Convenience - Happy Dance!

I know this is a happy dance from a very abundant and first-world attitude but I HAVE INTERNET!! So happy! Living in a basement apartment, my phone service is rubbish, and with no internet, I have felt a bit isolated. That said I have gained a little perspective, probably very little, of what it is like to be without. Even though I am not attached to my phone, I use the internet regularly for work and study. Gratefully, the university is closed so I have spent a lot of time there but they are only open during certain hours. I work for a couple of companies out of Utah so the time difference means that I work evenings and having internet at home will be so much more convenient. I know convenience is another first-world perspective.

I have been thinking about that quite a bit lately. Moving to England has required some adjustment because those things that have been very convenient for me for so long are not or are but in a very different way. Let me explain.

For years I have owned a car and could easily drive to see family, attend special events and get where I needed to go, haul groceries, or a variety of other things. Now, I get around mostly on foot which I enjoy but it does make a few things challenging. Read one of my earlier posts on one noteworthy shopping adventure.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I cannot think of a time when I did not live close to a church meeting house and could walk there. I could walk to the church here but it is about an hour and 15-minute walk, and I have not attempted it yet. Uber is great and church friends have been kind enough to provide rides as well. I will do the walk one of these days when I have sensible shoes or boots. (I'd guess most of you know the types of shoes I like to wear) 

For the past 4 years, living in Logan, the temple has been less than two blocks from my home, and before that, it was an easy drive to get to a temple. If I had a car the drive to the London temple would not be bad, other than the fact they drive on the other side of the road, but I don't so I would need to go by bus or train. The bus and train are not direct and only go so far and then it is a considerable walk to the temple. I am fine with that process once I figure out when and where to catch the train(s) and which route(s) to take. My goal is to figure it out for this coming Saturday. Wish me luck!

Family nearby is not a convenience but a blessing. I have always lived close enough to my family that spending time with them happens regularly and quite easily really, even with those who live on the opposite end of the state or those a few hours away. Zoom is a huge blessing and makes it possible to spend quality time with my family on an even more regular basis.

I am so grateful for those things that bring me joy and connect me with the humans who are most important to me, all of you!

​PICTURES:
I could live on this picturesque street in Hampton Wick
More of the Thames. The rowing clubs use this stretch often and there are teams of all ages and demographics. Watching the rowing teams is fascinating and very peaceful. I would really love to try it.
For those of you thinking about a "green - environmentally friendly" car here is a great option! Good thing it is faux turf, not sure how you would mow it...
In the middle of the row houses, estates like this can be seen nestled behind stone walls, and the gates were open I didn't scale the wall for this picture.
Parking for apartments on the shores of the Thames.
The view, or Zoom backdrop from yesterday, from the 5th floor of Kingston's Town House building on campus.