Nearly two weeks since moving off the boat we are kind of organised and settling into our house at Jan Juc. The most demanding part of the move is behind us.

Since our arrival, we have sorted through most of our belongings, given away some furniture, clothes and chattels, done a few tip runs. Pictures and quilts are hung, ornaments on display. It is starting to look and feel like home.

We even went back to Anui to pick up another car load of stuff and clean the bird poop off the deck! Bengie tagged along, not minding the car ride and doing a deck patrol before finding her favourite spots back on board.

There are still some boxes in the garage to unpack which we will get to little by little and some furniture to be picked up by friends. There are also a few awkward things we won’t part with but only want to move once, like the piano and some of our heirloom pieces from France. These are well packed, having travelled across the world so we will get to them once we have decided where we end up living long term – same with any pieces from Wade’s parents that nobody else in the family wants. Check out the before/after garage pictures. We might soon be able to park the car in it!

One thing is certain, if there is an interstate move it will be handled by professional removalists. The DIY approach is just too tough! We got a warning to be a little gentler on ourselves: Chris had to drive Wade to the ER at Geelong hospital on Monday as he was experiencing chest pains! It was a false alarm but such a jolt. As we waited for hours for multiple tests results we had plenty of time to reflect! It made us think carefully about our pace and the consequences of pushing our bodies too hard. The rest of the week was a little more sedate!

Now that the tough part is behind us we can ease off. We will soon focus on a fitness routine as well as catching up with friends and just ‘being’. We must admit that we are enjoying what we never had while living aboard: long hot showers, a car to get around, not having to worry about the weather or our safety, nor having to plan weeks ahead for supplies, easy access to groceries and shops. And we do appreciate the space which we are trying not to overfill! But we feel a little lost and adrift moving from a totally vagabond life to this new chapter.

We have done a huge amount of work, and there is still a lot to do. Whether we stay or move next year, the house has to be repainted inside, the deck replaced, the garden made to look like somebody cares… All but the garden will be contracted out. It might take a while and we will have this balancing act to negotiate: making the house enjoyable for us to live in on one hand, but ready for sale on the other, without closing off options because right now we don’t know how things will develop. Time will tell.

And just like that, Christmas came and went. For the first time in 9 years, we attended a family feast on the 25th. We hope that for you too this season brings rest, gentleness, and moments of connection with the people you love. May your hopes and dreams come true.