The simple life
New Zealand is such a wonderfully peaceful place. After traveling for about 20 hours, I have finally arrived in Wanaka. I’m three days later than everyone else on the U.S. team (because of the Teen Choice Awards), and so I traveled alone and have been hanging out at our house for the past few hours by myself as everyone is still up on the mountain practicing for the World Cup that’s on Friday … Yikes!
Anyway, when I arrived I was wearing leggings and a long sweater — not exactly winter attire, but I was coming from sunny California and I had the idea in my head that it wasn’t going to be too cold here. I was right, it’s not too cold here; but it’s also not warm, and the little leggings just weren’t cutting it and I was chilled to the bone.
You see, NZ is not too keen on this thing called central heating. They also seem to build their houses and buildings with very little, if any, insulation. So it’s like being in a cement block with a little space heater to keep you warm … my one problem with this country! So a hot tub was the perfect solution! And this is where I found serenity.
Sitting in the hot tub, which is this typical, ultra-hip, simplistic NZ-style setting of course, with the warm sun beating down on my face in the cool air, I closed my eyes and listened and heard absolutely nothing. After being in Southern California for an entire month, this was music to my ears … silence. I missed it here. In fact, I have missed living the simple life in general. I love Southern California. Well, let me rephrase that: I LOVE the beach life. If it weren’t for the beach and the waves, I would not be a Southern California girl (hate traffic, superficial personalities, superficial boobs, etc.). I am, at heart, a small-town girl. I love simplicity and silence and the rugged mountains, and it’s good to be back!
What an amazing life I have. So grateful to be here, and I am so excited to have an amazing couple of weeks of shredding, peace and quiet, flat whites, fresh food and friends. Ole!