A Holiday Romance

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I have fallen in love all over again, proving that although I  may be retired I am not too old for romance. Yes, in meeting up with the eldest who continues to work in Auckland, 2017's passionate encounter with New Zealand has been renewed.


How could it not be in a country with  amazing scenery and birdlife; no natural predators (unless the occasional insect bite counts); enormous flora, where some of my favourite patio plants such as agapanthus, grow like weeds or heather dwarfs you as you walk across moorland; so many beautiful beaches, islands, mountains and forests.


Whether they are retired or not, New Zealanders seem generally happy and relaxed but then I'm guessing that the average Kiwi, unlike so may trapped in the corporate structures of the western world, isn't glued to time sheets viewing time as money, and, therefore, leisure as a wasted opportunity for profit or advancement . Also in a country with a generally benign summer climate, fantastic scenery and deserted beaches, the opportunity for outdoor living is vast.


Touched by the Maori spirit of living in tune and as one with nature, has to help the nation's karma. Couple that with a can-do, innovative air of the pioneering spirit engendered by a relatively "new" country, thousands of miles from its nearest neighbours and you go someway to discovering a recipe for happiness or, in our case, a feel-good extended stay.


Community spirit, friendly people, fresh market produce, a coffee culture, ample parking, rural arts and crafts, unimposing wooden houses each with their own land and garden and outdoor balconies or decking. It's the epitome in many ways of how retirement should look. Certainly I could find inspiration for my quest for a simpler Bohemian lifestyle if I lived there.


Joined by the youngest who flew out separately, we spent a week in and around Auckland before setting out on a North Island road trip with the eldest and his girlfriend. Unlike our previous visit when we aimed to cover as much ground as possible in the mistaken assumption that we probably wouldn't travel that far again, our mileage was relatively modest. Instead of moving on every one or two days with a pre-planned itinerary, we rented a series of bachs and, in true New Zealand style, took each day as it came.


Time therefore for the obligatory Christmas Day barbecue overlooking the sea from a perfectly perched house on the Coromandel. Also, when it rained torrentially for 48 hours, time too for a full blown game of Monopoly. We rode bicycles, climbed a dormant volcano, walked in the Tongariro National Park, paddled kayaks, soaked in the geo-thermal spring waters, swam and even remained standing at the end of a 6 hour tasting session around the wineries of Hawkes Bay.


It was the first time we had been together as a complete family since the Christmas of 2016 when the youngest flew back temporarily from her year studying at the University of Texas to enable a reunion. We conspired again to ensure that distance was no impediment to a family get together. Holiday periods are meant for special memories and these were some of the best.


Comments

Debra Journet said…
So nice to know where you want to be.
23 February 2019 at 21:15
Caree Risover said…
The combination of family and a beautiful environment, every time.
24 February 2019 at 22:53
Micheal Alexander said…
It is a very informative and useful post thanks it is good material to read this post increases my knowledge. Holiday Romance
11 December 2019 at 06:55
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