The High Cost Of Living

As you may have realized in the last several years... it's gotten much more expensive to stay alive... and it's going to continue...and get worse...

We all know food, housing, medical care, education and all the little things in-between that we need to get by on a day to day basis are becoming increasingly unaffordable... right now there is very little we can do to offset the financial burdens on our daily life... but a little creativity and imagination can help... I'm not really going to be talking about how to beat the high cost of living as there are numerous items in the mainstream news, blogs and podcasts... today I'm going to write about the cost everyone pays for all the things that you can't borrow, buy or sell.

The costs of goods and services has skyrocketed  since covid... and it keeps going up due to one thing and one thing only... greed. Big corporations got to charge more when they had the chance... and they just kept raising the prices... because consumers keep paying higher prices... everyone has taken a big hit in the wallet... but what no one has addressed is we have paid  a bigger price deep in our soul from being gauged and cheated and disrespected... if we think of this in terms of real issues and needs and not just the things manufactured that we would like to have... we can take back some of the control in our lives.

It became important for me in the past few months to restart my life and get a fresh or new perspective on where I've been and what direction I want to go from here... I have been preparing for what we are facing since I wrote Bad Moon Rising

A constant theme that has run like a magic thread through most everything I have written here involves travel, going places, seeing new vistas and meeting new people... and as much as I have loved every minute of that through  my life... it dawned on me during the lockdown of covid and especially the last few months that it's equally if sometimes not more important to stay where you are and deal with all the issues in your life that need attention and are in desperate need or repair or renovation... it took lockdown for me to deal with destination addiction... that happiness is in the next place, or job or experience... in that you can never experience real happiness unless you find it in the present moment where you are... it's not someplace else... don't get me wrong I still love travel and I always will be don't use travel as a means to find yourself or happiness... please remember that no battle has ever been won by running away from it.

The word liminal as in liminal space...is the uncertain transitional space of where you once were and who you are becoming on the threshold of change... physically, emotionally and metaphorically. When you put some distance between who you used to be and what kind of life you lived... you can learn a lot about moving forward... Just like how there are algorithms that will show you more of what you are interested perusing in on line... The universe has one within you that will help guide you to what you are feeling, thinking and focusing on. Every action you take is a step closer to the person you are going to become or the person you want to become... It's very easy to recognize this in-between period... it's when life feels frustrating and overwhelming, things feel small and uncomfortable because you don't fit here anymore and the new realm has yet to arrive or take shape...take a moment to appreciate this passage in your life...it's going to lead you to where you belong... if you let it. Most people try to fight this because they fear change and/or the unknown. Please take the time to appreciate that bad days can lead to good outcomes... and wrong turns can take you to the right place... sometimes you have to lose the old you to find yourself.

We are clearly living in a broken world right now and it's a serious and brave thing that each of us are getting up and going out into this world everyday... I came across something recently that reflects my mindset right now...

"Let things break; stop trying so hard to keep them glued together.  

Let people get angry.  

Let them criticize you—their reaction is not your problem.  

Let everything fall apart, and don’t worry about what comes next.  

Where will I go? What will I do?  

What is meant to leave will leave anyway.  

What is meant to stay will remain.  

Whatever departs always makes room for something new—that’s the Universal Law.  

And never think there’s nothing good left for you. You just need to stop holding onto what needs to go."  

—Meryl Streep

I've been wondering recently about some of the people and places from the past and who am I and where am I going...it dawned on me that the person that we know in ourselves only exists for us as individuals... each person we meet, or have a love affair with or simply make eye contact with across a crowded room has their own version of who we are in their head... We are not the same person to our parents... brothers and sisters, coworkers neighbors... there are thousands of different versions of who we are in other peoples minds.... I have worked in the entertainment industry almost my entire life and one of the things that has  always been in the back of my mind every step of the way is "What image am I projecting?"... I think I may have finally reached the point where it's time to retire or become a superstar... because frankly... I don't care about my image anymore... I know who I am and I know my story...my heart and my truth... an image is what fake people try to maintain to show other people... somewhere along the way in the last few years I became a real person... who does not care about my image anymore or what people perceive me to be... but still put on your A Game and your best foot forward...

