在人生之路意外轉向之際，她開始尋找激勵人心的新目標。

　　二○○二年，我從沒想過的事情突然發生了：我和我的伴侶結束了我們長達十二年的關係──我們原本計畫要共度餘生。我的家和工作也隨著這段關係的結束而化為泡影。難怪人們總說禍不單行。

　　我原本愜意的生活一去不復返，未來也不怎麼光明。我原本打算退休後住到海邊，現在這個夢想只能擱置一邊，也許永遠無法實現了。我一下子變成了單身一人，孤立無援，到了四十九歲的年紀還得到處找工作。我好像在森林裡住了十二年，出來時發現外面的世界早已天翻地覆。現在似乎連當服務生或刷馬桶都必須有資歷！

　　我需要一些時間，理順我的人生，於是我冒險在昆士蘭一個沒落的老金礦小鎮買下了便宜的房子。我想，礦業和日用品價格都在上揚，這個投資應該不會錯。

　　我錯了。這個地區的發展確實不錯，但僅有三千人口的摩根山鎮偏偏一蹶不振，還創下了全澳洲最高的失業率。開始找工作以後，我的樂觀性格又受到重挫。由於我剛來到鎮上，工作機會當然被排在最後一個。我別無選擇，只能接受遠在五十公里以外的零工，但伙食費和油錢又使我捉襟見肘。

　　我的境遇雖然不堪，但間或也有好事發生。停筆二十五年之後，我又開始寫作了，創作歌曲和小說。在前途渺茫之際，我反而能夠更專注於自己的目標。

　　孤獨會影響情緒，但我在孤獨中開始重新發現多年來生活中失落的種種。我開始大量閱讀和寫作，彈起了鋼琴，還拾回了中斷的學業。

　　在過去四年裡，我學習了創作、編輯和校對、以英語作為外語的教學等課程。學習這些課程幫助我度過了最難熬的時光。

　　我開始更留意人生的積極面，不再那麼關注其消極面。比如說，我對自己現在的這個家心懷感激。這個家也許和我夢中的海邊小屋相去甚遠，但畢竟有了可以遮風擋雨的屋頂，而且這是我自己賺來的。

　　我也很幸運，結識不少同病相憐的朋友。知道別人能夠深切體會我的處境，對我是個莫大的安慰。如果沒有這些朋友的情誼，我的生活會更加艱難。

　　我仍然十分懷念大海，但手頭拮据，不能直接開車去看海。於是我在本地報紙上登了廣告，表明自己願意在主人離家的時候幫忙看管海邊的房子。

　　我很幸運，有一個人家回覆了我的廣告。那真是我夢中的度假勝地，我的工作不過是照顧兩隻四腳朋友而已。去年，我在那裡待了一個星期，回來時覺得脫胎換骨，感到精神飽滿。後來我又去了兩次，照顧貓咪瑪吉梅和小狗艾莫。

　　現在，我已經完成了十首歌曲和一部科幻小說（配有有聲書），還獲得了教師資格證書，讓我越來越有成就感。不可思議的是，我房子的價格也大有進展：從我二○○三年買下這棟房子以來，房價已經上漲了三倍。

　　有人說幸運會降臨到有心等待的人身上，我完全同意。但一步一腳印地做事也很重要。如果過去就知道我現在所了解的東西，也許不會去做我曾做過的一些事情。但在人生旅途上一路走來，我對自己的了解更深，而且學到不少額外的東西。

　　多年來，我的伴侶完全主導了我們生活中的一切。我猜想，他可能覺得我一個人沒有辦法生活。但我能夠自力更生，我做到了，這讓我信心十足。知道自己有自力更生的能力，給了我勇氣和力量，使我能夠在生活之路上繼續前進。

　　如今，我即將踏上另一段旅程：到上海去教英文。中國正摩拳擦掌準備登上世界的大舞台，所有中國人都急著想學英文。對於像我這樣有英語教師資格的人來說，中國遍地都是機會。

　　離開我所熟悉的地方將是個挑戰，但冒險的感覺和無限的可能性讓我興奮不已。

　　二十一年前，我聽到澳洲歌手羅爾夫·哈里斯唱的歌，很想親眼看看歌中描寫的袋鼠和那個國家，於是我跳上飛機，從加州來到了澳洲。

　　現在，我又要再次搭上飛機，飛往異國的海岸。誰知道會發生什麼故事？我只知道，在我離開這個人世的時候，我的一生見證了「世事無常」這句老話。我不知道將來會發生什麼事，但我會一步一腳印地往前走。

