How does your garden grow?

It's no secret to anyone who knows me or has read my blog in the past that I have a dream (dare I say, a plan) to live near the sea again. I find access to the ocean is almost as important to my wellbeing as air and chocolate.

In recent years I've spent a lot of time thinking about what defines my ideal living environment and as I stand on the brink of a new move - the apartment I live in is being sold - I've been revisiting this. The list of criteria is not very long and I'm not sure I'll meet all the conditions in this most imminent move. It remains important to me to keep them in sight though. At the moment the list looks like this:

~ near the sea, preferably within sight and smelling distance (but at most an hour away)
~ no more that 12 hours flying time from my farthest heart-family (and preferably no more than an hour from an international airport)
~ reliable, high-speed internet access (essential to work, contact with the world beyond my immediate borders and Netflix)
~ windows that open (I was recently shown an apartment that, like many hotel rooms, didn't have this option. I was assured that the environment is climate-controlled by air-con but I can't bear the thought!)
~ some outside space (even if only a tiny balcony or access to a communal garden)
~ ready access to public transport or space to store a bicycle (I hate to drive)

During a recent conversation with my sister on the subject, a new criterion crystalised...

~ a place where frangipani and hibiscus thrive

This may be difficult to achieve unless I move a bit closer to the tropics (for at least part of my year) but it is now officially on the list!