14 December, 2015

#MicroblogMondays: Out of place

A holiday, however short, is a time away from home, where the problems of life, however large or small might be, don't follow us, and although we know they're still there, we also know we can't do anything about them when we are away. So we try to forget about them, relax, let our shoulders and feel burdens lift, and focus on the present. When we don't have children, travelling can be a blissful escape, helping us forget that we are a little different.

However, we've just spent a week in one of New Zealand's most popular summer holiday regions, a peninsula lined with beautiful beaches and bays, lush bush (forests), and clear waters. Tiny communities see their population swell tenfold over the Christmas/New Year break, as kiwis flock to the beaches, to the camping grounds and baches, but we had strategically planned our visit to occur before the school year had ended.

As we often do, my husband and I debated (hypothetically) the merits of investing in a bach or holiday home, whether we'd choose one right on the beach, or high on a cliff with spectacular views of the bays and islands. As usual, we came to the conclusion that with kids, it would be a blissful paradise, with long, easy, happy summer days as the children swam or explored or played beach or backyard cricket with all the other kids in the area. But without children - or even lots of nieces and nephews - we realised we would be out of place here, too.

A nice place to enjoy an ice-cream, with or without children.


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12 comments:

  1. Cristy15 December 2015 at 04:05

    This post leaves my heart heavy. Hearing that your holiday is tainted by feeling out of place. Oh Mali, I wish I could be there to give you a long hug in person.

    Hoping there were some sweet moments during this vacation.

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    1. Mali15 December 2015 at 08:50

      Far more sweet moments than out-of-place moments, I am happy to report.

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    2. loribeth15 December 2015 at 13:55

      Glad to hear that! :) I imagine I would feel somewhat the same way about visiting Disney World. ;)

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  2. Klara15 December 2015 at 06:18

    hugs from Europe!

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  3. Jess15 December 2015 at 14:22

    That looks amazing, and I'm glad there were more sweet moments than out-of-place moments. Were there no couples without children? Do they do timeshares in New Zealand? Maybe you could do something during the school year. It just seems like such a paradise, one you could enjoy the two of you. I get the feeling of being "other" though, it's not pleasant. I hope you were able to find rejuvenation despite that feeling.

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  4. Anonymous15 December 2015 at 17:47

    Holidays certainly help to push our ‘everydays’ into the background, for a time at least.
    We usually try and holiday while school is in session. It makes for a quieter and sometimes cheaper excursion. Hubs usually cedes school holiday time off at work to those with kids. Suits us most of the time.

    Summer in the south – sand and sea and surf and cricket and ice cream and long balmy days and a neighbourhood of kids amongst it all. I understand your sensitivity about feeling out of place. There’s always that little pinprick hanging around in the back of your mind just waiting to burst the bubble and let reality come gushing back in no matter where you happen to be.

    A beautiful pic. That sand certainly is white. Glad to hear the sweet moments were plentiful...Kathryn

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  5. BentNotBroken16 December 2015 at 01:21

    This place sounds gorgeous! I wonder if the feelings of left out-ness will persist forever? Glad to hear that there were more sweet moments though!

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  6. Middle Girl16 December 2015 at 17:39

    Having not had a proper vacation in many years, I envy your being able to get away. I've never been much of a beach person, but they do look lovely.

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  7. Lollipop Goldstein17 December 2015 at 14:01

    I just learned the word "bach." Meaning, you taught it to me.

    I think this is an interesting thing to unpack more. Why out of place? Let's say you had kids and they grew up and were in college -- would you feel out of place during those years? And if no, why out of place now?

    I guess I was one of those people who went to Disney without kids and never felt odd, mostly because I assume that people go to places for all different reasons, even ones that are traditionally kid-centric. Why else would they have the ability to get married at Disney if it wasn't a big spot for those without kids, too?

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    1. Mali17 December 2015 at 15:31

      I've been to Disneyland (in LA) without kids, and didn't feel odd either. Though that was 20 years ago, and I think if I went now, it would feel a bit different too ... I may have to think about and post on this to try to explain what I mean. I appreciate though, you calling me on this.

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  8. Amel18 December 2015 at 00:21

    This post makes me feel of when I feel out of place and where hmmm...have to mull this over.

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    1. Amel18 December 2015 at 00:22

      ACKKKK...typo...I mean this post makes me think of when/where I feel out of place.

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