2015 — Week 28

6–12 July

Dropped my car off at the port in Charleston to get shipped over to Hawaii on Monday, then got mostly packed up before Happy Hour, which was good, because I went drinking with Joe, Jerry, and the girls. A bit too much gin and whiskey and I was back for the “final packing” and a few hours of sleep before catching a 6 am flight to Honolulu…

Arrived, met Captain Ed Miller (my sponsor) who took me to my awesome little hotel, the Luana Waikiki (which I highly recommend to anyone visiting Honolulu — free yoga, free wine and cheese, a perfect location — delightful!).

Got settled into a little corner suite with a nice view of the park and the ocean, and began to figure out what an amazing year this is going to be. Going to work as a military professor, in a picturesque location where everything I need is quite literally within walking distance, and within this first week, found a yacht broker, a realtor, a cute boat, a cute garden apartment, a good barber, a rugby team coached by a former teammate (US Eagle Michael Harvey, who used to play for NMSU back when I did — small world!) — also found a coupla great restaurants and bars, met some awesome people, including an amazing yoga instructor, a vodka sales rep, and a guy who sailed a pirate ship from San Diego to Honolulu. True story.

Stayed pretty hydrated — but still about a liter behind every day — ordered some fab “dress-up” clothes for Elle’s steampunk wedding, and got a good bit of hugs and laughter. Did a pretty good job of “cleaning as I go” and picking up trash whenever I saw it. Technically no glitter.

Still not sure that I’m “valuing my time” — but maybe I’m just too critical about what that consists of. I have gotten a lot done this week — just no serious writing, social media, etc. Inner child played less Heroes of the Storm, same amount of Clash of Clans, but also played rugby, jumped in the ocean, and ate a lot of wine and cheese. The artist? Still not doing so much.

Living small in a hotel room — and realizing that lots of the stuff I brought with me is still untouched — gotta get to work on that “100 things” list. Actually in polyphasic mode as I write this, but it’s been pretty touch-and-go with that. Definitely in total walk-bike mode and planning to keep it that way, but no volunteering — yet. And need to do more gifting.

Zen-wise, I feel like I am doing less — probably need work on the “slowly, deliberately, completely” part. Also the “putting space between things” part. All that would probably be easier if I “develop rituals and designate time for certain things.” Hmmm… somehow this whole Zen thing is a lot of interlocking rings! I have been doing a pretty good job of meditating on most days. Still not much cooking being done… Thinking about what’s necessary, and living simply? Feel like I’m doing a bit better — but I’m still the most complicating factor in my own life. As for smiling — yup! Doing lots of that. Serving others? Hmmm, still needs some work.

So, that was the first week in Hawaii. Let the epic-ness commence.