Rolling with the punches of life

Due to unfortunate circumstances I won't be able to attend my man-friends' brother's wedding in Poland this summer.  It also means we won't have a romantic getaway to Paris, or Greece, or Italy, or whatever warmer-than-SF location you can think of.  On the upside to this sadness, my summer expenses has decreased dramatically.

The new(er) plan:  Ship my beloved cat (who so bravely got TWO vaccinations today!) near the end of June then I would fly, one-way, to Christchurch in the beginning of July to start my new exciting life.

Things happen in life and sometimes you have to accept that you do not know the universe's full plan for you.  There is a lot ahead of me and I even though I might worry, I know it's all for the best.  I'm leaving a warm and loving community to build a new one.  A girl can never have too many friends, AMIRITE?

Things are happening in six months

Six months.  Barely.  Then EVERYTHING changes.

First stress point.  If you can believe it, is..... Ness and her rabies history.  I have no idea if she has had her initial vaccination when she was a kitten because I know nothing about her past.  She needs to have her initial vaccination six months before she leaves, which should have been two weeks ago.  ARG.  But if she already had it, she is in the clear and only needs a booster which I have lots of time to do.  This totally messes up my potential timeline of me shipping her off mid-June, going to Europe, then meeting her in NZ after quarantine.

I never thought it would be this stressful.  And I haven't even gotten to the saving enough money bit or selling off all my worldly possessions yet!  I have a long road ahead of me.  Prayers, cat advice, and donations of wine or money happily accepted.

First official step

Hey!  Look at this!!

It is totally official.  I'm going.  They didn't even ask for visa money!  More money I get to save!!  Things are going my way.  Now if only I can start selling my belongings....

Thanks Working Holiday Team!  I'll be seeing you soon!!

Little blessings that make a huge difference

First off I want to thank those individuals who have contributed to my NZ travel fund. Close friends, those I thought I'd never hear from again, coworkers/friends, people who support my dreams year after year, family. I can't thank you all enough. To slowly realize I am almost 1/5th of the way to my first monetary goal for my visa because of those who love me and my hard work of restraining myself from buying things... what an incredible feeling! I can totally make this!

And then there are the blessings that are right in front of your face that you don't realize. A friendly call to my sister to announce my news turned into long(ish) term storage space for my sentimental possessions I cannot take on my journey.

It is a good day and even when I start to hyperventilate a little bit knowing that I am leaving behind friends, family, a city, and a life that I have already created for myself to go live in a country I have never even visited, I can think about how this is the time in my life I can follow my heart.

Mid-June. I'm looking at you. I'm also looking at you email inbox, as I wait for my application for the visa to be approved.

Looking ahead to 2013 in NZ

Happy New Year friends and family! I trust everybody enjoyed their midnight in whatever way they saw fit (for me it was ordering in some Thai food, skyping with Guy, and going to bed at 12:30am).

As this exciting new year of my life starts I would like to put out a plea to my loved ones to help get me to my goal of living over seas in New Zealand. It's no small feat to raise this much money in six months. This is where I need all of your help. Think back on all those times in your life I have helped you move, baby/car/house-sat for you, bought you a drink, took you to or from the airport, talked to you all day or night about inane conversation topics. Maybe we just cried together. If any of those things apply to us, or if you just love to support those you know in achieving their dreams, please consider donating to my moving fund. All the money donated into my PayPal account goes directly to my Schwab savings fund that I will not be touching until the visa is settled, Ness needs her plane fare, and I am crossing the border. All money will be used for good. Consider me your Frodo who needs to get safely back to the Shire to live a happy and healthy life.

Here is a handy PayPal giving app I made!

Thanks in advance for your love and support. Stay tuned to me either giving away my things or selling them for cheap. No matter what, once I am in NZ I will be sending postcards, updating this blog often, and missing you all. My departure date looks to be around mid-June. Holy cow!