Frozen

Somewhere along the way, winter settled into Melbourne. While it’s not quite as cold as Atlanta—and definitely not as cold as Nashville—winters, considering Will’s and my primary mode of transportation is our feet, and add to that no central heating and an apartment made out of concrete walls with no insulation, I think it’s safe to say that this winter has been one of the more frigid that I have experienced. The kind of cold that settles into your bones and makes you want to huddle on your couch and wait it out until spring.

And that’s exactly what we’ve done. With the onset of winter, we have—as unconscious an act as it may have been—stripped away a lot of the “unnecessary” activities that take us away from the nice, warm nest we’ve made of our couch. Working out? It’s too cold to jog outside, and gyms are expensive! Going to the store? Why, when there’s delivery? Finding events going on in Melbourne? All we really want to do is read and watch The Wire!

Even though we’ve been nice and comfortable on our couch, the cool temperatures have still found a way to freeze us.

But in the last few weeks, I’ve felt like we’ve been emerging up from a long hibernation period. I think a lot of it has to do with me getting a “normal” job at Melbourne University. Working a few days a week helps me keep a regular schedule, and motivates both of us to brave the temperatures and get out and do things in the city. Last week Will and I joined a gym—his is near his office, close enough to go during lunch, and mine is at the university where I do boot camp three days a week. Even on my days off I spend the time with friends, taking our dogs to the park or going on long lunches. We still spend plenty of time reading and watching The Wire, but it’s a whole different ballgame when you feel like your leisure time is earned instead of just taken for granted.

Even though the temperatures haven't changed, Will and I have.

I can feel it, spring is right around the corner.