July 16-19, 2011- Adjustments…

     There’s always a bit of an adjustment coming back to the islands from a visit to the “mainland,” and this time it’s been a little harder for me than usual.  I know a lot of this is because I had no children to come home to and keep me on my toes. There’s not much slowing down with 7 and 9 year old boys, and when we are together, my focus is on taking care of their needs and not my own.  With just myself to look after (even my fiancé is back on his island, so I can’t even distract myself by hanging out with him), I find myself going to work, eating, exercising, and going to bed, and that’s all. It makes me miss the fun, family, and road trips of our recent vacation in Oregon.  It makes me want to move back “home.”  It’s quiet on the island in summer because half the population is gone for the 2+ months that comprise “summer vacation” here, so it’s nice to be able to get things done at work, but somehow the motivation is not there as it usually is when the pressure is on. J  Even though I enjoy my job, and I’m doing something I love, work, in the end, doesn’t mean anything if there’s nothing really to work for. What I mean is that work is worth it because it provides us the ability to go on those family vacations, to provide things for our family, to spend time with those we love on the weekends and holidays in a comfortable fashion.  For now, work for me, is saving up, saving for the day we’ll be able to move back to the states, saving for our future.  It may not be as exciting right now, but it’s a necessary part of life, and I know it won’t last forever because school starts back at the end of next month, families all arrive back on the atoll, and life will speed up with a vengeance to get back the time it lost over the summer!