...in addition before covid I was on a short list of people in the entertainment field who sing and do voice over work... that list has gotten much longer with more people relying on AI technology and more A list celebrities doing voice over and product endorsement... what I still have that many of them don't is a singing voice with a remarkable range... and I'll go ahead and put my two cents in about AI... it sounds fake (because it is) there is no real emotion or actual human quality to it... I can recognize it instantly but I have a trained ear.

That being said... there is a lyric in one of the songs from "A Chorus Line"... who am I anyway am I my resume that is a picture of a person I don't know... it always resonated for me for years because people wanted me to be the person in the head shot or whatever else I projected on film... I have been lucky to find the people who wanted me for the person I am behind the picture or the image... so where do I go from here... I've been making lists of what I love doing and what brings me the greatest amount of happiness and fulfillment... I've got some ideas but I'm still stuck on the fact that Mark Roberts retired last year and has left a void that I could easily fill...

Mark Roberts is an English streaker who has run naked during numerous international events. Roberts' streaking began when he saw a news report about a female streaker at a 1993 rugby sevens game in Hong Kong. After a bet in a bar, he exposed himself to the crowd the next day...

So insomuch as it would be something I would enjoy and be good at... from the practical standpoint I don't know how lucrative it would be what with fines and posting bail... I'll just have to think of something else unless I can find a sponsor. Meanwhile I'll be where I've been almost my entire life... waiting in the wings for my big entrance... there are worse places to be.

So back to how to beat the high cost of living... in terms of finances and money issues... you are going to have to do what you have to do... hopefully without breaking the law... there have been a few periods in my life where its been all about creatively living and making due and robbing Peter to pay Paul... just keep in your mind during the difficult time... this is not going to last forever... finances will improve... wars end... grief fades...Eventually in life everything passes and nothing remains except memories... if you can accept this than some of the fear you have been holding onto looses it's grip on you.

Something I learned during covid when the "supply chain" wrecked havoc on what goods were available at any given time... we don't need more, we need less of what does not really matter in the long run... what we need are food, water, shelter, clothing and warmth... and love... it's gotten me through some of the most difficult times I've ever had to face.

When money becomes a central issue it's really important to take note of the things that money can't buy...

1. Manners
2. Morals
3. Respect
4. Character
5. Class
6. Empathy
7. Kindness
8. Patience
9. Trust
10. Common Sense

If you have these things... everything you will ever need will follow... I promise. In terms of spending and spending power one of the best pieces of advice I've ever been given is buy good... and own it for a long time... as far as food buy the best you can afford. At this point in life you have to pay careful attention to every purchase and each and every choice and decision... make notes of everything  of what you spend and what you consider... and have to reconsider... someday you will tell your story of what you were able to overcome and thrive  during difficult times and it could become someone's survival guide for the future.

This is the time it's important to look at life, yourself and your situation realistically and keep your wits about you... the people who come through difficult times don't panic... it's not always easy... but trust me on this one... I know a little something about surviving... You have to start by taking back your power by reclaiming the responsibility for your life. You really have to demand more of yourself because time is ticking away and we have all already wasted too much time worrying about things that don't matter or may never happen... that does not mean bury your head in the sand but face everything when it needs to be dealt with... start by becoming laser focused on the things you can control. Nothing outside of you has power over you...you decide how you think, how you feel and do the things in your life that matter. Take full ownership of your life and you will become free from a lot of negativity and nonsense... You will become amazed at the transformation in your life when you raise the bar on who has access to you and your ideas and energy... maybe most importantly try to pay off your bills and eliminate your debt as much as possible... solvent people are not as easily manipulate... and if you can... if you know someone who needs help... don't wait for them to ask. We were just discussing last night at dinner... we don't need anything right now besides food and shelter... but there are people who have more hungry mouths to feed than two and have less desirable living conditions... and need medication (that is facing massive tariffs too) and constant medical care... so while things are going to become increasingly difficult in the near future... they are going to be much more difficult and harder to manage for countless others... think about that and be grateful every coming day for the problems that you don't have to deal with.

I noticed in the last few months there are a lot of dead people walking around with no empathy, emotional intelligence or good intentions... just sabotaging and manipulating others.... steer clear and don't engage; these are the people I was talking about when I said there are certain people around who are here for nothing else other than to remind us who not to become.  The days are flying by and the sand eventually runs through the hourglass of life...There is more to life than working, paying bills and being stressed out by every single thing...take walks, get fresh air... enjoy music and laughter again... joy and happiness does not have to be expensive.

