Checking in from a new land

Four months ain't half bad right?  Well, poor Mouse has been wearily traveling and searching for the perfect spot to set up her keyboard, and four months is what's it seems its taken to check back in.  I can't lie, its been a long four months.

This last few weeks has had me reading back over this blog, and missing it.  Maybe, probably, absolutely missing the people related to the content.  The magic of our old home.  We have, to say the least, not had a smooth entry into our new life and are still fighting tooth and nail to find what we love of this new place (apart of course, from the obvious tropical beaches, etc.).

You see, one can only drink so many tropical drinks to blur the muckiness of it all before one notices her bathing suit getting too snug.  In fact blurring it doesn't help you adjust at all to the blatant fact that you are living on an over-populated island that is lodged at least 15 years behind the mainland in it's green ways, organic foods and generally healthiness. 

Now, that's not very fair of me is it? No, there are actually a remarkable number of incredibly fit people here.  Take a drive down any traffic congested, palm tree lined road and you will see dozens of folks jogging and sweating off all the carbs.  I'm not a jogger. Perhaps that's the issue.

And though it's true that I've had my opinions of late about the food in Hawaii (and am trying to develop that into a whole other set of posts), it's more than that, that's affected us here in this new land.  We haven't found our footing or our sea legs and it's not fair not to say that. 

What and where is our home here?  How do you survive a tsunami warning? And why, why, why doesn't anyone recycle?

As immature as it may be, little things, like envelopes addressed to us (and not one of the many military families gone through this home before us), have warmed us.  We are clinging to our old home still, as we try to fall in love with here.

I have met many folks to be sure. I'm not very good at not meeting people.  And so many have been very sweet. But where are my people?  And work, what is the deal?  I've spent this last several years mostly being available to my kids. Working odd jobs, still doing field trips, making dinner.  Here, everyone works long, long hours for little pay.  It strikes me still as odd. There are just so many tourists and such a high cost of living, how are people surviving?  How will we survive? (the answer is that some brilliant publisher will decide they need a correspondent from the Hawaiian island chain and hire a slightly chubby mouse to report on all things tropical and historic - it hasn't happened yet, but I'll let you know when it does).

So there it is, the truth.  the beginning again for the seven millionth time it feels.  New Mouse in a new land, searching out what life really is like on an island.

So far? Dismal, very warm, and expensive, but I'm working on it.

 

Comments

[Frank Simpson]

Hang in there! I'll send a fuller reply by e-mail.

Frank

[Heather]

Hi mouse!
I like you being back at the keyboard
It's national book writing month so I expect you to do some serious scribbling!!!
Thinking of u guys
H

[Karen Nau]

Keep your humor and you will go far lil mouse. Your peeps in Ptown continue to send magical bubbles your way, so be on the look out. We are truly blessed that California walks the walk and talks the talk when it comes to cooking/eating healthy and caring for Mother Earth. You might just be the person to teach the islanders how to do the same. Can't wait to see wait comes next from the Mouse keyboard.