New Zealand Weekly Update #92

22nd of July to 28th of July 2024

Approximate reading time: 5 minutes

Lets get it started

As usual and as expected, it is raining on my day off. To be fair, this is day three of being off in a row. But since I have decided to walk the TA (Te Araroa, 3000 thru-hike in New Zealand) from November on, I need all the money, all the cash and all them bling bling to make this adventure possible. And looking backwards, I already have spent quite a lot of money into my residency, which I am still waiting for. Round about 12000 NZD more or less, but this is just for this document. For some more freedom. For more options and possibilities. And just because of. Since I have decided to get this one, so I will not give up on this.
Until then, I will work work work, until I get all the money ready for the TA. Calculating the TA with approx. 25km per day, this makes a total of 120 days (excluding rest days). Calculating each day with 100 NZD (food, accomodation, replacement gear, emergencies etc.) this makes a total of 12.000 NZD (funny as this is the same amount I have spent on Residency). And we still have to think about the gear, which is round about 4000 NZD. So here you go, everyone get em calculators out. 3 months. 16.000 NZD. And this is why I am working my ass off at the moment. As most of my friends have left Wanaka and New Zealand already again anyways, I do not mind to invest my time and energy into new plans and adventures.
There was a post on facebook recently from a lady from Wanaka, talking about the challenges living a normal daily life in Wanaka. Working. Doing some chores. Paying your bills. And repeat. While everyone else is traveling, is on adventures, is having the best time of their lifes, while you are sitting on your couch. Exhausted after a busy day at work. Because you are short staffed for months already. Because you give every day ten out of ten for all your customers. While the phone is ringing non-stop. While you dispense, serve, stocktake, admin, repsond to E-Mails, trouble-shoot, try to reach numbers and targets and while you try to keep smiling and being the best version of yourself every single day. Well the last part was not part of her post, but it summarizes it quite well. Living in Wanaka surrounded by all those outdoorsy adventure people being constantly on the run can be exhausting. Sometimes it seems everyone but you is on a big adventure. On a mission. Up the mountains. And spending all the money that you try to earn day by day.
And sometimes you would think about a change, a slight adjustment, some big adventures. But the are still far away. Well, more or less far away. 3 months. Way to go, lets make it happen!

Thoughts everywhere

More than two months. This is the amount of time we are already short staffed. When I started, we have been five people on the retail floor plus to optometrists. Now it is two of us on the retail floor and two optometrists. More than double the amount of work. And you can keep going this pace for a while. But sooner or later a crash is for certain. Sooner or later someone will get sick, burn out or give up.
While I try to keep my focus on the bigger goal, I also try to balance my daily life at the moment. Going for a short run, a swim or sometimes just going home without being to hard on myself for „not having the next big adventure ahead“. And from time to time I would catch up with some friends, for movies, for a talk, for a hug or a coffee. And for some motivation, smiles and good energy,
And now and then I am thinking about how I have started this journey. How I ended up right here at this couch in Wanaka, New Zealand, writing blog entry number 92. 92! It has been almost two years since I have left Germany. For an adventure. A mission. For a future. For more me. Since I was not able to enjoy Germany anymore. Since my mind was struggeling. Was ready to move. To travel. To risk. To get ready to fail. To experience.
And now, almos two years later, I am at a similar point. Ready to move. Ready to risk again. Ready to do something new. To go on a mission. To hunt for more. To seek. To find. To explore.
And to answer. Or better to say to find all the questions and answers I am still looking for. Who knows what might come next. But in the end, it will turn out the right way, as usual!

What else to say?

Writing this weekly blog is sometimes such a great experience, sometimes it can be a pain. Since sometimes I do not know what to write down. What to tell. What to share. Sometimes my mind does not want to stop writing and sharing all those thoughts with you, sometimes there is nothing but emptieness. And I struggle to even write down a couple of words. Just to be able to share my weekly post.
I think this is finally the reason that I decided to end this weekly blog soon and switch it to a more random pattern. I think going for the TA in November is a good opportunity to finish this weekly blog and to let it go. As part of this whole journey and adventure. This one big adventure we would call life. And it has to go on. It has to change. And sometimes it has to end.

Your DingyInternational
Felix