Meanwhile... Your anger is telling you where you feel powerless...Your anxiety is telling you that something in your life is out of balance...Your fear is telling you what you care about the most... Your apathy is telling you where you are overextended and burned out... All these feelings are not random they are messages from your subconscious telling you what you need to work out and take control of... all this being said... don't fear death because it will stop life while you are still living... and you have to take risks or there are going to be no new chapters to your life in the future... one of the things I've been considering since my last installment about possibly moving to Australia is I was afraid I was too old to start over again... but upon reflection...I'm only too old to keep doing what is not working for my life anymore.... In the end we are only going to regret the chances we did not take...or the relationships we were too scared to embrace... and the dreams we didn't chase... and the words we left unsaid... and ultimately the decisions we waited too long to make.

Reading the news or listening to it on television there is a common theme and right now it seems to be that a handful of deeply unhappy people are causing drama and chaos for no reason other than their own ego.

and the rest of it are paying the price for it...I've been paying attention and knew this was coming... that does not make it any easier and there are a few people I would really like to do  the "I told you so dance" (look it up on YouTube Will & Grace--- Debbie Reynolds)... but it won't change anything or make it any easier to deal with right now... so we have to remember that eventually everything will come together leading to something better... so to make this transition less painful, stay hopeful, keep your heart open and trust the process of you finding your way through this web of madness we are living in right now... someone told me along time ago during another dark time that "You can't always have a good day...but you can always face a bad day with a good attitude"... I've always remembered that... Also one of my favorite quotes is by Henry Rollins... "Half of life is fucking up... the other half is dealing with it"

So while it's important to stay home and deal with life's issues right now and not run away to some far off land to escape...even if you are in your own city, town or neighborhood... be a traveler not a tourist...try new things and meet new people and look beyond what is right in front of you.

Thanks for reading... remember you are only as pretty as you treat other people. But at the same time... 

See you next month... stay sane... and happy!

Next Destination...Melbourne

I'm going to try to pull back from politics as that was not my intention with this blog in the first place... I need to step back form the current political  issues if for nothing more than for my own peace of mind to clear my thoughts of all the negativity that has been bombarding everyone at every level for the last month or 8 years depending on how you look at it... take a quick read because this pushed me over the edge Musk/Trump Endgame... so let me share these thoughts before we move on to our next destination...

Lessons don’t always come wrapped in wisdom. Sometimes, the most profound teachings come from witnessing what not to do—how not to treat people, how not to live in fear, how not to sacrifice integrity for convenience.

The world is full of cautionary tales: industries that exploit, leaders who deceive, institutions that manipulate. But if we allow them to teach us rather than consume us, they serve a purpose. Every toxic food system, every broken healthcare model, every corrupt political decision—it’s all a blueprint for the world we don’t want.

The question is: Do we keep participating in what we know is broken, or do we build something better? And if so, where do we start? I wish I had the definitive answer... but we have to start with ourselves and not become part of the problem by becoming one of those people... someone a long time ago said to me... don't let the words or actions of people or the way the world works sometimes make you mean... I had a brief meeting with a doctor for an over all wellness check a few days ago and he asked if I was suffering from anxiety and/or depression... I simply said "From a clinical standpoint no I am not, but I'm reacting appropriately to the way the world is right now"

I'm speaking from personal experience when I say sometimes you have to get away from it all and look at the world from a different perspective and study a new landscape... or a fancy way of saying take a holiday from your fears, concerns and get in touch with your thoughts and make a plan...For me nothing tops the feeling of waiting at the airport in anticipation of leaving all of your worries behind you for a few days and making new memories that will last a lifetime. When I first started writing here I composed something new every week and then every two weeks...now  once a month... I noticed the quality of the content and my thoughts improved as I had more time to formulate something more thoughtful and concise. I hope you agree... I went back and read everything from the beginning and there are some things I would like to revisit and rewrite in more depth in the coming months.

I've written before about my experiences in Australia (which were numerous in the 70's and 80's... thanks to Pan Am) This week I'm going to pare it down and focus on one region...

It was difficult to decide because the fact of the matter is... there is not a single place in Australia I dislike...I've been to almost every major city, town and outpost... Australia is roughly the size of the United States... so going great distances usually involves air travel... but not always, I've been on some amazing adventures by train and automobile.

Those trips that were usually off the beaten path got a little sweaty and dusty and dirty and scary a few times... but they remain some of my happiest travel memories.

