2012 has been quite the year. It’s easy to look on the six months of it that didn’t go as planned because of the accident and call the year a write-off.

But that’s not how I tally up a year. Rather, I look at where I was, where I wanted to go, and where I wound up. Doing that exercise makes it obvious that 2012 was one of the most successful years of my life.

I welcomed 2012 in an apartment while I was working for an outside company, albeit part-time and most definitely temporarily. For the year ahead, I wanted to finish winter with a journey eastward through the US, to spend the summer with my family, to continue growing my business, and to welcome 2013 from a warm spot in the US. I have done all of that. How can I not deem 2012 a success?

Sure, my eastward journey wasn’t uneventful and there was more stress this summer than fun. But the culmination of all that is that I am in the best place I have been in years.

The accident meant that I had to stay put for the summer and gave me the time to learn a new trade while upgrading my home. Except for a little paint, my good home is as done as it ever could be. It took 14 years of adult life to get the idea of ‘home’ right and to fall into a sustainable housekeeping routine. Now, I wake up every morning now contented with my space rather than bemoaning what needs to be done.

Even though I miss my little green car, I have to admit that I am happy with my new rig and consider it to be superior to my old one in many ways. Could that old codger’s misdoing have been a blessing in disguise? It’s starting to feel that way.

But most wonderful of all, because of this new solid foundation to my life, I am parked in my best friend’s driveway for the holiday season. A few days from now, I am going to be heading for the Gulf coast where I will finally get to sit on a beach and drink wonderful rum-based drinks out of coconuts and snicker at all those silly Canadians who choose to winter in snow and sleet. And I missed Snowmaggedon 2012!

I can only look at 2013 with hope because 2012 ends with so much promise. Happy new year indeed!