Early morning thoughts from my balcony

The clock just struck 8:15, and I'm sitting on my balcony with what might be one of my last cups of proper Norwegian coffee at home. The clouds are hanging low over Kristiansand this morning, and there's a gentle drizzle in the air. The weather app says it'll be raining properly by 9:00, which feels fitting somehow - as if the sky is already missing me.

I've been up since 5 AM, unable to sleep. The reality of yesterday's announcement is still sinking in. My inbox is flooded with messages from colleagues at the hospital, mostly variations of "are you crazy?" and "I wish I had your courage." Maybe they're right on both counts.

The old birch tree outside my balcony is swaying slightly in the breeze. I've watched it through so many morning coffees that I've lost count. It's funny how you start noticing these familiar things more intensely when you know you'll be leaving them behind. The way its leaves catch the morning light, even on a cloudy day like this, creating a sort of natural morse code as they flutter.

My backpack sits by the door, packed for the fourth time since midnight. 65 liters suddenly feels both too much and too little for 500 days. I keep taking things out, putting them back in, wondering if I really need that extra power bank or if three pairs of socks will be enough. The technical side of my brain wants to optimize everything, but there's no debugging tool for packing anxiety.

The temperature's hovering around 15°C - a typical August morning in Kristiansand. The forecast shows it climbing to a whopping 19°C by mid-afternoon, and I can't help but smile thinking about how I'll probably be complaining about the heat in Amsterdam next week. We Norwegians are particular about our weather complaints.

I should probably start my day properly - need to visit the bank, double-check my travel insurance, and finalize the handover documents for work. But for now, I'm just sitting here, watching the clouds roll in over the city I've called home for so long, trying to memorize every detail.

498 days to go. The number feels enormous and tiny all at once.

P.S. To the friend who messaged asking if I'm having second thoughts - no, just first-time jitters. Some system updates are more significant than others, and this one's a complete OS overhaul.

#kristiansand #norway #500daysofwanderlust #morningthoughts #pretravel