I have the most experience and knowledge with Victoria and NSW... I could easily pack a bag and move to Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide or Brisbane and live happily ever after. But after careful consideration I finally settled on Melbourne this month because If there is one place I would most like to live and spend the rest of my life it would be there... probably because I have the most memories and friends there and maybe most importantly from the first time I arrived I felt like I was home for some reason.

I spent a great deal of time with my friends at Kerferd Road Beach in the 70's &  80's... drinking, laughing, smoking and enjoying the sun before I ever considered the importance of sun screen...and moderation.

I'll keep the rest of my memories and experiences focused on the here and now...

To start with... Melbourne is...

• One of the World’s Most Livable Cities – Melbourne consistently ranks in the top 10 global livability indexes due to its clean air, healthcare system, walkability, and quality of life.
• Active, Outdoor Culture – With beachfronts, parks, and cycling trails, Melbourne encourages daily movement in a way that feels natural.
• Diverse, Health-Conscious Food Scene – With strong Mediterranean, Asian, and plant-based influences, the city’s food culture supports nutrient-dense, longevity-friendly eating habits.
• Universal Healthcare and Work-Life Balance – Australia has one of the world’s best public healthcare systems, and government-mandated vacation time supports stress reduction and wellness.
• Strong Community and Social Engagement – Melbourne’s thriving arts, music, and café culture fosters social connection, a major factor in long-term health.

So to start with my favorite activity... fun in the sun at a clothing optional beach... (before I go on) Australia has probably the most beautiful beaches  and coastlines in the world...  some of my favorite in the Melbourne area are...

Sunnyside Beach... it's a bit of a trick to find it the first time... but it's worth it...It's between Mt Eliza and Mornington south of Melbourne (about 55 km) The Northern part is legally clothing optional since 1986. Parking and crowded restrooms can be a bit tricky on the weekend... it's the closest and most popular nude beach to Melbourne.

Point Impossible Beach...is nothing like it's name as it is easy to access with ample parking and restrooms..It's an official clothing optional beach and the first legal nude beach in Victoria. It's about 95 km southwest of Melbourne.

Southside Beach is located near Bells Beach past Torquay about 100 km from Melbourne. The nude section is marked and about 500 meters to the left of the main stretch of beach... It's technically a surfing beach and it's popular because it's somewhat sheltered from the wind... it's worth the journey to get there.

Most of these are about and hour(ish) from Melbourne... my advice is arrive early, pack a picnic lunch and don't forget the sun screen... any maybe most importantly have fun and be sure to take everything you brought in out with you...only leave your footprints in the sand. As a reminder if you are traveling from the Northern Hemisphere... best time to visit is January.

I've said in a previous entry taking a river cruise of a city is one of the best ways to familiarize yourself... and the view from the Yarra River cruise certainly won't disappoint... the views are amazing at every turn.

Getting around on land to destinations outside the city usually starts at The Flinders Street Station... it's Australias oldest train station and the busiest station serving the entire metro area rail network... Rumor has it there is a ghost occupying the building...

I don't think there is a single Melbouornian who has not said at one time or another... "I'll meet you under the clocks" which are the clocks that line the wall above the main entrance.. the trains* travel between here and the outer suburbs and there are several day trips that arrive and depart from Flinders Street Station.

Melbourne is one of the easiest cities in the world to get around in...

• Trams travel throughout the city*... The largest tram system in the world, there are 250 km of tracks and is 100% solar powered.
• A free City Circle Tram in the central business district

• Buses travel  to most destinations around the city*

*use Myki (Public Transport Victoria) card (it's a reloadable credit card sized contactless card  for trains, trams and busses. You can also download maps and schedules from Public Transport Victoria.

It's also an easy city to use ride shares and taxis... but most importantly it's a very easy city to navigate on foot.

If you are visiting... keep in mind that the weather can be very fickle in a single day... It's weather is much like Europe in that...on any given day you could be wearing shorts and a tee-shirt and the morning and need a jacket or coat by evening... I guess the easiest thing to do is dress in layers... and carry and umbrella.

So depending on your tastes... there are several city tours or you can find your own way to...

The Chinatown in Melbourne is the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere...located on Little Bourke Street it was founded during the Gold Rush when about 40,000 people came from China.

