Counting our blessings

Written by Warren |Posted on November 21, 2008 | Comments

What is it that we love about this place?

We live in the country, as Hazel would put it, “in the outbacks”. While basic amenities are available to us, there are also a good number that are not. We are both “citified” individuals, we used to live and breathe the city life. But what made us embrace the life that we have now?

Out here, we have our own personal masseuse. For a ridiculously cheap price, we can afford her services on a regular basis and the package does not come with just a cheap tag price and top quality service compared with the different spas I have visited in Manila, it also comes with a service provider who is not a stranger to us. She is someone we know on a personal level, someone we talk to not just to point our aching muscles or joints to but also to ask how her day had been or how her kids are doing in school.

We only have to step foot outside our front door to welcome the view of the big field that sits just outside our gate. We can feel the wind each time it would blow and we just know that we could take it all in because it is less polluted than the air we used to breathe in when we were still in the city. We have quit using our air conditioning unit as well because the wind is enough to make us want to crawl under thick sheets at night.

We don’t have to pay big bucks to get a good view of the stars at night, or of the clouds during the day because here, we have all that for free. We only have to look out the window to see God’s magnificent handiwork, best of all, Hazel and I can stargaze while lying on our own bed. Do we count the stars? No, out here, there are just too many that to even attempt counting them would be absolute folly. We have a choice on whether we want our breakfast served in the garden or inside the house. We get to enjoy after breakfast conversations while sitting it out with Bruce by the front yard, coffee in hand.

Yes, we get to have our fill of nature’s beauty out here. Bike trails are everywhere, but very close to us is one that is also frequently being visited by veteran cyclists. Hazel and I started cycling as another form of exercise and we are both more than thankful because we know that we are pumping clean air into our system. About two kilometers away from our home sits a badminton court where we can play from 6AM to 6PM for only P80/person. We also heard that there is a forest-like area nearby where we can either bike or hike. In the village, we have a basketball court that is available for free. This romance with nature doesn’t end there, we only have to bike our way to the next subdivision to enjoy a feast of breathtaking mountain views.

We have a deep well where we can pump water out from to cut down on our regular water bills, we have our own garden where Hazel putters around to plant her favorite orchids and various fruit trees. She has also started her own herbal garden in our backyard. If anything is broken and needs repair, we can call on several friendly handymen who are always willing to help us, sometimes they would accept payment for their services, other times they would just wave their hand at us, smile and tell us that we don’t owe them anything. A neighbor gives us freshly harvested vegetables from his own vegetable garden. From time to time, because of our “ignorance” in country-living, we would need assistance and our neighbors are always more than happy to come to our aid. We have our own maid and a dog that we play with. Our bills are cheaper than average and so is food and other basic necessities.

Hazel also just launched her own small food business and so far, it was well received and its future is also filled with promise.

On top of all, we have Bible studies during Mondays and Tuesdays.

What is it that we love about this place? Everything! God has been gracious to us, we are truly blessed to be living the “good life”.
- Post co-authored by Hazel