One of the things I think I love most about our experience living abroad and away from our normal home, is the change in our normal, hectic, over scheduled life. It’s not that we’re not busy and doing things here, it just feels different and the pace feels slower and more relaxed and I’m trying to understand why.

The thought to write this post came from reading Barbara’s comment about how she liked reading my blogs and how I keep BUSY, which made me think…

We are all busy.

She knows a few of the things I am busy doing and experiencing that I chose to publicly share. But I don’t know a lot about what she’s doing or what you’re doing unless you tell me a story, post it on FB, instagram or tweet about it, or I’m there sharing the busyness with you. I love knowing what you choose to be busy doing and enjoying because I’m curious like that. We all get the same 24 hours a day, but our choices how we spend them each day are unlimited and unique. Isn’t that a crazy thought?

What are we busy doing? And is what we chose to be busy with all that important? And if we’re too busy are we really enjoying our busy-ness? Things that make you go hmmm…

I think the first reason it feels differently busy here for me is because we broke out of our routine and expectations. It’s kinda like we’re on a sabbatical from our Other life.

Secondly, when you’re all new to an area, you depend on each other more than you would at home with all of our different support networks. We tend to do more as one big group vs individually.

Third, all our kids are at the same school. This means one drop off time and one pick up. They also have all their after school activities at the school. There are buses that take the kids to their sport matches and bring them back again. When one child is practicing, there is a nice place to foster community at the school while waiting together in a comfortable, warm building while having a cup of tea and a snack together. I am not driving all over town and waiting and waiting. I think this is the biggest factor that changed.

Fourth, we have made friends with families with kids close in age to our own. When the kids play, so do the parents. It’s easy and fun and creates harmony.

This sabbatical is a great thing!

Today we were busy doing yoga, watching PB make sushi, building a bonfire and roasting marshmallows in the freezing and windy weather,

having a play date, and cooking Indonesian food…

Along with the usual chores like going to work, housecleaning and kid logistics. We were busy living it up! How were you busy today and did you have fun? Thanks BP for the thought!! xo

P.S. Happy Sweet 16th birthday to Sweet Caroline!! I love you!