A few short days ago the second anniversary of me moving to Vancouver Island came and went. May 28th, to be precise. The day itself was damp, cloudy and cool (like most days this spring) so I didn’t do too much to celebrate. But TODAY my friends, was another story. Sunny and 20C by 9 in the morning?! I was off like a shot, to Neck Point Park…one of the first places in Nanaimo my daughter and son-in-law took me to, two years ago.
I know I’ve shot this view many times already, but I just never tire of the composition…
I should probably mention that I injured the IT bands on both legs a few weeks back, and am seeking treatment from a physiotherapist to help resolve the issue. The issue being burning pain on the outer sides of each knee area when I kneel down, and just very grouchy “touchy” knees in general. Knees that tire quickly and ache, especially after a hike. I am getting “dry needling” done as well as ultrasound treatment, and I am doing daily exercises at home, to help strengthen my knees and heal my IT bands. I’ve had to stop my exercise program as well as working towards the deep squatting goal (the most likely suspect) for now. And, also this –
Physiotherapist: You need to avoid walking on uneven surfaces for the time being.
Me, today:
I’ve tried to be good, I really have! But. The. Weather!!!
And this:
The “neck” of Neck Point, revealed by the outgoing tide. I really shouldn’t walk on all those slide-y stones and I really, really shouldn’t climb the rocks.Umm. Somehow I managed to end up here, anyways. 🤷♀️
Other cool stuff I saw this morning:
I seal you! Lots of these guys basking in the sun and slowly cruising the waters today.So many shades of blue.Thimbleberries in flower.Native trailing blackberry too.Salal is flowering.Blue camas is almost done flowering for this year.Saskatoon berries still need some time. Rocky shores.A mackeral sky speaks of rain on the way. Quelle surprise!Looking south.I was enjoying the fine views and weather. Knees be damned.Nootka rose and bee.Poppies.Typical Vancouver Island east coast shoreline.One of the stunning views from the trail.I might be icing my knees tonight, but I’m all smiles for now. Please don’t tell my physiotherapist.
It was so worth it, to get out to Neck Point Park today and check on all the plant life I encountered on my very first visit. Because of the cold spring, the berries aren’t ready for eating yet like they were two years ago. But I remembered where they all are, and will be back again in the weeks to come.
You might not be able to count on my knees, but you can count on that!
One year of waking up to seeing this view from my balcony while sipping my morning latte.
Dawn over the Salish Sea, with mainland mountains in the background.
One year of enjoying the freedom and…ahem…adventures that come with renting an apartment. Update: the Stompy McStompersons moved out at the end of February…and though others have since moved in, the noise from above is almost non-existent, in comparison! Heavenly….
Crazy M has been mostly quiet – so quiet that I wondered if perhaps she had finally been committed or incarcerated somewhere. But no…I have seen her driving in and out of the complex recently.
S (“Good Neighbour S”, I have dubbed him) continues to offer assistance and lets me know he is “on guard” and ever watchful of strange goings on in the building as well as Ye Olde Parking Lot. Speaking of…
About the only complaint I have currently is of meeting the same couple of old men in the hallway – enroute to the parking lot where they like to unfold lawn chairs in the shade of the arbutus trees, and take in the fresh air, daily. They continually apologize (4 times now!) for not wearing masks (as they are supposed to) when encountering me in the hallway.
Wearing as mask (as mandated, in apartment common areas) means never having to say you’re sorry, too.
One year of missing my family, and friends-that-feel-like-family… left behind in Ontario.
Surprise flower delivery this week from “The Boys” – my good friends Kenn and Jonathan – who moved into my old flat at my former building, back in Ontario.
One year of being able to spend more time with my daughter and her man.
One year of soaking in the stunning beauty of my new home (too many posts to link – feel free to explore on your own, by looking back at my posts of the last year!)
One year of walking down to the beach (5 minutes away), and finding treasures like this:
Sand art, artist unknown. At Departure Bay in Nanaimo.
One year of getting used to a much more relaxed vibe amongst my fellow citizens of Vancouver Island.
