You must be getting excited by now?

The title of this post is the most common phrase spoken to me this week, in reference of course to the big move to New Zealand. Somehow, somehow the word excitement does not fill the adjective requirement in that particular phrase. There are so many more emotions and thoughts spinning around that one word does not qualify as the sum of all these thoughts. For example, everyone knows about the number of pets we had here on the farm - goats, emus, frogs, dogs, etc. Over the past few weeks we have whittled the whole collection down to a few remaining individuals which will be cared for by our 'replacements'. It has been a little more emotional than either of us though it would be, too. The excitement is a little clouded in sadness and doubts as our lives on the farm get chipped away with each animals departure to new homes. Its so quiet.

As for work, well things are very interesting there with all the developments and changes going on. I would love to be around to see everything unfold, but at the same time it is a little comforting to think that upon my return from NZ, I will be walking into a new Zoo with something like $30 million dollars of new development being planned before the end of 2009! So once again, some more emotions and thoughts to stir into that pot of excitement.

Following on from all of this are the universal experiences of many who have gone before me on these sorts of adventures. Leaving behind family and friends, missing out on big events back home, how will I cope with the weather and whats it all really going to be like?

Over the next year or so, these and other questions will be answered a dozen times over. There is so much unknown at this stage that I am just trying to keep my mind open to every possibility without having any expectations at all. These feelings of anxiety leading up to the departure day will ebb and flow like an wave lapping on the shore, doubts will surface and problems arise. Bobbing around amongst it all though will be that inevitable feeling of excitement.

So, yes, I am getting excited by now.