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Published: January 9th 2021
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Here we are, a little long overdue blog about our daily life at home in South Africa. Point to note, we do not live close to Cape Town, as this place is way too cold in the winter. Shelly Beach, our little village is 130km south of Durban...and yes, we live right on the beach! Even with our bedroom windows closed, we ear the waves 24/7!
I have lived from 1996 to 2017 in Metropolis around the world, I name Saigon, Hong Hong, Shanghai, Bangkok and Buenos Aires. All of those were fun...full of life...with some great qualities...and way less nice points at some stage in our stay. Since early 2017....it's out of the crowds for us. So put 2020 in the Covid perspective...suddenly I'm happy to live away from the crowds!
We all have our attractions, priorities and hobbies. Some need a great car...some need five kids...some cannot live away from museums...Well....bear in mind....we don't all crave for the same things at 25, 35, 45 or even later. So your ideal place to live today...may be very different to what you will look for in 20 years. This is even more true for those
who have roamed the world and know we thrive in/by diversity and experiences!
So for me today, to be a happy not so young man anymore, I just need to be next to my love, to play golf, dive in an amazing place few times a week...find the best wines with easy of reach...and have great raw/unprocessed produces in my local supermarkets. Well, this is it, I found my paradise!
So you already know I'm a happy man as we got married back in June in Seychelles!
Next, the golfing....South Africa is by far the best golf country in the world today...this when it comes to welcome, quality, price, range and accessibility. I've said it before...but having 7 golf courses next to where I live is pretty fun. Every week, it's 3 to 4 rounds for me. Every Saturday, it's competition day at Southbroom where I'm a member. Most players here are between 70 to 80 years old...few even few more years! And yes, here I say it often...in 30 years, I want to look like you! I play golf with young guys in their 70s...they enjoy life....have a positive attitude
toward life...most of them with serious conversation and the pleasure to share a drink or two! These are my mates...these are the people I look to be like in 30 years!
Every Wednesday, I play golf in San Lameer...another great place with amazing people who welcome us every week. Ok, slightly younger too....average age must be 65 here...I know, most could be my parents...except here, as in Southbroom...it's just a jovial attitude...every single week. We are proud to be part of those two communities.
Than there is the diving. Sorry, I gave the priority to seniority...so diving is meeting the "less than 70"...well...mainly way less than 30 too! I've dived in 63 countries...so I know my way around a little. Here, we dive Protea Banks...there is Southern and Northern...that's it...2 dive sites....well....being a drift dive, you drift minimum 3km on average per dive. This place is for serious divers...only serious Advanced here....but how fun it is! There is also a lot of regulars...so it's also another great community. I have to admit...divers are generally not golfers, so it's 2 different worlds.
I know my way around, this is easily one of
the top 10 spot in the world if you want to dive with the big ones! The pics are of something like the last 20 dives I did the last three months. Sharks, sharks and sharks....but we also have dolphins, rays and obviously the whales in the right season. I know more divers read this than golfers...so feel free to visit us for some serious diving. And yes, I try to be underwater 3 to 4 times per week too. Here, it can very very windy, so on windy days, no diving, just golfing!
Next, there is the wine. Well, you read my last posts. No winery around here....we are surrounded only by green hills of sugar cane, macadamia and bananas! But I have my contacts, and home delivery is super easy. So stock we have!
Last, the food...this is not the place for gourmet while visiting restaurants. South Africa doesn't do bad food....but quite often the menu is always the same...and can become pretty boring super fast! So the cook in me doesn't take his lady to local restaurants, he cooks! Five supermarkets less than 3km away from home. Remember, we live on
the beach in a village....but choice we do have for food supplies. So here are few plates from home the last few weeks. Interestingly, I lost 8kgs since I left Seychelles three months ago. Note, there is wine and top food...it's so easy to lose weight when you exercise and have access to such amazing ingredients.
Here it is...this is home...and welcome to 2021...I'm sure there are a lot of surprises ahead of us. So let's stay positive and enjoy the people who make us the ones enjoying life!
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
Sounds like the perfect life...
and you are looking ahead 30 years, too! I recall our conversation at a restaurant near the Denver International Airport along those lines...looking and planning for the future.