About me ✨
I’m Ann, and MidLife Recode is my space to explore what 'recoding' midlife looks like for me.
I’m originally from Auckland, New Zealand, with two incredible young adults who continue to inspire me. Whenever they can, they join me on adventures—turning experiences into shared memories that fill my emotional bank account.
For over 20 years, my life followed a familiar rhythm: working in Corporate IT, raising kids, saving, and building toward “someday.” Travel was our constant—first as a trio exploring the world together, and now as a solo pursuit that’s become something deeper.
The turning point came in 2023 and I was 51. My daughter had nudged me to follow a long-held dream: an Italian language immersion. Three weeks in Catania, Sicily, changed everything for me.
I came home with new insight and drive, I felt emotionally full, alive, and ready to simplify—paring down possessions, shifting priorities, and working toward true time freedom.
Two years later, I’m now focusing on my own recode.
I've decided to travel, study and gain some formal qualifications in a new field that feels authentically me. I listen more closely to what feels right, immerse myself in new experiences, and just take time to breathe.
I don’t have all the answers—but I’m curious, open, and committed to living at a slower pace, with more movement, and finding joy in the simple things.
My guiding principles are: be kind, be humble, avoid gossip, and don't judge. Every person’s journey is unique—and that’s what makes it beautiful.
Photos on this site 📷
I’m proud to say that every image is original—taken with my trusty Samsung A24, my Panasonic digital camera, or kindly shared by my travel companion.
My spending style
Google tells me that I am a Smart Spender / Savvy Traveler
*Focuses on getting the most out of every dollar—choosing local eats, off-season travel, and well-researched experiences.
I’ve always been mindful with money.
I save hard, spend wisely, love a good bargain, and do my research before making decisions. I’m selective about what I choose—and even when things don’t turn out quite right, I try to find the positive.
I also know that I don't need a lot of possessions in order to be happy. As time goes on and in my recode time, I find that I need even less.
Italian
I continue to practice my Italian most days. It hasn’t come easily—I’ve learned that I’m a slow and steady kind of language learner. But I’ve also learned that consistency counts.
Lately, I’ve been focusing on the phrases I actually use. Things like “No busta, grazie” (no bag, thanks) or “Posso pagare con la carta?” (can I pay by card?)—the everyday expressions that I'm likely to need or hear in the supermarket.
I’ve filled pages and pages in my exercise book with familiar sayings, and I repeat them often, committing them into memory. It’s one thing to use apps like Duolingo or Busuu—they’re helpful for vocabulary and structure—but they don’t quite prepare you for real conversation. The pauses, the accents, the rhythm of speech. And Italians speak so fast!
Still, I’m committed. I can’t wait for the day when I can chat confidently, even if it’s just about the weather or what’s for dinner. Until then, ripetere, ripetere, ripetere (repeat, repeat, repeat).
Why ‘Recode’?
I chose “MidLife Recode” because it reflects both my background in IT and my passion for transformation.
In tech, to recode means to update the underlying instructions so a system runs better—more efficiently, more securely, more aligned with its purpose.
Midlife brings a quiet reckoning: we can feel stuck, overwhelmed, or simply ready for change.
Recode is about gently rewriting those internal beliefs, patterns and emotional defaults—so that life feels more intentional, authentic, and alive.
It takes courage, and it's not for everyone, but it can be pretty special.
If you’re navigating your own Midlife Recode (or want to), please reach out, I’d love to connect.