I head home in the morning, back to prepare for moving. The next month is going to be filled with work, saying goodbye to a few close friends and loads of packing & cleaning, sussing out things in preparation for the big move.

I am in a sense saying goodbye to more than friends, I’m also saying goodbye to a place that holds alot of memories some not so great but many that bring a smile to my face. It was a period in my life where I did alot of self growth. 15 years of self discovery.  I’m excited and impatient for the changes but also aware there has to be some form of loss as well. And that’s leaving behind some people who mean the world to me.

The place itself is beautiful and one of the more warmer parts of NZ. It is also a huge tourist meca and a major shipping port so summer season is called silly season there. Most of the locals avoid the main beaches because of the huge number of tourists. Luckily if I get the urge to hang out there I have a few places I can crash at when the need arises.  I got my first serious job there, my first purebred dog, my first serious relationship, my baby boy, I lost my best friend to suicide, I watched another friend die in a horrible accident, I watched friends bring little ones into the world, I watched best friends get married, I watched my friends children grow. There is a big chunk of my life there.

Now it’s time to go back and cherish the special times I had there, muse over a few memories, visit the special places that have personal meaning for one last time. Hug friends and remind them distance isn’t going to change the friendships I have. Spend time laughing and sharing stories one more time.

This country is a beautiful place and one I want to share with my son, there’s places to explore, things to show him and time to do a little travelling when I get the chance. Moving back up here will give me the opportunity to enhance his mind and teach him about the wonderful country he lives in. First trip, the museum up here, I spent alot of time there as a child. We will have ferry trips to the volcanic island and the little places around here we can explore. My brother’s wedding is coming up in March so we’ll be travelling right up near the top of the North Island for that.

It’s time to go home and say goodbye and look forward to coming back up this way, where I was born. It doesn’t matter where in NZ I am it’s still home. I’m a kiwi and I love this country and it’s why I came back to NZ when I left Australia.

It’s time to start making some new memories. My ones.