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Ali Jones Writer, broadcaster, and housebus adventurer. @AliJones2 | @luverduck

Ilove Christmas. Not because we spend time with family, eat and prepare delicious food, or enjoy the warm summer weather. I love it because it is the one time of the year when most of us stop working. There are still many, of course, who keep working – thank you – but essentially, nobody expects to get emails, phone calls or even plans anything to do with work – for a few days anyway. Kiwis are well known for having an awesome work ethic (read that as ‘work their butts off’), and there-in perhaps lies part of the problem: how much work we do is expected by others and ourselves.

Covid-19 has enabled people to change the way they work, and many have said it’s been wonderful spending more time with family. Some of us have re-examined how and why we do our work. I have. After more than a decade of dealing with earthquake and insurance issues – ours and others – the created stress has played a part in our health and well-being. After the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, some people re-set their lives; they re-examined what was truly important to them.

Unfortunately for many, their ability to make decisions and control their choices was taken away from them by insurance companies and EQC. Some still aren’t out the other side. Our house is being demolished because it is a failed EQC repair. This is the second time we have been through this after the house we owned at the time of the earthquakes was demolished in 2015. It’s not easy to re-set your life only to then slide back to where you were.

Covid-19 has also been an opportunity to re-examine what is important. Over the last couple of years, my husband and I have lost a few close friends, family members, colleagues, and acquaintances – some our age or younger. I am sure we’re not alone. The mid-50s isn’t old.

We are fortunate to be able to make the choices we can, including living in a house bus (Dylan) when our home is demolished in early 2022. We have learnt over the last few years that you can’t take life for granted.

‘Life is a journey, not a destination’ might sound like a bumper sticker (in fact, I think it is a bumper sticker), but it sums up things right now. We are very lucky in New Zealand in so many ways. Sure, there are always going to be things that make us grumpy (naked people in the spa next door, I am talking to you); however, Aotearoa is a pretty cool country.

I look forward to taking you on the road with us over the summer as Dylan visits some of the unique people and places across the South Island.

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*as at 27/07/21 with data from 03/10/21 – 26/07/21 based on Bachcare properties on Super Income Max vs Fixed Price plan.

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