Graffiti seen, on one of my walks to and from the local shopping plaza. I’ve heard BC called the Left Coast and the Wet Coast, but Leaf Coast is a new one to me. It fits actually. Just ask the Party Bros. 😉
Two things that stood out for me immediately upon moving here:
There are SO MANY LIQUOR STORES here. Seriously, there is one a 10 minute walk up the street from me, and another one a 5 minute walk down the street from me. And there is one on just about every shopping plaza on this island! They are open from 9 am to 9 pm, seven days a week. And they offer loyalty programs!
The pace of life is so much slower and nicer here. It’s like stepping back in time about 50 years. People actually stop to talk to you (yes, even in a pandemic)…from random strangers to clerks in stores. They make eye contact and engage you in genuine, unhurried conversation. Once the shock wears off it’s actually very, very pleasant.
So many things have changed for me since I retired and moved here. Yet despite it all, I have remained the same as ever. Steadfast, unchanging…
Bwahaha!!!! 😉
I love living here. It was the right move at the right time, for me.
Rock on,
The WB
p.s. next week brings the June edition of the What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge, on Wednesday June 2nd, hosted by Donna and yours truly. Mark your calendars. Can’t wait to see what what’s on your plate!
Some pictures telling the story of my first January on my new island home…
Love these lines and shadows. On the beach at Parksville.Shadows on the sand, Parksville.Bridge in Nanoose BayDonna setting up to shoot me.View from Parksville BeachLooking towards ParksvilleForest bathing.More forest bathing. Photo by Donna ConnollyDonna on my favourite Departure Bay Log.Geese, awaiting the dawn.Dawn on Departure BayOutgoing Ferry, heading for Horseshoe Bay.Incoming, heading for the Departure Bay Terminal.Snowdrops blooming.Have never seen a kayak with an outrigger until now. Mainland mountains in January.Enjoying a London Fog on the patio at Drip Social. Resting my soaking feet, after an adventurous walk along the shore at high tide. 🙂New year; new hair. I had all my bleached locks cut off. Selfie taken in the bathroom.And I got one of those fancy ring lights, for Zooming and FaceTiming and such. For such remains the reality of life. See the blurring magicfakery trickery difference good lighting makes? I need to carry one around and shine it on me, always. Ah, zee glah-mour! 😉
In case it makes my friends back in Ontario feel any better, snow is in the forecast for this coming Sunday and Monday.
If you’ve been reading Ye Olde Blogge for a while, you may remember that I have been on a fruitless search for whale-sightings ever since Newfoundland. Either I was on the ocean and not seeing them, or I had tours booked that were cancelled at the last minute. It was kinda frustrating then, when the Thanksgiving Monday tour that had been booked with a company out of Duncan, B.C. was also cancelled at the last moment, due to not enough customers to warrant the excursion. Thanks to some quick-thinking by Donna of Retirement Reflections within moments she had us booked with Aboriginal Journeys, out of Campbell River. And thus the day was saved, in the most spectacular way, and the whale-sighting drought was over!
Let the pictures (and the videos) do the talkin’!
Captain Gary, of Aboriginal Journeys – our most affable and knowledgeable guide.The hopeful whale watchers – Donna, her husband Richard, and IIt was a beautiful afternoon to be out on the waterCommon muirs in the sunlightHarbour seals basking on the rocksCormorants
Captain Gary took us to a sea lion colonyYukon and his master helping Captain Gary scout us some whales!Two Humpback whales sighted! I was thrilled to hear “Thar she blows!” come over the marine radio. Yukon’s master had sighted some whales and we headed to where they were.
Pardon the unsteady camera but we WERE on a boat…the whales and sea lions were playing and feeding on herring together, Gary told us. We were lucky enough to witness a breaching whaleHumpback Whale waving goodbye, until next time!
Humble apologies to Paul Simon, for riffing on his song title. This (see below) is a great song from a timeless, stellar album that I still listen to, 47 (What?!?! How did that happen?!) years later.
