Realistic Resolutions for 2017

Seeing in 2017, Paris house-party style

What up, 2017? Another year, another round of resolutions.

2016 was straight-up insanity. I’m still working on a recap, but long story short — I took nearly 50 flights in 52 weeks, crossed continents nine times, and burned the hell out at least thrice.

So for this year, I’m doing a complete 180: I’ve moved to New Zealand.

I’m (gasp!) staying put.

And thus, this edition of Realistic Resolutions will be heavily focused on Wellington and nesting and such. Here we go.

***

CAREER: I’m taking a sabbatical from sport in 2017. My main focus for this year is to learn how to bartend — properly — and actually know my booze.

After years of drinking (and becoming good friends) with some of the best cocktail bartenders in Europe & Asia, I’ve always felt right on the periphery of the industry. Now it’s time to jump in the deep end and see what life is actually like on the other side of the bar.

There’s so much more to cocktail bartending than just throwing liquids in a tin — you have to know your history, chemistry, physics, botany, etc. There are so many books I have to read! This is basically a booze-related ‘going back to school’ year.

COMMUNITY: What I missed most from traveling full-time was having a sense of community. So instead of just flitting in and out of various friends’ lives in scattered cities all the time, I’m looking forward to having a home base of my own again.

I want to rebuild my social circle in Wellington: throw house parties, attend weekly hospo nights, go to Gaelic football practice; to be able to make plans for next month or next spring and actually know exactly where I’ll be then.

My first views of New Zealand. I get it now.

COMMITMENT: Commitment has never been my strong suit when it comes to settling down — so I’m forcing myself to put away the suitcase and not travel for the first 3-4 months. My body needs the time to rest and recover from last year, even if my wanderlusting brain says otherwise. (Also: hard to build community if you’re always flying off somewhere else, right?)

Committing to New Zealand also means something that may prove difficult: not going back to Paris this year. If I keep returning to Paris, like I have been consistently for the past three years, Europe will always feel like home — and New Zealand will feel like just a blip in the Europe story, instead of its own chapter.

Oh also: not go nuts from doing long distance. Again. Remember when I thought Paris-Singapore was tough? If only 2012 me knew that five years later I’d be doing Paris-New Zealand. SO FUN YOU GUYS.

MUSIC: My awesome new flat in Wellington has a piano. I haven’t practiced in years, because pianos are kind of a hard item to travel with. I’mma play the crap out of that beauty this year.

MONEY: Working hospitality means taking a huge pay cut from when I worked in Paris and at Ford…though incidentally, not a huge difference from when I worked as a journalist #surprisetonoone. (I even made more per hour as a freelancer than I do now as a full-time bartender.)

So this year will be an exercise in budgeting if I’m to have any savings left at the end of this year — my goal is to put aside 50% of my income every week, after rent and utilities.

I also plan to donate to charity every month, something I frankly should have started years ago. I began in December with UNHCR; January was the ACLU. Upcoming months will include the IRC, Planned ParenthoodProPublica, and whoever else will need support in fighting against whatever daily fresh hell is going down in the US.

All I’ve seen of Auckland so far. Looks alright.

TRAVEL: I should go out and see more of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands (hello, Tahiti and Fiji), but travel isn’t a huge priority for me this year (see: burnout). I’ll definitely make it to Auckland at some point as I’ve friends there, and probably the South Island because obviously — but otherwise I’m actually quite content to stay in Windy Wellington all year.

RESPONSIBLE NESTING: Or, how not to collect more stuff. I do want to make a home here, but as a serial expat I’ve seen how random material possessions creep up on you after time. So I’ve unpacked and furnished my room in a way that is cozy and attractive, but hasn’t broken the bank (every single item was bought on holiday clearance) and thus involves nothing I feel terribly attached to and will want to take with.

I arrived with all my belongings in just one suitcase and one backpack, and would like to leave with the same.

