Saturday, July 11, 2009

I hope someday you get the chance!

Someday I hope you get the chance .... to live like you were moving!

Seriously.

When we lived in Portland for four months in the summer of 2005 we lived it up every single weekend. The beach! The museum! The zoo! Anything anywhere was game. Every Saturday we were up early doing something fantastic. We didn't clean the garage, didn't do laundry, didn't repair drywall or weed or mow, we lived. From the moment we got there it felt like a ticking bomb...14weekends, that's all we had to live it up in Portland and we couldn't waste one second.

We did fairly well in Minnesota too...though there weren't quite as many attractions to go see, there was still plenty to do. So we hit up the Mall of America, Douglas Park, Como Zoo (?), we even took a weekend trip to Duluth and one to Wisconsin.

There is something about having an end date that creates a sense of urgency in our lives.

As our time is ticking to an end here in Texas we find ourselves frantically trying to pack in as much as we can. It's made me realize that, having no end date, we sure have wasted a lot of time! How have I lived here for two years and never swam in Barton Springs, or hiked in Perdanales Falls? Why haven't I visited Hamilton Pool and how is it possible that though I have made dozens of trips to Zilker Park I never knew about the awesome splash fountains there!

It's KILLING me.

I am doing the best I can with what time I have left and with all the gumption I can muster dragging my three compadres with me everywhere.

What is extra killing me is when I tell people what we've been doing and they haven't even heard of it though they've lived here forever. I was chatting with a lady in chick-fil-a the other day (note: I am seriously going to miss having a chick-fil-a on every corner when we are in Utah! There's only like two in the entire SL valley. Sad times!) who has lived here her whole life and has never gone to the Brushy Creek Sprinkler park. Hello? Free entertainment. Free! Cool, refreshing entertainment.

So here's a little exercise for you. Close your eyes. Are they closed? Good.

You are moving in thirty days. That's only FOUR weekends. What do you have to do? Where do you have to eat one more time? Who do you have to see and hangout with? Go do it for crying out loud! The lawn can wait. The lazy afternoon at home can wait. Go google your city and read the ten things you must do there and then go do them.

Maybe you will live where you live for the rest of your life. Or maybe something will come up and you will be leaving in thirty days, or a year. Or maybe you are going to keel over tomorrow and not have another weekend even.

I know it is hard to put your life on hold, but at least do the exercise, think about things you would miss or love to do and go do them, maybe one a month or something. Just live it up!

And coming up next.... a post about our staycation! Complete with stock photos from google images because our camera was broken and the new one we ordered didn't come until after the staycation. Grumble grumble.

Go....shoo....live like you are moving!

8 comments:

Jules said...

Good point and great challenge to get out and explore your city..

but, um, don't be too hard on yourself about the sprinklers at Barton Springs. I'm assuming you mean Butler Park area and it has only been around a short couple of years, if that! And even Brushy Creek sprinklers are only like 5 years old or so and it took a while for the word to spread on those... so the life long Austin-ite probably only wasted a couple years on those- not her whole life!! :) Although, it is a good reminder that new developments can bring new fun!!

Enjoy your last 4 weekends!!

Alison K. said...

Have you tried Maria's Taco Shack yet??? Yummy! Try and pack that one in too!!

Andrea L. said...

More than 2 Chick-fil-A's in Utah now Kristi! You have been away too long :)

Bart said...

Good post. Make the most of every day rather than just getting through it. Sometimes that means going to Shady Grove with the Bassetts even when you've already eaten dinner. Sometimes it means mowing the lawn, watering the plants, feeding the cat, and studying. Both are good in their own time. Neither is good if perpetuated without the other.

Marcie said...

if I thought I was leaving in 30 days-- I would pack and cheer that I was busting out of this town! YAHOO.

Then I would say goodbye to my friends because they would be the only part that I would miss!

Bret said...

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2745539-salt_lake_city_things_to_do-i

we are looking forward to partying with you guys when you arrive. We know you will discover a while new Utah than the one you left years ago.

Anonymous said...

Chick-fil-a is a hidden treasure. Who knew a place that only serves chicken could be so good?

Anonymous said...

Chick-fil-a is a hidden treasure. Who knew a place that only serves chicken could be so good?