Hobbies Up High

Frequent relocations have been a necessary evil in my life over the past six years. While the results have been worth it, packing up and moving is not always exciting. And it means forgoing certain hobbies: things like a guitar and a fishing rod, for instance, are often too awkward to pack.

Now, for the first time in my life, I'm working full-time with an indefinite contract. Without realizing it, I've begun to settle in to Arthur's Pass. It's happened in bits and pieces: I discovered the squash court and gym, then learned one of my coworkers was willing to lend me one of the five guitars in his house. And on a recent trip to Christchurch, I found a cheap fishing rod.

A few days ago, I managed to try out my new fishing set-up at Lake Pearson, just down the road from Arthur's Pass. While I didn't catch anything, it was a useful research trip - i.e., I learned exactly how cheap my new rod is, and what I need to do to make it work for me (that's how hobbies work, isn't it?). And I was able to take in yet another gorgeous piece of New Zealand's scenery. Some examples are below.

On a side note, I've also begun taking an online travel writing course. I publish my assignments on a blog, which I've decided to keep separate from this one. It seemed better to keep a clear distinction between course work and personal updates, as some of the assignments require me to practice writing techniques that I wouldn't otherwise use. Bearing that in mind, anybody is welcome to check out my other blog at americanuck2.matadoru.com. Any comments or advice you wish to offer would be appreciated (as they are here).