A week in Johannesburg seems to have retarded me. Or perhaps I'm being to harsh on myself. Perhaps I've gained perspective, something that is as alien to me as combed hair.
You see, I find myself feeling comfortable in this rural 'dorp'. I am actually liking it. I'm not saying the people have become better or that I have changed my attitude about some of the hairstyles here (no! never!), but somehow I feel a little less judgemental and a little more at home.
So, here is a list of things I like: (I might have mentioned this before, some of the points, but by reiterating I'm putting emphasis on the points, and this blog, is afterall, a place I get rid of feelings)
* I love how close I am to my family. And if I want to see them, I simply run on over.
* Having 5 dogs and 5 cats is not something that can easily, or with a good conscience, be done in a city. Here, they always have company and we have enough space.
*It's quiet. When there is noise, it's so palable because of the silence. In Johannesburg, silence is just not possible.
*It is nice that people know you. Aside from the negatives of not really being able to get naked in the pub on the spur of the moment, without people you know winking at you for the next few decades, it's actually kinda cool to have people around who care, even for the wrong reasons. (Okay, this point is not very well made, I'm really still working on this)
*It's a literate 4 minute drive out to nature. To being alone. That is simply wonderful and not to be underestimated.
*Your own lack of uniqueness seems not to shabby compared to some of the characterless clods you share a town with. In Joburg you constantly see people who are prettier, richer, funnier, more settled, cooler than you.
*There is so little to buy. And so, you aren't constantly feeling you lack things. There are 3 shops and if they don't have it, you don't have it, and it's okay. In Joburg I found all the shopping malls so cloying and intimidating.
*People don't drive yellow Hummers. I mean. Please! What is up with that?
*Windhoek's airport is like a park in the desert. Then you land at OT Airport in Johannesburg and you want to faint!
*There is no smog.
*When your'e car breaks down you phone a friend. And it doesn't matter where it broke down, someone is there in half an hour. Try that on the N1 in Joburg. It took the police an hour to arrive, never mind the road-assistance.
*Nothing is more than 5 minutes away in town. Now that, my friends, is awesome.
Okay. So I guess I could press this list to include a few more things. Naturally it's still not perfect here. But where is it perfect? And although it's still bloody lonesome here in the outback, I think I've finally found a few reasons to be okay with that.
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