Note: If you are a bride getting married in Fiji skip to the bottom!
I am a big fan of a photographer — Me Ra Koh. She blogs frequently and also is a big encourager and teacher of women with cameras. Yesterday, her blog post was about unlocking those dreams that we have hidden deep inside. The ones that we don’t ever think can actually become a reality.
Well, the first place my brain went to was CCM (contemporary Christian music). That is not a secret dream, though, and there is just something within me that keeps pushing that forward. So, I don’t think that qualifies.
Today, I found a different post from yesterday. Posted by one of Me Ra’s business coaches (Fay). He dream is to spend the winter in her fave town in Mexico. Although my CCM dream blocked me from coming up with anything else yesterday, Fay’s dream reignited an old dream of mine that is totally what Me Ra was describing.
I don’t just want to spend the winter somewhere — I want to LIVE in Fiji.
It is a strong an irrational dream. I even spent about a week of time when work was slow researching what it would take.
Here is the irrational part — I have never been to Fiji! Ever. I have no idea why my little heart so longs to be there. But it does.
I know this is probably way more romantic than reality, but I crave a slower lifestyle. One that would keep me from going to the grocery store more than once a week because it takes an hour to get there; coffee in the salty air every morning; a gentle breeze in the afternoon as I work on a design for someone in the states; and inspiring views.
I know for a fact that it is a seemingly impossible dream for many reasons. First, the government there has been in turmoil for a while. Although I would want to be on a more secluded island far from the main island, there is still that nagging “do I want to take my children into that?”. Second, you have to come into the country offering something that a native Fijian can’t already do. Which is a good rule. I certainly don’t want to come into a country and take away the business of someone that was born there! And last, you have to have a fat bank account. First, they want you to be able to support yourself until you get settled and second, be able to send your butt home if it doesn’t work out. 
The good news with this dream is that I think it has a long shelf life. I mean, if I can’t make it work now, I could still see myself uprooting and heading to live the beach life in 10 years. Or even 20.
So here is the (possibly temporary) compromise: I need to shoot a wedding or two in Fiji!
Are you getting married in Fiji or know someone who is? Bring me along! Do your own research, but from what I have read you will get a better deal (and possibly better shots) by paying for my flight, a room, and food. That’s all I want.
Check it out and hit me up!
Love it Carol Anne – way to put it out there! I also felt sick when I posted my blog this morning
I can tell you first hand Fiji is beautiful and would certainly offer the slower lifestyle you crave. And if you get bored you can pop on a plane to New Zealand and come shoot weddings there with me 
Look forward to seeing where this takes you!
Thanks, Linda! Your dream is SOOOOOO doable. And it seems like it is so close for you! I know it probably doesn’t feel that way, but from an outside perspective, that’s what it looks like!
Oh, and New Zealand was my #2 pick.
It is so beautiful there! I would come and shoot with you in an instant (well, an instant plus the time it takes to renew my passport). 
Wow Carol Anne – what an amazing dream to have. If this dream has been sitting with you this long and you haven’t even ever been there, I would dare to say that maybe God has something for you in Fiji
Hi Carol Anne, that’s a great ambition, and way to put it out there…. we’ve lived in Fiji for near five years ago, and I do actually work here as a photographer (husband is in the tourism industry) -I have been “employed” by an established Fijian photographer. It IS beautiful and the people are fun, open and loving. To be honest a lot of what you hear about the government turmoil, especially in the NZ and Australian media is exaggerated, and it certainly doesn’t affect us; conversely we try not to make it our business and probably don’t have a right to have an opinion on it either…. having said that like any third world country the bureaucracy is incredible and any attempt to get permits etc can wrap you up in months of red tape if you’re unlucky (regardless of who is running the country!). It’s hard to get photography equipment here, or even associated products like printer inks. try getting a fast cf memory card! You can’t…. and a recent minor fault with my macbook took 8 weeks in the shop…
But I’m not writing to put you off! There are some great photographers here and we’re very friendly! so thanks for not panning us or the quality of our work. When you get your destination wedding-shoot over here drop me a line and I’ll meet you off the plane for coffee and some local know-how,
cheers,
meg
PS some recent shots of ours in Fiji are on the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TokmanImagez , and there’s some Fiji shots on my blog….