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I hate this place...

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Tuesday, 01 May 2007

We're not here because we're free. We're here because we're not free.

Humanity is a virus, and kayak fishing is the cure!

I hate this place. This zoo. This prison. This reality, whatever you want to call it, I can't stand it any longer. It's the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can taste it's stink and every time I do, I fear that I've somehow been infected by it. - Agent Smith

The Matrix is one of my favourite movies for a variety of reasons, not least of which for the many truisms it gently coats with a veil of science fiction. When I think about the way I feel about living in suburban Melbourne again, I think of the quote above, so eloquently delivered by Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. It perfectly describes how I feel and that, coupled with several other factors, is making the wait to departing on my Australian coastal kayak fishing expedition all the more enduring. Currently I'm living in the suburb of Cheltenham again after being forced out of my previous home in Emerald. Although it's damned good to be closer to the water again, I have to admit I do miss living in the country town environment. The thing I miss most is the clean air, which is pretty much non existant in Melbourne.

Don't get me wrong - I know it could be a lot worse. I've travelled to some horribly polluted cities in my time, including Mexico City, Taipei, Manilla, Mumbai and LA. That doesn't mean I don't notice the amount of cars on the road around here, nor the pollution they exude. Compared to living in Emerald, moving back to Cheltenham is like moving back into a gas chamber. As extremist as that sounds, the contrast is that noticable.

I really can't wait to see Melbourne shrinking into a dot in my rear vision mirrror come July. Not just because I'm so done with this place, but also because I can't wait to be free: something I haven't been since before I started paying taxes, or rent or mortgage repayments.

Freedom... elusive for oh so long. But now it's so close I can smell it. July can't come fast enough. I feel like an 8-year old waiting for Xmas all over again - the anticipation is killing me. Lets just hope the pollution doesn't kill me first.

As I write this blog the 2007 Easter weekend is about to commence and I'm sitting here weighing up my kayak fishing options. The weather looks promising so I'm tempted to head down to Wilsons Prom and try for some Yellowtail Kingies. I'm leaving it to the last minute, however, so my plans could well be thwarted by holiday makers in their Easter exodus. If so I might head down to Flinders, which I keep hearing good things about.