A turning point.
A pivotal moment.
Your make or break decision point.
Everyone has one. Crisis. Moment of reckoning.
Not necessarily negative, but colliding circumstances. Options that are comfortable and those less so. I have had mine, or should I say, we (Mr Wino and I) have had ours.
In a comfortable groove, going through the motions of life in the big city of Sydney, we cared and worked hard at our jobs. Time was squeezed as it always is between work, looking after house & garden, family, friends, eating out, and holidays. Foot firmly on the ladder towards a wine career, Mr Wino was already three years into his Wine Science degree at Charles Sturt University, rubbing shoulders with other budding young winemakers, also working in the field.
They say if you work hard, win friends, and influence people, that the ladder will open up for you like a staircase to climb.
But perhaps the staircase is forked.
One way will lead you further down the path you seek, the other, keeps you in your comfort zone with your toe just dipped into the water.
How do you decide in a moment of crisis? First instincts are to go with your instincts, and roll with your gut feel when presented with your options.
Three years into a winemaking degree, we knew that a transition to a hands-on career in a winery was the goal. Still, it is a shock when opportunity comes, welcome though it is.
Especially when the offer of a role as wine production manager is in another state. In the country. And I was a city girl.
Thus creates the crisis – we both want to take the step forward, but what must we leave behind? Our home, for one, which we built together from a block of land, covered in bushland (we saved all the trees). Our friendship circle, mine especially was based 100% in Sydney. Our family, most of which lived in Sydney too. The places we love, are also not to be underestimated.
Then there was my job.
Would I lose my job? How would I bring up the move with my boss? How certain were we that this was right?
It felt right. Moving to McLaren Vale. Even from afar, we knew where we wanted to live immediately, in the tiny, historic township of Willunga, and so we set about looking for accommodation as soon as the offer of employment for Mr Wino was signed.
Crunch time. We had decided. Life started to flow down one fork in that road. Heart pounding in my throat, I broached the topic of the impending move with my boss. “Well then, you must get a divorce!” he exalted. Frazzled, I asked “what?!” Secretly wondering, do I want to know what comes next?
“Well” said he, “You have two choices, either you go, or you get a divorce”, then he leant back and smiled. “I’ll go!” I nearly shouted and he said, “Alright then.”
And that was it. Done and done. Well, with a little more clarification about whether I would work from the Adelaide office, or from home (I’ve found a balance between both, part time at each).
All obstacles in our way were clear.
A date was set.
Removalist truck booked.
Deep breaths taken.
Boxes begged, borrowed and then packed.
Farewells made.
We were a team. Marching down a new road. Taking a chance, a rather big chance, on a dream. Full of doubt and worry, but also excitement. I had always wanted to live in a different city, and didn’t know how to make it come about. Yet here it was, with a golden opportunity for Mr Wino to kickstart his career in wine.
We held hands.
And we leapt.
This was my (first!) entry in the Monthly Wine Writing Challenge #MWWC18 hosted by Drunken Cyclist.
If you liked it – vote for me to win the wine writing challenge!
Love! What a great finish!
Great post! This was my first month writing in the challenge as well. What a starting topic, huh? I feel that way about the ladder myself. Sometimes it feels a bit more like the game ‘Chutes and Ladders’–do you have that in Australia?– where there’s ladders, sure, but land on the wrong spot and you go back a few steps, and hopefully not more than just a few. Bravo for taking a leap and I wish you both the best of luck.
I found this a bit late, but enjoyed reading your entry. They say if you’re dreams don’t scare you then they aren’t big enough. So happy to meet another wine lady that goes for it. Cheers ~
It sounds like you made the right decision! I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures in Willunga 🙂
Awesome! Loved the read, it made my day especially after we (Mr Sommelier Chef and I) took the plunge a few years ago moving from Canada to France to pursue our passions. Scariest thing we ever did. Can’t say it’s always been easy but I wouldn’t change it for all the wine in the world!
Thanks Di! Taking a leap of faith doesn’t always end with a happy ending, so I am glad that we have both been lucky. Cheers to that!
Oh Louise, this is gorgeous! I’m so glad your tale has such a happy ending too. How brave you both were to make that leap. I hope I get to leap sometime 🙂
Thanks Nicole! Whatever you turn your hand to, I know it will be a success. Just grab Mr Chips’ hand and take the leap. At the very least, it will be a learning experience!! 🙂 PS Labels were printed while we were away, we’ve done up a few sample bottles. SQUEE!!