One Man’s Ceiling Is Another Man’s Floor
Lyrics:
There’s been some hard feelings here About some words that were said Been some hard feelings here And what is more There’s been a bloody purple nose And some bloody purple clothes That were messing up the lobby floor It’s just apartment house rules So all you ‘partment house fools Remember: one man’s ceiling Is another man’s floor One man’s ceiling Is another man’s floor
There’s been some strange goin’s-on And some folks have come and gone And the elevator man don’t work no more I heard a racket in the hall And I thought I heard a fall But I never opened up my door It’s just apartment house sense It’s like apartment house rents Remember: one man’s ceiling Is another man’s floor I tell you, one man’s ceiling Is another man’s floor
And there’s an alley In the back of my building Where some people congregate in shame I was walking with my dog And the night was black with smog When I thought I heard somebody Call my name Remember: one man’s ceiling Is another man’s floor
I’ve been living on the island, in my new apartment home, for almost 3 months now. And, although not perfect, it is pretty damn good here. But as you might imagine, coming from my stand-alone aerie dominating the corner of a downtown block back in Ontario to being in the 2nd floor corner unit of 3 story apartment building has taken a bit of getting used to.
I have neighbours on 3 sides of me, and I’ve learned a lot about them in our time “together” so far.
Let me start at the beginning.
The first residents I met were the 2 young men (brothers) who are directly below my unit. They gave me a warm hello, welcoming me to the “community”, and admiring (at subsequent encounters) my shoes (Vans, tie-dyed) and my bag (Desigual) – both being very colourful and hippy-ish – as they are totally their vibe. They have a plaque on their door proclaiming “Far Out” in a 1970’s balloon-type font, for proof.
What can I tell you about these brothers? Well, they are fond of ye olde Wake and Bake ritual apparently, based on the smells wafting from their place. Any time of day, come to think of it. Mostly they have been surprisingly quiet, but occasionally they have friends over and get into the alcohol (as people do) and then the voices and the music rise in volume. I have dubbed them “The Party Bros”.
Directly above me on the top floor resides an older couple, whom I have yet to meet. However I feel like I am privy to their day-to-day lives through the lack of soundproofing between floors. I know which one is walking, where they are walking, and when they have their hyperactive grandchild(ren) over for the day/night. And especially when they are sliding open their balcony doors…it sounds like thunder; like they are moving heavy furniture; and my apartment actually shudders from this activity. I have dubbed them “The Stompy McStompersons”.
As a result of experiencing them in this way, I make sure to walk very lightly myself – on the balls of my feet – lest I inflict the same disturbance upon The Party Bros. I also open and close my balcony door sliders very gently. I am 100% convinced that the McStompersons are completely unaware that their activities can be so damn annoyingloud noticeable, as they have no one living above them.
The next neighbour I met was an English lady who lived (has since moved back to England, with her hubs) on the first floor of my building. Let’s call her Lady Di. Lady Di was walking her dogs (not allowed here, I thought?) and waved up to me while I was sitting on my balcony. We got to chatting and she invited me over to her place for a socially-distant glass of (please bring your own) wine. Over wine, Lady Di proceeded to offer her condolences to me as apparently I live right next door to someone who is “starkers”. Let’s call her M.
M, a slight South Asian woman, has apparently had the police called on her multiple times due to her habit of singing and raging in the middle of the night in her apartment and in the parking lot. Sometimes alone, sometimes with the man she lives with. Can confirm all of the above. More on M, later.
Anyhoodle, back to Lady Di…I was invited back for another socially distant visit – this time a BBQ – and this time with her hubs in attendance as he was now back home for good, having finished with his job in Alberta. Hubs pounded back at least 1/2 a dozen beers during my 90 minute visit. Astonishing.
I felt the need to reciprocate the hospitality so invited them over to my place for an evening, before they left the building (and the country). Lady Di and Hubs arrived – him with a little cooler of beers, her with what was left of a box of wine, as the standard had been set to bring your own drinks – and our evening commenced.
Lady Di asked me what I thought about the legalization of marijuana. Weed and its odour is a common topic of discussion with just about all my neighbours, and all with reference to The Party Bros. I told her bluntly that I would rather be trapped in a room full of stoners than a room full of drunks, ANY DAY. Much less shouting, fighting and disharmony in general! Hubs immediately agreed and then added that he occasionally, inexplicably (really, queen!?!) descends into an uncontrollable rage when drinking. WHILE HE IS SITTING IN MY HOUSE. WITH A DRINK IN HIS HAND.
