We have eventually settled into our life on the Brisbane River with jobs, cars, sport and weekend fun all making up the weeks that created 2013.
We momentarily got to become land dwellers for a couple of weeks this year to help care for our nephews with a school routine that was almost foreign to us now as our boys are well and truly independent. So independent now, that we got to bask in pride as one of them got engaged to his love.
When we got back to Condesa the familiar smell of timber interior and our home filled the air. A stiff breeze rushed through the cabins as the hatches were lifted and rays of sunlight lit the silverware and glassware that made my life shine even more. Yes the ducks were waited patiently for a feed of bread and as for our big pelican he had given up on us for a while but soon returned to keep an eye on the comings and goings. The little herb garden given to me for mother's day has survived with the many storms that have graced us this year. We have rolled with the punches. People ask me what I do in a storm I suspect they see me crawling into an air lock down below to wait out the thunder and lightning. I advise that I shut the windows just as they do and possibly watch a movie in the lounge. However after our home stay I did note I walked into the walls for the first time in over a year... a reminder that our home is on the water.
Yes a year GONE! And we can no longer say we have just got home. As I reflect on the year that has passed it pales in significance in terms of adventure to the year prior but has been filled with surprises and moments that create our family life that is precious to us.
What do we want from life - health, happiness and love? Really put simply that is enough to sustain us and make us grow, develop and learn. I find I am surprised at the lessons still learned at our age. As school leavers we think we've "learned" all we need to go forth in the world, and that is the magical age where we stomp confidently along our merry way unaware of anything that is happening around us.
It is interesting to reflect on 2013 that has flown by so quickly. And I confess I tried to cling on to that beautiful remoteness of our adventure that was ours, for way too long. Where we lived each day for our own safety and trod carefully into unknown waters, respecting every carefree day given to us. Whilst we were acutely aware of our surroundings that could instantly change we would also be relaxed and laughing heading to our mapped waypoints allowing life to happen, achieving what we could with time and weather we had.
This year just gone had created an awareness of a different kind. I was more observant to the people around me and the way they navigated and managed their lives. Some enjoying every second, some people just doing the motions, some wrestling with personal situations, some celebrating milestones, some beginning their own adventure, some elated at finishing studies and others afraid to start anew. It has made my days fuller, watching the diverse paths we are all walking yet leading to the same place. And that place we all want is inner happiness. The real happiness in people are those who power along not allowing anything or anyone negative filtrate their focus. I really missed that intent focus and goal that we shared on our journey. It took a few months to let go of the freedom and to buy back into city living rituals, the everyday schedule of commitments that kept you going as opposed to the natural rhythm and achievements out at sea.
When lightning strikes we get a wakeup call. Up and at it... fight or flight. Don't miss a day thinking that beauty is elsewhere. Reality checks us. It was the trill of the single bird in a tree nearly that got my attention. He is not calling to anyone else he is singing for himself. He starts at dark fall and he trills into the wee hours of the morning. He will drop by in the morning and perch on our rail and give one beautiful melodious chorus and before I can get up to see him, he has flown. I haven't seen what he is like I suspect a black and white Willie wag tail but regardless the message is clear. Take hold of every day and make a harmony of your own before another year flies by.