　　作者現年五十四歲，過著快樂的單身日子，熱衷於漫遊，喜歡創作，但希望將來能在海邊定居。

　　In 2002, the unexpected happened. A 12-year relationship with the person who I had wanted to spend the rest of my life with came to an end. My home and job went with the package – don't they say that things come in threes?

　　My comfortable lifestyle was gone and the future didn't look too bright. My dream of retiring to a house by the sea had to be put on hold, perhaps ?forever. Overnight I found myself alone and struggling to find a job at age 49. I'd been living in the bush for 12 years and the world beyond it had changed dramatically. Now it seemed one needed a qualification to wait on tables or scrub toilets!

　　I needed time to get my life back in order so I took a gamble on some cheap real estate in an old Queensland goldmining town that had seen better times. With mining and commodities on the up, I figured I couldn't go wrong.

　　Well, I was. The region boomed but Mount Morgan (population 3000) whimpered along, boasting one of the the highest unemployment rates per capita in Australia. As I searched for work, my positive thinking was further dented. Being a newcomer to the town meant I was last in the job queue. I had no choice but to take casual work 50km away – the cost of food and petrol, though, had me near the end of my tether.

　　Dismal as all this sounds, good things happened as well. After a 25-year hiatus, I began to write again, both songs and stories. And, in the midst of a sea of uncertainty, I somehow kept my goals in focus.

　　Isolation can be hard on the spirit, but I began to rediscover aspects of my life with which I had lost touch. I started reading and writing more, playing the piano and took up studying again.

　　In the past four years, I've completed courses in creative writing, editing and proofreading, and teaching English as a second language. Doing these courses has helped me through the tough times.

　　I also began to focus on the positive instead of the negative. I'm grateful to own my own home, for example. ''Home'' may be a far cry from my dream house, but it's a roof over my head and it's paid for.

　　I have also had the good fortune to meet many kindred spirits along the way. I found comfort knowing that there were others who could relate to my situation; without their friendship, daily life would have been harder.

　　I did sorely miss the ocean, but couldn't afford to drive to the coast on my tight budget. So I placed an advertisement in the local newspaper offering to house-sit on the coast.

　　I got only one reply, but I was lucky. It turned out to be a dream getaway and all I had to do was look after two new four-legged friends. I returned after a week away last year with my spirits restored. I've subsequently gone back twice to the same place to take care of Maggie Mae the moggie and Elmo the pooch.

　　Now, after having written ten songs and a science-fiction fantasy novel (complete with accompanying soundtrack), and having gained a teaching qualification, I feel a growing feeling of accomplishment. Amazingly, my property looks to be moving ahead too: it's tripled in value since I arrived in early 2003.

　　They say that good things come to those who wait, and I agree. But it's also important to take things day by day. Knowing what I know now, I'd probably not do some of the things I've done again. But I've learnt a lot about myself and a few additional things along the way.

　　For years, my partner had complete control over everything in our relationship. I doubt if he thought I could make it on my own. But I did, and I'm better for it. Learning this about myself has given me the strength and courage to carry on.

　　Now I find myself on the verge of another journey: to Shanghai, to teach. China is gearing up for global events and its citizens are hungry to learn English, so opportunities are plentiful for people like me.

　　Leaving my comfort zone will be a challenge, but I'm very excited by the sense of adventure and possibility.

　　Twenty-one years ago I hopped on a plane from California to Australia after hearing Rolf Harris sing about kangaroos and wanting to see his country for myself.

　　Now I'm catching a plane again for foreign shores and who knows what will happen? All I know is that when my time comes to depart this world, I'll have personally lived the credo ''there is nothing more certain than uncertainty''. I don't know what the future holds, but I'll keep moving forward one step at a time.

　　Kim Greene, now 54 and happily single, is keen on her peripatetic, creative life, but hopes to settle down in the future by the sea.