Sarah has the week off and we decided to do the things close by that we loved one last time. We made a big list of places to eat (a small list, we need Seattle food) and experiences we loved because who knows if we will ever have another chance. Sarah had the week off and we found that play time was only a few days with the chaos of closing down a life in a different country takes. Man, Australia will get you on your apartment. We had to have our place professionally cleaned and sanitized to a level that a 4 star resort would expect. This is fine and all but there is no fucking way we got our apartment in that condition when we signed up. Do you remember how we had to clean it for multiple days when we moved in? Or how our couch smelled so bad we didn't use the living room for 2 weeks? The checklist was so thorough that it came down to the final item on the list of 2 AA batteries that needed to be replaced in a remote we never used and a linen that needed to be sanitized professionally that also was never used. It isn't cheap to get this stuff cleaned either, nor is extra baggage - think we dropped $1000 to close our apartment and get our extra bags home. (Glad the bags there was apart of the relocation package) We did manage to have some fun between all of that. Wished the weather was warmer though, beach time and ocean swimming wasn't apart of the picture at upper 60's temps. (I know right, 68 is a Seattle summer) Karen was nice again and we got her car for the whole week which helped us a lot. We did a last bushwalk at Lamington National Park at a favorite trail, we spent a solid day in beautiful Burleigh Heads, read books on the beach, shopped at the farmers market and made a meal, had dinner with Karen and Chris, utilized our apartment spa's, and spent some quality time at our surf club. (a few tears too) Sarah's office took great care of her with the Australian tradition of giving gifts when you leave the company and also through us a party at the surf club.
It was bitter-sweet in all. We were so excited to get home and hug Lola to death and see everyone but it was such a different life we made and loved that we were walking away from. I mean, we lived on the ocean and I barely wore pants for 10 months! At the time I was ready to leave but writing this now, I want to go back. Grass is always greener on the other side, right? We got to accomplish living in another country for a long time and even with a paycheck and that is one GIANT box ticked on the life-list. I am proud as hell what we did, how we did it, and that we actually did it. Next to marriage and Lola, this was the best decision we have ever made.
Now that I am home and when I think about Australia it is hard to believe that we did it and is almost like remembering an old movie I watched years ago. I can't explain it, but sometimes it doesn't even feel like we were there - almost like our cloned selves had the experience and not us. But we do have a love for Australia that is deep like Washington now and that is awesome. I get visions in my head of walking down the beach or bird sounds from the jungle, even breakfast on our deck together and I smile and want to cry at the same time. Life experiences never die, they are always there and ready to be used as knowledge or emotion whenever you need it and I think that is why I love to travel and experience - I want to keep my tank full to pull from when I need it.
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