Monday, March 10, 2008

Moving Forward

It's fantastic to be moving forward with a mission again.

My parents and Fiona have just left and we've been planning our next move.

Just a few days ago, Matt and I decided to do the classic "Cape To Cairo" overland trip in a 4x4. It's become quite a common route for travellers who want to experience Africa. Luckily, as circumstances have turned out, we have been granted the time and freedom to do so now.

We have known for a couple of months now that we wouldn't be staying in SA for that much longer. Due to a financial meltdown with Matt's company, the new management have finally decided to forego starting up the African office.

Although we knew we would probably be leaving, we didn't know when or where to. So idle we sat, waiting and waiting, month after month. Mind you, we couldn't complain too much since we had a gorgeous house with a stunning view, and well, Cape Town is as fantastic as people say it is. For its beauty, its lifestyle, its pace of life. Still, if given the choice, I prefer to be on the decision-making end than waiting endlessly for an answer that will determine your future.

We entertained the idea of staying and for Matt to find a new job. The renewable energy sector in SA is booming due to all the power outages; poor planning and mismanagement by the government has resulted in a critical shortage of electricity, with no end in sight.

Without a work visa for Matt and a spouse visa for me, it meant having to get sponsored by another SA company all over again, which involves a lot of hassle, bureaucracy and more waiting, something we weren't so keen on doing.

So the decision to leave was made.

Now things are moving forward and I'm thrilled. I was rather upset at the fact of having to move so soon again, especially haivng just set up house, met great people, started to be busy in ABC FOR LIFE and the Hout Bay Music Project. But i've made peace with it and think it is the best decision we could make in the longrun.

And now with our new adventure coming up, we couldn't be more excited!

Everyone we tell about our dream roadtrip say it's great that we're taking advantage of our youth and time and the fact that we have no commitments, mortgage, children, or ill health.

I nod and agree but something inside tells me that I don't quite fully understand the freedom that we've chosen at this point in our lives. I feel like it is one of those things that will make more sense when we have completed our journey and I will be looking back upon it with fond memories, decades from now.

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