Today is Easter here in the Eastern Hemisphere, a gentle reminder of how traditions shift when you are far from what once felt familiar. Last night, at precisely 3:00 am, the clocks changed as daylight saving time ended in Australia. There is always something slightly disorienting about that moment, whether you are awake to notice it or not. Time, already a fluid concept in a life of travel, seems to bend even more.
This Easter will be quiet, simple, and wonderfully uneventful. There is no elaborate meal planned, no bustling kitchen filled with the aromas of a holiday feast. Instead, we found comfort in using what we already had on hand. There is something satisfying about that, about resisting the urge to overdo and instead embracing simplicity.
We decided on taco salads, minus the shells, which feels just right for where we are and how we are living at the moment. It required only a quick stop at Henk’s Market here in Penguin to pick up fresh lettuce and a jar of olives. Everything else was already waiting for us, tucked away in the refrigerator and cupboards, ready to be turned into something delicious. With what we have, we can make enough for three dinners, which feels both practical and reassuring.
After those meals, we will rely on what remains. A few meat products in the freezer, some rice for Tom, eggs, and the last of the salad ingredients. It is a bit like a puzzle, figuring out how to stretch what is left in a way that still feels enjoyable. We have done this so many times over the years that it has almost become second nature. And if we run out of food before we are ready to leave, we will go out to dinner somewhere nearby. Easy and without stress.
Yesterday afternoon, I finally tackled something that had been lingering in my thoughts for days. I reorganized the supplies suitcase. It may sound like a small task, but in this lifestyle, it carries more meaning than one might expect. That suitcase holds the items that make temporary spaces feel like home. It had become a bit chaotic, and bringing order back to it gave me a sense of satisfaction and relief.
As I sorted through everything, I realized how little we truly need. The only items we will add before we leave are the toiletries we are currently using and a few favorite kitchen tools that have earned their place over time. My sharp knife, the knife sharpener, and those wonderfully practical bottle and jar openers. These small, familiar items travel with us from place to place, grounding us in ways that are hard to explain unless you live like this.
Another reminder of change came as I went through my clothing. Since we arrived in New Zealand on December 13, I have lost 23 pounds, or 10.4 kilograms. While I am grateful for how I feel, it does mean that many of my clothes no longer fit. Holding them up, I could see how much had shifted in just a few months. It feels like another layer of letting go.
Thankfully, these clothes will not go to waste. Fran, Terry’s wife, works at an op shop that resells clothing for charities. She has kindly offered to take them in. It feels good knowing they will find new life with someone else, rather than sitting unused in a suitcase, taking up weight and space.
We are so grateful to Fran and Terry, not only for this but for everything they have done for us during our time here. Sunrise at Penguin is, without a doubt, a fabulous place to stay. Their kindness has added a warmth to our stay that no destination alone could provide.
And so, this Easter passes not with fanfare, but with gratitude, simplicity, and a quiet appreciation for where we are right now.
Happy Easter and be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, April 5, 2016:
