Australia Bound...

Our Digital Nomadic life has taken on new adventures as we headed Down Under the start of December.

One of the first challenges is the time change - we literally lost a day in the air while traveling over the international date line, so discombobulated awareness of days of the week was sure to follow. Lets not speak of the 5am work time to ensure we have enough time to work during business hours for our East and West coast USA vendors and clients!

Pre-dawn rising isn't all bad at our beach side home away from home. Surrounded by natural bush, there is a peace and quiet that can not be explained. And then the bird song as the sun gently rises above the horizon and warmth as it shines into our windows - bloody cold before that though - where is the summer?

8 days here now, and we are settling into a work/play routine. Little L (3 years old) has found a fabulous nanny, Ms Amy, who will be coming a couple times a week and today he began his school career at the mobile child care facility just two doors up from us. Off he went with his hat, backpack, lunchbox and water bottle to enjoy playing and interacting with kids and wonderful care givers for 5 hours a day. Allowing his mothers to work, rest and catch up on life after being full time with him during travel and settling in.

'L' First day of Aussie 'School'

Key wins for us have been our starlink mini. Set up on the verandah, it gets great internet, enough for our two laptops to run at a great speed, we can even stream our Amazon fire stick. Another win is the language barrier, in Mexico, I personally struggled with the confidence to communicate. Here, we all speak English, and I dig deep to remember the Australian colloquialisms from my childhood!

Awesome support from family members (housing and a car) is certainly a big plus too. Thanks Mum and Dad!

The Southern Ocean just 12 minute walk

Work wise, we are able to use our phones and laptops as normal (upgraded international plan from T-Mobile), keep track and communication with clients and vendors as per usual and work on presentations and relationships with ease.

The days are long (sun sets at 8.45), simple, cozy and quiet (haven't heard a plane or sirens or traffic since we arrived). The beach is a short 12 minute walk, the kid is enjoying playing outside, reading new books and watching Australian kids TV which is much more educational than back home. Although we did try to watch PBS in the mornings at home, here ABC Kids TV is on all day, and filled with entertaining preschool programming.

The next few weeks (as well as our time so far) will be filled with family and friends, catching up and relaxing, enjoying our own company and rediscovering yummy food and snacks. In Mexico we lost weight - the meat pies and sausage rolls, as well as fish and chips will be our utter downfall here though.

A note on the wildlife. If you follow either of our social pipes on a personal level you will indeed note a distinct 'spider' flavor to our content. I am a country girl at heart and have come across my share of creepy crawlies. I am the designated spider remover/killer as well as the hunter of flys in our family. Regina is not so fearless and has encountered some 'HUGE' spiders on our stay so far. No snakes (yet) but a possum or two, plus the sounds of Koalas in our backyard trees at night, and the occasional road kill Kangaroo. All par for the course when you make Australia your home. Especially in the country or small coastal towns.

So we are still there, working on orders and making all your swag dreams come true. While we are here too, enjoying serenity, nature and a simple way of life, and my first Christmas at home in 20 years.

If we don't see you before the holidays hit us, from my family to yours, Merry Christmas and a very happy and safe new year.