Melbourne was designed with a very geometrical grid with large streets and laneways... where you will find large street murals (Melbourne is the street art capital of the world) also shops, bars, coffee shops and cafes.

One of the things I love best about Australia is the diversity of people and cultures... I'm sort  of tied between favorite destinations being Greece or Australia... as it would happen Melbourne is a city with the largest Greek population outside of Greece... Melbourne is a very cosmopolitan city, over a third of the population is from someplace outside Australia... with a very large population of Greeks, Italians and Chinese... with restaurants and cafes featuring  some  of my favorite food. The one thing I can state with absolute sincerity is that I have never had a bad meal in Melbourne... Australian cuisine blends Asian and Mediterranean  flavors and concepts into very imaginative  recipes with the freshest ingredients.

The one thing I've usually always done in my travels is take a cooking class or two if I'm spending a few days somewhere... I'm sorry to say I have not done so in Melbourne... but it's on my bucket list as there are some fantastic options offered through Melbourne Markets offering cooking classes from some of Melbourne's most notable chefs... I have never walked away from The Block Arcade hungry or empty handed... it is the most famous shopping experience in Melbourne full of stylish and eclectic boutiques... and there are several specialty food shops and restaurants...My favorite shop is Gewürzhaus meaning spice house... it's a cooks dream... they have everything from all over the world.

One of my favorite places is Hopetoun Tea Rooms... its a shop and Tea Room a reservation is required for High Tea... It's named for its founder Lady Hopetoun. You can also order cakes or take something out with you. I love to stop mid morning for a cup of coffee and something delicious... Another surprisingly great High Tea was the Three Plate High Champagne service at The Marriott Melbourne...

Speaking of coffee... Melbourne is known as the Coffee Capital of Australia... and has become the city with the most cafes... I learned how to make sensational coffee in Melbourne. A lot of Melbournians carry around a reusable coffee cup as it's not unusual for many to take away as many as four or five cups of coffee per day. Coffees have different names in Australia than other places... you won't find Americano...it's refereed to as a Long Black... and espresso is a Short Black...a Doppio is a double shot of espresso... a latte is a Caffelatte and a Flat White is a espresso with steamed milk with a higher proportion of espresso than a latte... and for those of you who partake you still have your Cappuccino, Macchiato...  and ice coffee is cold espresso, milk and ice cubes... most cafes in Australia have two sizes... regular and large.

Melbourne was the first city outside of North America or Europe to host the Olympic Games in 1956... A bit before my time... but I was cheering loudly at the games in Sydney in 2000... with a little luck I'll be cheering just as enthusiastically in Brisbane  in 2032.

Melbourne is the only city in the world with five international standard sporting facilities... and is known as the sports capital of Australia... they are...

• Melbourne Cricket Ground
• Docklands Stadium 
• Rod Laver Arena
• Hisense Arena
• Olympic Park

Melbourne hosts the Australian Open and The Melbourne Cup...

St Kilda's Palais Theatre is the largest theatre in Australia... it's world famous with  2,896 seats... compare that to The Metropolitan Opera House in New York city with a seating capacity of 3,800.

There is also a Winter Garden space with very exclusive access and premium hospitality.... The Palais Theatre hosts live performances in theatre, ballet, music and opera and is the home of The Melbourne Film Festival. The theatre is very proud to be 100% green powered.

The Regent Theatre in Melbourne is a former movie theatre built in 1938 and closed in 1970, it was restored and reopened in 1996. It is one of six theaters collectively known as Melbournes East End. The Regent theatre has a house seating capacity of 2,162 and hosts most theatrical world tours. It's a short walk from Flinders Street Station and The Victoria Hotel.

There is so much night life in Melbourne I would probably have to devote an entire segment to it to do justice to everything available... if you are visiting a quick internet search might suffice as there are diverse venues offering options from bars, clubs, live music and lounges...Russell Street is probably your best bet for a night on the town.

You can find almost any after dark venue you are looking for... you just need to know where to look... one of my favorites to visit is a clothing optional bar on Smith Street in Fitzroy...

If you know me... you know why...

I feel like I have only scratched the surface on what to see and what to do in Melbourne... maybe we will visit this again sometime in the future.

The side trips you can take in addition to the beach outings I've already outlined are also numerous and might warrant a separate  entry soon.... I'll quickly outline my favorites...