Gentle reader – remember how I mentioned on ye olde blogge previously how my dad was one of those guys too? Imagine how triggered I was by this confession.
Somehow the evening was got through without my place or self being trashed by the Hubs (who – full disclosure – behaved in an exemplary manner all evening). And now they are gone and I don’t have to ever explain why going forward he will be no longer be welcome in my home when drinking.
After Lady Di, the next neighbour I met was J. J lives on the 3rd floor and has the most amazing balcony garden, that also flies the Pride flag. I was looking forward to meeting J, as who doesn’t need more gay men in their life? My best male friends in the entire world are the most lovely couple, my former tenants, who have enriched my life beyond measure. In my opinion they set the standard for healthy relationship goals for anybody, no matter your orientation.
Back to J. J is unlike any gay man I’ve come across. In observing him around the complex I have to say that J “outheteros” any hetero male I’ve ever met, in terms of (lack of ) attention to dress and displaying uncouth behaviours while outside, on the grounds below my place. Behaviours such as yelling up to Mr. McStomperson details about his…um… “romantic” life, and hawking loogies and blowing snot rockets in the parking lot.
My hetero male readers are of course excluded from this generalization – refined, tasteful beings that you all are.
Next I met the neighbour directly across the hall from me. S is a salt-of-the-earth guy and H, his partner is a lovely young lady. S also had to bring up the weed smell and asked me what I thought of it. I told him truthfully that I enjoy occasionally partaking of the devil’s lettuce and that the smell doesn’t bother me. Truth be told, I like the smell. He also mentioned M and then told me that he was available if I ever needed any “help”. Any time. Day or night, I was just to knock at his door and he would be there for me.
Ummm, thanks, I think? Very nice offer. But WHY DID YOU FEEL THE NEED TO MAKE IT???WHAT KIND OF PLACE HAVE I MOVED INTO?!?!?
S also expressed thanks to his god, upon meeting me, that finally there was another “normal” person living here.Fooled another one! Hehehe…
And finally: While my friend Joanne was visiting, I actually got to meet M, in the hallway outside of our respective doorways. We introduced ourselves, and I didn’t let on that I had already been warned by multiple neighbours about her cute-as-a-button little self. M proceeded to tell me about the former occupant of my place – a retired guy (physicist, I think she said) who was quite the loner, and who died in his (my) apartment. How long before anyone found him, one can’t help but wonder. Thankfully my apartment was completely renovated from top to bottom before I moved in…
With a glint in her eye, M said “That doesn’t bother you, does it?”
M then told me to be sure to let her know if things ever got loud at her place, and we parted. Bitch, they already have and you know it.Yeah, sure. This ain’t my first apartment rodeo and I’ve heard that song before from previous inconsiderate neighbours. It’s always the noisy ones who tell you to let them know if they are bothering you, and then you do, and nothing changes and you end up having to call the police on them anyways.
Different people have opined that I should speak to my neighbours or building management about my noise issues. I’ve thought about it (and I may yet feel compelled to do so), but so far I haven’t felt the need to take it to that level. I also do feel for apartment pariah M who, according to my neighbours, has very real mental health issues. She is apparently on her 3rd strike with the police and will be hauled away to the clink at the next transgression, if what my neighbours are gossiping to confiding in me is accurate. For now, my thinking is that these nuisance behaviours don’t happen all that often and are just a by-product of living in close quarters with others. Also, I’m retired, and can always take a nap if my sleep gets shorted and even if it doesn’t…hehehe!
Besides, then I wouldn’t have these stories to tell. 😉
About 3 weeks ago now, I had my first houseguest to my new Island home: my friend Joanne, of Following a Bold Plan fame. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Vancouver Island bloggers I know were practically jumping out of their skins with excitement in anticipation of her arrival (yours truly, included).
Within minutes of her aircraft landing, we met up with Erica/Erika of Behind The Scenery, and were exploring Island View Beach.
Happy smiles! This will be a theme throughout.
We spent a delightful 2 days in the Victoria area, with Erica and Chuck as our exemplary tour guides. Donna, of Retirement Reflections, joined us for a day of exploring beaches…
Bloggers descending upon French Beach
Once back at home base (Chez Badass West), we set up a loose schedule of hikes and explorations. Donna, living relatively close by, joined us for as many as she could. The weather called for 2 days of full rain, but we didn’t let that us stop us from getting out there.
