarding for your relationship if you trust and…leap. I could bang on and on about that push and faith and trust and working together for a ‘common’ goal even though it may not seem all that ‘common’, in a relationship – that sort of thing makes my marriage tick and, personally, I think is lacking in a lot of relationships/marriages. But! This isn’t a blog post about that, it’s a blog post about what I will miss, and what I will gain, from doing this trip, this adventure, this leap…

I will miss hot showers. And water pressure. Regularly.
I will miss my hair dryer. There, I said it.
I will miss my comfy bed and doona. Although Tilly is well kitted out with a comfy Queen size bed and warm bedding for those freezing inland overnight temperatures, it’s just not quite the same.
I will miss having an oven. Full stop. No getting around that one. We probably won’t be taking a camp oven with us.
I will miss having more than three pairs of shoes. (But which three to take?!)
I will miss Spring here. I planted so many bulbs in Autumn which are just sprouting out of the ground. My magnolia tree which I planted last year is jussssst trying to unfurl, the weeping cherry is ready to burst. If things blossom in your garden and you’re not there to witness it, did it really happen? Last Spring our garden really took off, I know this Spring will be really beautiful…and we will come home to a jungle after all that growth!
I will miss having a dishwasher.
I will miss my eldest nieces sweet 16th birthday.
I will miss the re-opening of the pub.
I will miss my wifi connection. Data packs be my friend (when and if we have service…)
I will miss having access readily to a washing machine.
I will miss the Grand Final if Richmond get in! Pretty lucky that I got to witness a Tiger’s flag last year (the first in my lifetime), otherwise I’d be in an awful conundrum this year!
I will miss having any sort of personal space away from children. Who am I kidding, I probably don’t have that at home anyway…
I will miss Tessa…maybe. Mostly as a food disposal/handy mop device. Although we will be eating outdoors, so…sorry Tess.
I will miss the annual Choo Choo Market in Mirboo North. Ok, so not really a big deal, but I love this little market run for the local playgroup, and it’s only next week – boo. (Stay tuned, we may still be here!)

I am looking forward to endless miles in a car for crocheting (yes, even with two small children!)
I am looking forward to having so much dedicated time one on one (sort of…) with my husband.
I am looking forward to Daddy having so much time with the girls, something that just wouldn’t be possible if he were working the hours he was.
I am looking forward to sharing the parenting load, really co-parenting, which is a tricky act to juggle when someone is the breadwinner and someone is the primary care giver.
I am looking forward to seeing my bestie and Matt’s bestie (#doppelgangers) on our way, it’s been far, far, far too long.
I am looking forward to not knowing what day it is, not consulting the family calendar over shoved pieces of toast in little faces and spilt Weetbix on the kitchen floor of a manic morning.
I am looking forward to broadening the girls (and my) horizons, seeing Australia and letting our minds wander and expand and flex.
I am looking forward to simple cooking.
I am looking forward to not having phone service (see above contradiction…)
I am looking forward to thawing out my bones and stretching towards the sun (I say this now when it is almost snowing in Thorpdale…ask me again when it’s 38 degrees and 90% humidity in Broome…)
I am looking forward to not having a house to clean and tidy.
I am looking forward to the girls having not much ‘stuff’ – making do with wild wandering and imaginings.

The push and pull, swings and roundabouts, of being a wanderlusting homebody are…conflicting. It’s a funny old rope to balance upon. But looking at that list of things to be missed and experiences gained – I see so much in the gains, and really not that much piling up in the misses column. The misses are just that: ‘things’. And the gains are intangible experiences money can’t buy. Precious family time and a few fleeting months of ours lives, which will enrich our family far beyond these months.

So, off I go…leaping.