For us, the non-hip hippies, 2013 was a good year. And even though people tend to remember the good moments and forget the bad, I am pretty sure it was one of the best years of my life so far. Sure enough, living abroad, I missed my friends and family a ton, especially when we had happy news to share. Skype needs a realistic virtual hug version as soon as possible (well, after they cure cancer and stop wars, but you get my point, I hope).

2013 was filled with big life decisions.

We decided to move in together.

Our Kromstraat home I

Our Kromstraat home II

And then we decided to get married.

Our wedding invitations

Then we did actually get married. In the Netherlands. With our closest friends and family. And it was one of the happiest days I can remember.

10th of June 2013

Then it was time for our honeymoon.

First stop: Paris

Second stop: Athens

Third stop: Planhtero, Kalavryta

Fourth stop: Alexandroupolis, where the food was abundant and there were always vegan options for us!

Fifth stop: Istanbul

Then we came back to the Netherlands. But after a while we were ready for a short trip again. This time it was to Ghent, Belgium.

And after that, we decided it was time to move again. This time to Schiedam, close to Rotterdam.

And now, finally settled, we are even baking our first bun.

Bun in the bump

This year both of us had the chance to meet lots of new people and family members. We are grateful for all the love that we were shown.

It was also a year that involved some challenges, which helped us grow and work together as a couple to figure things out. In the end, we managed to do it, with great support from our family.

It was the year that we realized our African pygmy hedgehog is getting really old, with weak bones and cataract. But after a few vet visits, we now manage to keep him happy and pain-free.

Mr. Fthoggos, the Hedgehog.

And of course, this was the year that The non-hip hippies were founded!

We started out with a blank map and see how much love we have gathered from around the World! (countries with red are the ones with most views and light pink are the countries with a few views)

The top 20 of the countries that visit the non-hip hippies (stats from the day we started till today)

So even though most people -myself included- have the tendency to regard the old year as a bad one and wait full of hope for the wonders that the new one will bring, I feel the need to say “thank you” to 2013.

As for 2014, my primary personal hope and goal is of course to give birth and nurture our first kiddo with the help and support of my partner and keep living in peace with my love, our friends and family. I hope that this year will be even more creative and fulfilling in all aspects of life and that it will spare us unpleasant challenges and grief. And being Greek, I surely do hope to see my homeland progress and start getting out of that horrible crisis (even though I am not particularly optimistic).

I wish you all the very best and would love to read in the comments what parts of 2013 you loved, which parts you hated and what are your hopes, dreams and goals for 2014!