Smiling and waving hi, from a damp hike at Englishman River FallsAnother smiley but damp hike, at The Notch in Nanoose Bay
Then Donna had some family obligations to attend to on the weekend, and we continued to hike and explore on our own.
Joanne snapping photos at Neck Point Park, Nanaimo
A visit to Nanaimo wouldn’t be complete without seeing Saysutshun. And being that it was Joanne and I, you know we were going to get into kayaks at some point!
Smiling behind our masks (can’t you tell?) on the ferry to Saysutshun (aka Newcastle Island), for some kayaking fun.Joanne in her happy place.Joanne taking a break from paddling, to snap some shots.
The owner of the kayak/bike rental business on the island (Jeff) is a real character, as we found out. The lady who sold us the tickets to the ferry referred to him as “the man who owns no shirts”. Uh oh.
Laid back, super friendly Jeff is a throwback to the 1960s. We watched in amazement as he turned away at least 2 groups of customers who wanted to rent bikes from him. The first group was 2 guys who Jeff determined didn’t have enough time to experience the island by bike before they had to leave to pick up some friends at the Nanaimo airport. The second group was a family of 4 – Jeff opined after speaking with them that they would have more fun walking the trails than biking them, and thus that is what they did.
Ummm Jeff, can we have a word about your business practices please?
We were both so taken by this guy and his outsized personality. Wait, not out-sized but in fact perfectly sized for his out-sized physical self. See picture, below.
I asked if I could take his picture and put it on my blog.
Jeff: Sure you can! Uh, what’s a blog?
Next thing I knew, Jeff had his arm around me and Joanne was snapping our picture. Only after our 2 second encounter did I think: WTF did we just do?!?! There’s a pandemic going on!!!
Gentle readers, let this be a cautionary tale about how easily one’s guard can be let down…
So here we are many days later and I didn’t come down with The Covid, and I assume the same for Jeff.Dodged that bullet, thankfully.Why do I feel like a teenager who just “got away” with having unplanned and unprotected sex?What a world we live in now…
Jeff, our Hulk Hogan-ish purveyor of rental kayaks. He is best described as the love child of the famed wrestler and Tommy Chong. What the hell was I thinking???
On the (last) Monday of Joanne’s visit, we made good on a long-planned trip to visit Ann of The Unretired Life on Hornby Island. Donna and Erica were able to join us as well!
On Hornby Island, with our host Ann. Photo by Erica.More smiles. Helliwell Provincial Park, Hornby Island
The next day was spent in a luxurious visit (also long planned) to the Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara, in Parksville. No pictures were taken due to spa policy but I did pick up a very pretty nail polish with my spa credit so here’s a photo of that. At $25/bottle, it had better be spectacular.
The photo doesn’t really do the microglitter justice. It is gorgeous. Message in a Bottle by Deborah Lippmann. The Pandemic Nail Salon approves of this purchase – see my IG posts for my adventures in doing my own dip nails. 🙂
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, it was the 2nd last day of Joanne’s visit, and our last hike…to Jack Point.
Donna, myself, and Joanne. Last hike (for this visit), at Jack Point – with Nanaimo in the background.Refueled and rehydrated at Penny’s Palapa, a floating restaurant in the Nanaimo Harbour – a delightful après hike experience! Man, those were good margaritas and fish tacos…
For more photos of these adventures, please check out my IG account: @widowbadass.
So, why did I put The Gift That Keeps On Giving in the title of this post? Well, Joanne introduced me to her secret weapon for air travel and, as it turns out, drowning out noisy apartment neighbours – Bose noise-cancelling headphones! She let me try them on, and they work very well.
After only 3 hours of sleep the night before last (thanks to the Stompy McStompersons living above me and the Party Bros down below), I headed out to Best Buy to get my own pair. Thanks, Joanne! More about my “adventures” in apartment living in an upcoming post.
And they work great! Problem solved, for now…
Come back soon, Joanne! We all miss your smiling face (me, most of all)!
