Thirty years later

Today is an anniversary I’d never thought all that about much until it started getting closer. I mean I knew it was approaching, of course, but it’s only been this year that I started thinking in detail about it. Today, then, is what I think is a truly significant anniversary: Thirty years ago today, on November 2, 1995, I arrived in New Zealand to live and Nigel and I began our life together. This was our original anniversary as a couple, precisely because it’s when “we” began, and so, even thought we gained two more after the original one, we always still noted this date. Now that Nigel is gone, this particular anniversary is, for me, even more about the fact that I’ve lived in New Zealand for three decades—that, and how much I wish Nigel could be here with me celebrating three decades together.

In last year’s post I asked:

“Does the fact that perhaps [30] sounds more significant mean that one celebrates the 30th anniversary of being in a place? What about in 2031 when the number of years I’ve lived in New Zealand will equal the total number of years I lived in the USA? Or, does it become even more more significant the following year when the number of years I’ve lived in New Zealand will be greater than the number of my years living in the USA? For the record, I’ll be 72 and 73 in those two years—assuming, of course.

Yes, a 30th anniversary really does feel more significant, but just as there was no way for me to know for sure I’d be her for this one, there’s no way I know if I’ll be here in 2031 or 2032, though, for the record, I expect to be—or maybe I assume I will be is more accurate? The fact I can (and do) assume I have many anniversaries yet to experience is directly related so something else I said last year:

So, as I also said last year, “Even as I rebuild myself and my life, everything about this date is, and will remain, directly connected with Nigel. I’m so very glad it is, too.” Indeed. But I’m glad that a huge part of my life is also about loving in New Zealand. I have Nigel to thank for that, too.

Happy main anniversary, sweetheart.

Footnote: Something I’ve never mentioned before was that the Number One song in New Zealand the day I arrived was ”Gangsta's Paradise” by American rapper Coolio. Because this week also has an entry in my Weekend Diversion – 1985 series of blog posts, here’s the chart information, like what I add to those posts: “Gangsta's Paradise” reached Number One in Australia (3x Platinum), Number 29 in Canada, Number One in New Zealand (3x Platinum), Number One in the UK (5x Platinum), and Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100” chart (3x Platinum).

Previously:

Twenty-nine years later (2024)
Twenty-eight years later (2023)
Twenty-seven years later (2022)
Twenty-six years later (2021)
Twenty-five years later (2020)
Twenty four Years (2019)

Posts from happier years:
Twenty Three Years Together (2018)
Twenty Two Years Together (2017)
Twenty One Years Together (2016)
Twenty Years Together (2015)
Surreal 19th Expataversary (2014)
Eighteen (2013)
The day that really mattered (2012)
Sweet sixteen (2011)
Fifteen (2010)
Fourteen (2009)
Lucky 13: Expataversary and more (2008)
Twelfth Anniversary (2007)
Eleven Years an Expat (2006)

Related:
Ex, but not ex- – A 2006 post about being an expat
Changing policies and lives – A 2011 post about becoming a permanent resident
12 years a citizen – A 2014 post about becoming a NZ citizen