Two Drifters

I have been lucky enough to split February between two of my “happy places” – Rye on the Mornington Peninsula and Palm Cove in tropical, Far North Queensland. I am writing this from my balcony in Palm Cove overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is the wet season so we have had some rain most days but the weather is constantly warm – approximately 30 degrees Celsius – and it is warm overnight too. The long sleeve jacket was worn on the plane here a week ago and has not been worn since! The sea temperature has fluctuated between 27 and 28 degrees! Coming from Victoria where the sea is cool (to freezing!) on the hottest days, this is a real treat. The pool temperature at the apartment complex is decidedly chillier than the sea! It is stinger season (ie large box jellyfish swim freely in the ocean) but our apartment is opposite the stinger net. There are also full time lifeguards so it is a safe place to swim. My view from the balcony is through native Paperbark Melaleucas which are over 500 ye...

Christmas already seems ages ago.  The last many Christmas periods of small children, manic present buying, Christmas social functions, kinder graduations, school concerts, school booklists and then a business which scaled up before and after Christmas were so hectic. Our business was conveyancing and everyone seems to want to buy and sell and move before Christmas. With the business sold, I looked forward to a leisurely Christmas in 2022 but, even without work, the pre Christmas period still seemed hectic.  As always, though, Christmas was also lovely - full of family and food :) Christmas rolled into the Boxing Day Test. I snooze through Boxing Day as my post Christmas recovery day! Then our Summer at the Mornington Peninsula started. Andrew and I have spent many Summers on the Mornington Peninsula and always loved them. To be honest, we both love the Mornington Peninsula all year round. I love it over Christmas and January as well - to me, all the extra holidayers are just ...

Retired at 54? Does that mean I will be retired for 20 years? 30? 40? My Husband (Andrew) tells me that most people in the world would envy me. Having enough money not to work again unless I want to is a privilege I know but do I want to not work again? Honestly, I don't know yet. After a lifetime of being busy and "pushing the envelope", retiring early is a strange concept and one I am getting used to (or not, we'll wait and see)... I am Leonie Jarrett. 54 and living in Melbourne, Australia. I have lived in Melbourne all my life and I love mostly everything about it. Yes, the weather is not always wonderful (especially at the moment courtesy of La Nina, a wet and cold weather system which is keeping Summer away). Mainly, though, I love this city. Loads of trees and beautiful gardens, cafes, restaurants, coffee, theatre, sport, so many different cultures with all the wonders they bring...you name it, we have it in Melbourne. I am lucky enough to have two homes - one i...