PREPARE FOR 2018: Ideally I’ll leave New Zealand for a role at PyeongChang 2018 or Gold Coast 2018 (Olympics and Commonwealth Games, respectively). Fingers crossed for good news come New Year’s Eve, hey?

How are you feeling about 2017? 

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13 Comments

  • Reply
    LC
    February 1, 2017 at 03:54

    Nice to see you blogging again! I’m got similar goals after flitting around the globe for three years, but am basing across the Tasman in Melbs. Enjoy Wellington – sounds like a cool city.

  • Reply
    Caroline Eubanks
    February 1, 2017 at 15:14

    Can’t wait to follow the working holiday adventures! I will say that bartending in Aus & NZ is fairly easy thanks to tight booze laws. In terms of charities to donate to, I also recommend the Native American Rights Fund, Emily’s List, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

    Also, let’s cross paths one day very soon!

  • Reply
    Nina - Where in the World is Nina?
    February 1, 2017 at 17:20

    Whhhat! So cool, Edna! My bf did a bartending stint in Wellington too. After 8 months he met me in Thailand on a mini trip of his and I got him to move to Thailand a month later :-p hehe. He loved it, I’m sure you will too! Have fuuuun! <3

  • Reply
    Milou
    February 1, 2017 at 17:22

    So excited for you! And props on the long distance thingy, that’s hard!

  • Reply
    Joella
    February 1, 2017 at 18:01

    Sounds like a great decision. I’m excited for you! I don’t have too many plans for 2017 but we’ll be taking baby back to meet my family in the UK at some point.

  • Reply
    Micamyx|Senyorita
    February 1, 2017 at 18:16

    Those are really good goals for 2017! I am turning 30 this year and I am thinking of moving abroad to start anew and find a stable job. My cousin is also convincing me to check out New Zealand. Have a productive 2017!

  • Reply
    AnastatiaR
    February 1, 2017 at 19:48

    That sounds like a wonderful plan! Balance is important, and you had quite an amazing/whirlwind 2016. I’m excited for your year ahead, and I’m eager to see NZ through your eyes. ~A~

  • Reply
    Helin
    February 1, 2017 at 20:00

    It’s so comforting to hear you’re supporting US causes (Even though you really shouldn’t need to because that’s what taxes are for. And because you don’t live here).

    And I hope the piano-practicing goes well! I’m also thinking about playing music more this year.. it feels like a real gift to have had parents who supported developing the skills to enjoy such a sustainable and fulfilling activity.

  • Reply
    Rachel
    February 2, 2017 at 21:13

    How are you liking Wellington? I’m still bouncing around on the North Island, doing some housesits with the British boy and working online. Definitely need to save up some cash as well, which is not the easiest thing to do here!

    Hopefully heading to Wellington soon – everybody seems to love it! – and then on south. I do need to pick a place to settle down eventually… (Not sure about this weather though? I’m big on sun and warm temps, but supposedly it’s been a weird summer.)

  • Reply
    CatherineRose
    February 5, 2017 at 23:26

    Wow, what a major change! Awesome that you have a piano at home now. Collecting stuff is the worst – I buy almost nothing but somehow STUFF accumulates. (I moved to France with one suitcase, how did this happen in four short years?!) I 100% agree with your philosophy for responsible nesting. (I hope that sometime this year I’ll actually have a home so I can put it into practice.) Have a wonderful year in Wellington!

  • Reply
    Megan | Red Around The World
    February 7, 2017 at 16:24

    This sounds awesome! I look forward to reading about New Zealand! I would love to spend a year there.

  • Reply
    Cynthia
    February 8, 2017 at 05:01

    Totally with you on “letting NZ be it’s own chapter”… that’s a lesson you just have to learn but glad you already recognize it needs to happen! It is also the way that I really fell in love with living where I do instead of wishing I were somewhere else. Looking forward to reading more about your Wellington exploits and how you get on as a bartender!

  • Reply
    Amy | Toothbrush Travels
    February 17, 2017 at 14:18

    I’d love to chink glasses and toast to your new beginnings but this virtual comment will have to do until I make it to that side of the world!

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