30 May 2020
As I sit with my morning black coffee, New Zealand (NZ) is slowly working through what will be our new normal after being living with Level 4 and 3 restrictions. We have had two weekends of being allowed out into restaurants and catch-up with friends at the required social distancing space.
During the lockdown I continued to go to work at the DHB although was seconded to a different role. My other half worked from home zooming with her teams up and down the country. She initially found the lack of social interaction hard but now coming out on the other side is keen to continue working from home 2 days a week. Hopefully her boss will agree to this as many other people in her organisation work remotely.
We live in the Manawatu and six years ago bought a property in a new subdivision with a hectare of land covered in some native bush. We had previously lived in the Rangitikei for many years on a lifestyle block with sheep, chickens, dogs, cats, fruit trees and many vegie gardens. We did a lot of preserving, freezing, collected pine cones for the fire from the nearby forest, and foraged for berries, mushrooms and apples along the way. Life was good.
Then I had an idea, we both worked in Palmerston North and we were getting a bit older (47) that we should move into town so closer to doctors, hospital etc etc just in case we need health care as we age. As you can image, I got shot down and told that I was being chicken little and we will be fine.
However, the idea was set, built a new house and here we are in 2020 having lived in our new community for 3.5 years.
So, what is this blog. It is really for us, ok mainly me, to track how we are poddling along to retire at 60 which is 6 years away. When I mean retire I mean ceasing full time paid employment and doesn’t mean put your feet up and wallow away.
Next – The Plan