Just saw this post so I'll chime in.
My name is Scott. I'm a 54-year old expat American living in New Zealand. I came here 2 years ago after my marriage fell apart to work for some new-found friends, dropping absolutely everything I had in the States. A series of medical and family issues involving my new friends left me without a home or job. Fortunately I relied on my American driver license (CDL) and converted it to a New Zealand Class 5. I'm now a truck driver here, living what I call 'the dream.' I consider myself to be semi-retired as I may still be working, but it sure as hell ain't work. I'm happy and healthy, and living in one of the most gorgeous countries I've ever imagined. Plus someone pays me a decent wage to play at a 'hobby', seeing more of this country every day.
I've no pets and no partner, so my life pretty much consists of heading out early in the morning, coming home late in the evening (many times 15 hours later), fixing something to eat, and sitting down to a little golf here before bed. It's quiet, but it's all good. I like a little scotch on occasion and a good dark beer now and then. I used to smoke but dropped it 14 years ago so my vices are limited to this game and a touch of the brown liquid.
My first car was a '58 Volkswagen Beetle with a roll-back, canvas sunroof. Fantastic ride back in Arizona. I had to leave it behind when the fam moved to northern Indiana, whereupon I came into the possession of a '73 Datsun 610. Both vehicles a touch on the small side (I stand 6'7), but both were mine and adored.
I played high school sports (basketball and baseball), turning basketball into one that helped pay for university. I say 'helped' in that it got me the education at a small midwestern college where I had an on-campus job for $$. To me, playing ball in college was the $hit. I loved it and continued playing afterwards for another 15 years, until a repaired knee parked me on the sidelines. I've since become involved in coaching youth over here to keep my Jones fed.
I programmed computers for 12 years after uni allowing me the flexibility to take up golf. Talk about an addiction. I played whenever I got the chance, lowering my handicap to around10. The golf course became my refuge, where I found peace (Really??? Peace while playing golf?). Something about being outdoors, I guess. I left IT and landed in road construction, working outdoors year-round. Something about that caused the need to play golf to diminish, to where I played only once or twice a year, with close friends or my dad. It was replaced with fishing, and one could find me in my canoe, parked on a quiet little lake in search of the ever-elusive Larry for hours at a time, as my means to internal peace.
Let's face it... Life should be fun. Enjoyable. We've been given the capacity for joy. We should strive for it. I find it here with friends (as frustrating as this 'game' can sometimes get), and in my daily life. I'm hoping to meet some good friends along the way.
Great post, renni. Thanks for the chance to share. Hope to see you all on the course sometime soon.
Scott
aka loose