There are about eighty wineries  in the Yarra Valley  only about an hour away... and they create some of the best Cardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as an exceptional Shiraz as I have ever tasted... There is no place on earth like it and it provides the perfect conditions for creating world class wine.

It's really easy to access from Melbourne... it's easiest to drive or hire a car... if you don't have a designated driver or you can take the train from Melbourne to the  Lilydale Station and take the Mc Kenzie's Tourist Service Bus to Yarra Glenn or Healesville or the Ventura Bus to Warburton... if it's your first time... there are bus tours that leave directly from Melbourne.

There is no such thing as saving the best for last... because as far as I'm concerned all of Melbourne is the best... but If I had to choose where to live if not in the city centre... then I would choose St. Kilda...

St Kilda is a seaside suburb near Melbourne...it's just a short tram ride (about 25 minutes) on the #96, #16 or #3A  

to a vibrant beach community with a never ending list of things to do or just relax.... or if you are feeling up to a little adventure you can rent a bicycle it's only about a 7km ride.. The Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne are not to be missed but don't skip the St. Kilda Botanical Gardens either... 

What can I say about St. Kilda... It's the vibe I grew up with and the feelings and emotions I love the most about surroundings and people...

There is the beach...The Palais Theatre I outlined above...Pubs, fresh seafood, The Esplanade Hotel (The Espy) almost everything in Australia is abbreviated with either an "O" or a "Y" at the end including names... for example Boz becomes Bozo or Bozy... I've grown accustomed to BozB... as most people who will attest to how I sign an email or informal letter)... but I digress... The Espy is five levels of fun and food and drink.

You can find almost anything you want or need at Aceland Court Shopping Center...

Or at The St. Kilda Esplanade Market on Sunday...Impossible not to find a new treasure or memento or two...

You will find...Hand crafted jewelry, arts and crafts, clothing and accessories, food items (I discovered Orangecello here)... it's family and pet friendly and a great way to spend the day.

St Kilda is a haven for artists, musicians and has a very diverse LGBTQIA community.... there is a lot more but I wanted to save a little room for Luna Park...

Luna Park has been entertaining  the young and young at heart..since 1912... with the oldest continuing operating roller coaster in the world...there is something for everyone at Luna Park...they have special events on Halloween, Christmas and New Years... Luna Park is next to The Espy.

So on top of everything I've said... Australia offers me everything I love; from the desert, to the mountains to the ocean and everything in between... but like I said before... people matter more to me than places and things...

So... you begin and end your time in Melbourne most likely at the Melbourne International Airport...

The easiest way to get to and from the airport are ride shares, taxi and  the Sky Bus Express that leaves from the airport to the city centre every 10 minutes 24/7... the ride is about 20 minutes depending on the time of day and traffic.

Just to give you and idea... There are five time zones in Australia...

• Western Australia Standard Time
• Northern Territory
• Australian Central Standard Time
• Australian Eastern Standard Time
• New South Wales/Victoria

Suffice to say it's between 12-15 hours ahead of from New  York

And one tiny exception...

The climate in Australia is... well it is what it is... if you are visiting... plan ahead to where you will be going and what time of year...

Flight Times

• Honolulu to Melbourne- 11 hours
• Los Angeles to Melbourne- 15 hours
• New York City to Melbourne- 23 hours
• London to Melbourne- 21 hours

I've taken all these routes over the years... and since the introduction of larger aircraft these long flights are non-stop... you used to have to break the trip down with stops to refuel the aircraft and pickup passengers along the way making most of these flights a two day trip... either way take playing cards and a good book to pass the time.

I've written previously that I used to ignore my intuition or maybe not listen carefully would more accurately describe it... my intuition has been whispering to me gently for several years that I should move to Melbourne... lately it's not been soft voice but more of a commanding baritone  directive... that is part of the reason I wanted to write all this down... In the coming weeks I am going to explore career opportunities, legal, technical and logistic concerns like expenses, housing, shipping and visa requirements... and we will see what we see when we see it.

I said in one of the early posts here... I rarely fit into new places and it usually worked to my advantage for one reason or another... but with Australia... it's nice to fit in somewhere finally.

If your intuition tells you that you need to move then you need to move... if your intuition tells you to give up on your dreams... it's not your intuition... it's fear... it's important to know how to tell the difference... I've had to remind myself more often than I would like to admit...

Thanks for reading... see you next month...

From here I can go anywhere... and so can you!