My husband and I had our Anniversary this week. 9 years together. It's been a wonderful ride! We have a very different relationship than most people. We don't have a couple hours a day together and weekends, like I imagine most people do. Since we have met, we have worked, and eventually lived together. In 9 years, the number of nights we have spent apart can be counted on one hand. It's the lifestyle we lead. Some people would be sick of their spouse if they were within a few feet of them at almost any time of the day. For us, it works.
We were married in Maui. It was a beautiful Hawaiian day...the wedding was on the beach. Our first daughter was there with us, she was 4 months old. My best friend came to take pictures, witness and nanny while we got out to enjoy the sights Hawaii had to offer. So our anniversary is a day we remember commiting to each to each other, and a day we think of sand, ocean and salty air.
We have been back to Hawaii a number of times since then. Most recently was almost 4 years ago. We packed up the kids and headed out to Maui. It was a trip that was planned with very little funds as we had just gotten out of the restaurant, and were at what we would probably consider on of out lowest times. We booked a 2 bedroom ground floor condo that opened up to a lovely garden area, you walked through it to get to the pool, a lovely green space and the ocean. We stayed a month and became even more familiar with our favorite places. We adopted a routine of an early morning beach day, a trip home for Sydney's nap, then an afternoon at the pool with the kids. We spent less than $50 a day for our entertainment, food, toys etc. Our days were spent just dedicated to the family, being together, story time, and relaxing. We grew as a family, and the kids grew and matured so much during that time.
For us Hawaii symbolizes the commitment we have made to each other, a commitment we again addressed to our family in a time where we didn't know where our lives were taking us. We were without employment, $2000 a month rent payment for our acreage, looking at relocating into lands unknown and starting up a risky and unstable business venture after just being dumped out of one. We needed a place to regroup and refocus. Hawaii was that place. It gave us a month away from all the stress, the daily what ifs and oh no's, a month dedicated to just loving and being thankful for what was around us. A month of noncompulsary family time.
It's been almost four years since we have taken the time to recommit. Our family has grown and two of our little ones have only known their parents surrounded by all the stuff that needs done. One is probably to young to remember a time when all we had to do that day was whatever we wanted to. We are starting to plan a trip back to the islands.
Next year will be our 10 year anniversary. We want to reach that milestone surrounded by family and ocean, standing in the sand, smelling the salty air, watching the whales romp past. We want our kids to experience the time of just relaxing and play with no work or chores to get in the way. It's not the most practical way to spend out money but it will be the most worthwhile. Sometimes we must do the least logical in order to maintain and strengthen relationships and bonds. Hawaii does that for us.
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