Prior to meeting my wife, I rarely traveled anywhere. Now, thanks to her, I’ve been to quite a few places, especially the beach! Well, being from Brazil, that’s to be expected. On a normal year, since moving to NC, we end up at the beach, Seabrook Island, SC, to be exact, about 6 or 8 times/year. Last year was a slow year for us. We only went about 3 or 4 times, as I recall. We were quite busy with basketball for Tony.
She has taught me how to live. When we discuss our upbringing, there are so many contrasts. Her family seemed to go to the beach house every weekend and her family loved to travel and were very close. My family is sort of the opposite; I was the only child at home, as I was born some 14 years after my sister, who left home when she turned 18, so I have no memories of her being in the house. As far as I was concerned, I was an only child. My mother liked to travel, but my father didn’t, so it was rare that we went anywhere, and when we did, I went with my mother.
When my wife and I got married, she wanted to go, go, go. I wanted to stay, stay, stay. I’m so glad that she ‘won’, because it has opened my eyes to lots of experiences that I would not have had before, especially my trip to Brazil, a country where I didn’t speak the language, but had to try. It gave me a whole new respect for those who come to the U.S. and don’t speak the language at all or very well. I’m a lot more patient, understanding, and empathetic, to be sure.
I’ve also been a great ‘saver’ of my income. Let’s us say that I was very frugal. Some would say cheap. I just didn’t buy things that weren’t necessary, but the down side was that I worried a lot. I amassed large sums of money, but it always felt like that it was never enough. One day my wife asked me something to the effect of: So, when you pay off A, and B, and C, and have no debt, then what? Will you just continue to save until retirement? Are we going to postpone our lives until we are 65? Well, folks, I didn’t have an answer. Not one. So, I started learning how to let go. I still like to save, but now I don’t worry about it. We have set our plan into motion and then just enjoy the rest.
When Nikon announced the D3, I thought that there was no way that I was going to buy it. I thought to myself that I’d have to have some justification to buy it. I needed to earn it. Well, the wise and understanding Vera said: “If you want it, get it!”. So, taking her lead, I ordered it. Mind you, it didn’t take much arm twisting! When I think about it, I hardly spend any of the income that I earn on anything other than camera equipment, and going out to lunch. Other than that, my checkcard stays in my wallet.
Lastly, she also encouraged me to follow my dream about photographing _all_ of the national parks and said that she’d be a willing participant to come along with me on some of the trips, but to also let me go by myself when I wanted to. What a doll. That said, I’ve scheduled my first trip, White Sands National Monument, for February 20 (my birthday) – February 24th. I’ll be going along with a friend of mine, flying into El Paso, TX on 2/20. Who knows, if I have time and inclination, I might slip into Juarez, Mexico for a peak. Looking at the websites, I can see that New Mexico has lots of photographic opportunities. I don’t know how many trips she will attend with me because she has an agenda full of trips for herself, including a girl’s week at the beach! Go! Go! Go!
It’s time to live a little. Hopefully, my D3 will arrive in time to accompany me on the trip!
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5 Responses to “Live a little!”
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I was so tempted to make some wiseguy remark, but this was just too good and too loving to do that.
You are doubly blessed. You have a wonderful partner in life. And, you KNOW you have a wonderful partner in life.
God bless you guys.
Yay, Paul!!! Now that’s living and doin’ it right! Woo Hoo! Can’t wait to see all those images yet to come.
I ditto John’s blessing on both of you.
Can you see if you can have your wife talk to her best friend to let her know how much I need that d-300.
I’m sure to show my gratitude by making one or two of those parks.)
Richard, I’ll make a special emergency request! I know that you have to have that camera and that it is essential to your growth as a photographer! Fingers crossed!!!
I think that it’s great that you have come to the realization that work is not the only condition available to us in life. As I prepare to retire, I now realize it might have been better if work had been a much smaller part of my life. I recently read that Bertrand Russell said, “One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.” Words we should all seriously consider!