This day by the lake went too fast

I've pretty much known I was going to use that line for this entry for about as long as I've been in Taupo. Which is nearing the end, it is. Which is incredibly sad. And crazy. I remember when stopping for 3 months (more, actually - I got here at the end of November) seemed like way too long. I remember the first time I walked into work, and the first time I toured my house, and even getting off the bus when I first got here. It feels like ages ago and yesterday at the same time. And I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Even including that one day where I felt horribly homesick and the horrible day at work when I told Bridget I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. But I should stop getting sentimental. It's bringing me down. And no one else is home right now to make me laugh.
So. Saturday was the New Zealand Ironman. My first weekend here was Cycle Challenge and my last is the Ironman, so that's some big-sports symmetry there. I didn't get up to see it start, but a bunch of my friends did and I would have, had I not slept through my alarm. It's completely crazy, but also awesome. We listened to it on the radio all day and then at work you could see people running by on their way to the finish line. And they don't cut it all off until midnight, so when we went out last night, there were people still running to the end. I ended work today with these totally crazy Irish girls who apparently didn't understand the concept of a menu, because they sure as hell couldn't order off of it. And I was so close to telling them they were insane, because it's my last day and it doesn't really matter if I upset some random customers. I didn't, though. Tonight I'm going out with some coworkers, which is pretty cool because last night I went out with flatmates, so I get to spend loads of time with everyone.
Tomorrow, I'm moving out at 11am. But I'm secretly staying on the couch for another night because it's better for me to leave on Tuesday. Then I'll probably do a night in Wellington, then it's (finally!) over to Picton, where I might spend a few days. The South Island! I'm so psyched, when I'm not really sad about it. It goes back and forth, you know. And then on Friday I'm going to Kaikoura, and I'm going to meet up with LISA and spend a fun weekend. After that, I'm really in the dark. And, I mean, I don't even have concrete plans for all of THAT yet. Ah, well. It's exciting and scary and very similar to coming to New Zealand in the first place, in that I'm completely unprepared but I know I have to do it and I really just want to pout and crawl into bed and forget about this whole traveling idea again. This leaving business is very difficult. Seriously. However, if I had some sort of self-esteem problem, I could totally fix it here. All the damn time, people are like, "Don't leave." "What if you didn't leave?" "Stay." (PS thanks for getting Lisa Loeb stuck in my head) "When are you coming back?" Not to mention all the snide remarks about Christchurch. Lisa, did you know that Christchurch is, like, the worst place in the world? I did! All the time I hear it! "Why go to Christchurch? It's cold there. People are mean. I think someone just got killed there. Violently. People die there all the time. Isn't Taupo lovely?" A new girl just moved here from Christchurch and someone was like, "Do you like Taupo?" and I walked by and she was like, "It's better than Christchurch!"
Also, there are bribes and stuff. Seriously, if you people tried half as hard as these people are to get me not to leave, I never would've come to New Zealand in the first place.

So yeah. It's very, very difficult, leaving. But I'm so excited! Even if I can't meet up with my friends with cars, I can travel on my own for a bit. And my friend Helen texted me the other day and so I might try and meet up with her. It won't be so bad whatever I do. I just need to see stuff, you know? I'm going to miss Taupo like hell, though. Who knew it'd wind up being this much fun? I feel like I could stay here forever. Good friends, nice home, decent job that keeps me there at all hours. You can't argue with it.

Anyway, I feel like I should be packing my time with all the things I meant to do in Taupo but haven't done yet. I never took a cruise around the lake, but the weather's been horrible lately. And really other than that, I just wanted to go skydiving. It's unbelievable to me that I've been here over 3 months. I never imagined that. I still remember the day I moved into my house. When I texted little fencers and then walked all around with bare feet and then watched SkyTV for hours. Time is flying. It's been over a month since Kira and everyone moved out, and I feel like it's been like a week (although I simultaneously feel like I've known the new flatmates for ages by now). I was here through summer vacation! You remember how long that felt when you were a kid? But it just flew by for me. Christmas and everything. I still have pictures from Christmas on my camera. I need to upload some of those, I think, before leaving.

This entry is pointless, but I feel like I need to say goodbye to Taupo on here now, or else I won't. And, I mean, over 3 months? It's been a not-insignificant portion of my life spent here. And I've loved it. And I'm so, so excited about where I'm going next, but I'm going to miss the hell out of the people here. And it's sort of comforting to have a home-away-from-home. Sure, I'm giving up my home home here, but it's reassuring to know that if all else fails, there's a place for me here.

Anyway, I need to eat something because I haven't in a while, and I need to pack because I have to move out in 18 hours (well. Move my stuff into Natalie's room, at least). And then I need to have some fun. God, I love it here. But I love you people, too, and I miss you, too, so clearly I can work through it. And anyway, who knows what's next? God, that sounds like such a silly thing to say, but really. Who even knows what's next.

Shit I'm scared.