This is where I am: Marlborough

 Distances to my favorite places/people/dogs as the crow flies:

Knoxville: 8366 miles
Tahoe: 6970 miles
Phoenix: 6986 miles

So far!

Beijing, China: 6431 miles, but it sounds better if you put it in kilometers because it sounds further: 10,349 km.  Oh, so nice.

Life can be oh, so tough.  Here is a map and the 411 on my location.  I am outside of Blenheim in a tiny village called Renwick in the province of Marlborough on the northwest of the south island of New Zealand.  Life is good here.  The sun shines, though this summer has been fairly cool I am told, and mountians loom in all directions, the sea is close and the grapes are growing.  Yum.  Work in the winery starts tomorrow so my life will change a little bit but, I will still be loving every minute.  I hope you are too.

I ride through vineyards on flat straight streets, taste fresh picked pears and laugh at funny sheep in this small horticultured town.  This area is the most famous for grapes in NZ and touts a fairly reputable name as a wine growing region throughout the world.  I feel lucky to have this opportunity...and to drink it too! Cheers, mates!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlborough_Region