ToJo in Japan: Okinawa Update

I thought you all would kick from this picture of the entrance to the US Marine Corps fitness center at Camp Hanson. Think of this place the next time you workout.

USMC Camp Hanson Fitness Center

All is well with us and life is indeed good in Okinawa. I’m sitting here in short-sleeves on a beautiful, sunshine-filled day. The temps are in the low 70s and the birds are filling the air with song outside. Not to rub it in, but we understand it has been pretty darn cold in the northeast.

Although there were opportunities to partake in traditional American Thanksgiving fare on the military installations, Joanne & I decided to forgo turkey & trimmings. Our household goods haven’t arrived yet so we are still using military issued kitchenware that doesn’t quite lend itself to preparing a big meal like Thanksgiving dinner. Our household goods should arrive in the next couple of weeks so most likely I’ll prepare a turkey dinner for the three of us during Nicki's visit. She arrives on Dec 19th and will depart on Jan 16th. We are trying to arrange a trip to Bali over Christmas although we are late in trying to book such a trip over the busy holiday season.

Okinawan Orchids

I don’t miss work or any of the chores that went with keeping up the house in Maryland. And there are no leaves to rake in a sub-tropical climate! I stay plenty busy here with keeping house, shopping, preparing nutritious meals for my working spouse so she stays strong and continues working and bird watching (Okinawa list is at 73 species).

Best of all is taking daily strolls and beachcombing along “our” beach down the street, gazing out over the turquoise-colored water or watching the sun set over the East China Sea. If you look closely at the sunset pictures you can see the Kerama Islands silhouetted 30 km in the distance. The time passes by quicker than I expected.