I’m asking myself if I should have gone hiking instead fairly regularly since coming to Nelson. I’ve spent the last four weeks grounded to this tiny city, hitting the beach, and local day hikes regularly, but never venturing far enough to the true wild beauty of the surrounding area. I want to say this against my nature, but the past two years have proven I’m a slower traveler and one who doesn’t risk as much as I think I do.
This is a disregard to the weird schedule I’ve had since arriving, and odd commitments I’ve made. The inflation in New Zealand has made me go broke much quicker than I anticipated, and buying a car has proven to be expensive. I’ve spent days doing the most basic of repairs and work on my car.
Also, with a cracked transmission, the bravery to take the car for a drive longer than 30 minutes has not found its way to me too yet. And I have nothing but gratitude for the lessons I’ve learned about vechicle ownership sine buying this machine.
I Bought The Car For Hiking And Freedom
Using my sales skills, I got an incredible deal, 400$ for a car that was advertised needing minimum repairs. My lack of knowledge made me believe this to be true, however, ownership and a trip to the mechanic’s would prove differently. And while the fear to take it for grand adventures has kept me stuck in the Sunshine capital; it has become a vehicle to finally gain car knowledge.
Classic New Zealand, teaching me all the things I’ve spent years wanting to learn, but never taking the initiative to do so. Finance, computers, and now cars. While I can’t help but feel slightly annoyed with myself, dreaming of free time and a vehicle while in Christchurch… Now I have both and remain stuck in town.
Positives And Negatives
There are a lot of reasons why I should have gone hiking. And a lot of reasons why I shouldn’t have. Namely, work. I took temp work, and the schedules have been less than good to me. Mostly rife with 1 day on, 1 day off the type of planning, heading on an adventure seems daunting after having energy burned. Furthermore, my job interview, finding accommodation, buying, and working on my car… It all took a lot more time than originally planned. At least that stuff has been sorted BEFORE the crunch time, and I was able to make all of these decisions in a place of comfort, and not impulse.
On the positives, I found an apartment that I love, earned spending cash, made local friends, found lovely local hangouts, and finally got to try my hand at bartending. I’ve always wanted to be a bartender, and while it was fun I now know without a doubt it is not the life for me.
However, the fleeting feeling that screams I should have gone hiking is that I’m so incredibly bored of the city and Urban life. Dreaming of mountain peaks, and sweat-drenched shirts. Incredible photos, and breathtaking views. I’ll have every day after work to explore Nelson. And Nelson really is just another town. After months and months of the city in Christchurch, I want glaciers, mountains, kiwi birds, and beautiful sunrises. It’s summer, yet I spend too many hours indoors on this stupid computer.
Though, it feels so good to be writing again.
Writing Will Get Me Hiking
How Will Writing Get Me Hiking
It’s very simple really. I started this blog as a salesman. And my working life has been sales for the majority of my time working on this. I was in the sales mindset, writing about sales life, and sales things. And I’m deeply grateful for the lessons, tricks and skills gained from sales, I’m happy to leave that world for the next little while.
I won’t be writing about sales. I can now shift my focus to write about other things. To return to writing about the things that interest me. The things that excite, inspire and captivate me. I’m excited for the horizons ahead, and while yea, I probably should have gone hiking instead of being a bum in Nelson, I got one of things I truly wanted while in Dunedin.
To be a beach bum, in a warm town, with little stress and commitments. And it has truly been lovely.
As stated yesterday and the day before 2021 will be a year of both risks, discipline, and commitment. As always I’m staking my plate higher than I should, but I was always a glutton at buffets, and in the times of COVID, New Zealand is a buffet of opportunity.