This last photo is just for Joanne 😉
There! I fixed it for you, Joanne
Apropos of nothing, today is the anniversary of my wedding to JD. If he was still alive, we would be married 10 years today. Or would we (still be married)? Hmmmm…
Capturing how I feel about my move in one photo…@ Helliwell Provincial Park on Hornby Island
Hoo boy! It’s hard to sit down to ye olde blogge when there is so much to do and see but here I am, finally. I could write at least 5 separate posts on what’s been going on but dammit, the weather is too beautiful! I am understanding how a lot of bloggers take July and August “off” from their regular posting and resume blogging once again in September. If I was back in Ontario I’d be hunkered down in my air-conditioned place and only venturing out in the wee hours of the morning or after dark due to the extreme heat, giving me plenty of time to blog. But here on Vancouver Island, the more temperate climate begs one to spend as much time outdoors as possible!
Anyhoo, here’s an update on what’s been going on:
It took me a few weeks, but I was able to unpack all my stuff and make some sense of my new space. I am LOVING it here. Sure there are minor inconveniences to apartment living, like the heavy-footed upstairs neighbours, but overall I am very happy with, and comfortable in, my new home.
Balcony facing eastBalcony facing west. One of my favourite places to read a book, relax, enjoy a glass of wine…Coming in off the balcony, into the living/dining areaKitchen, as seen from the dining areaMy bedroomSpare/guest/art room – I’ve cleaned it up a bit since this picture was taken, at the final stages of getting unpacked/organized.The bath
As of now, my hands are almost completely healed (from the bashing they took in assembling all the furniture I purchased to replace the stuff I left behind in Ontario), I have recovered somewhat from the exhaustion induced by the whole moving ordeal, and I am starting to really settle into AND enjoy my new life and all its perks.
I got to meet Ann, a fellow blogger, in real life (finally) at her beloved island of Hornby. Which is amazingly beautiful, by the way (as is Ann!).
And I was able to have another IRL meeting (again, finally) with yet another beautiful Vancouver Island blogger just yesterday – Jude – (Dr. Sock Writes Here) for a delightful walk around the lake at Westwood Lake Park.
Meeting people during these pandemic times can be a little unsettling, but we are all respectful of the need to maintain social distancing. Which means hugs are off the table, for now! Feels weird not to hug these ladies who I’ve known (virtually) for a few years now, but we do as we must.
Jude and I, thankful for the shady path around the lake
Of course, I am able to hang out (and hug) with members of my little “bubble”, my daughter and her family.
Saturday’s crabbing (and kayaking) adventures off the Nanaimo pier, at Maffeo Sutton Park
Life is definitely good. And I get to wake up every morning to this:
Sun rising over the mainland mountains
Yes, life is definitely good. And summer life on Vancouver Island is absolutely the best.
I am fed up to the gills with all things moving. Packing for a move, unpacking from a move, organizing new space, buying things for the new place, building furniture and storage solutions for the new place etc., etc. I still have a lot to do, but they are mostly little jobs (curtains, art etc.). All the big stuff is done and I am down to the little tweaks that will make my place more liveable. Hoorah!
And coincidental to my fed-up mood, the weather is fabulous. So you know what that means, right?
Time to explore my new neighbourhood!!! Specifically, the out of doors.
Yesterday I took the afternoon off to stroll down to the Departure Bay Beach area (check out my Instagram for those photos), and today was spent in search of a trail I could walk to.
One of the residents in my apartment complex tantalized me last week with a tale of going for a walk through the neighbourhood and ending up on a trail which included a waterfall! And today, I made it my mission to find out what she was talking about.
I had looked up local trails on my AllTrails app, and the Beach Estates Trail seemed to fit the description she had given me. It said I could access it from Departure Bay Road but I wanted to walk through my neighbourhood, like my neighbour did.
A short walk later, passing by many lovely homes, and I was on a public access trail that took me down to the shore of Departure Bay.
Emerging onto the shore, close to the ferry docks.One of the large weathered logs often found on the shorelines of BC
I walked along the rocky shore for a bit, looking for access to the trail. Which was easily found. Or so I thought. Immediately I entered a lush paradise.
Do you know where you are? You’re in the jungle, baby!
Well-maintained cliffside steps and stairsCool tree trunk
It was a beautiful walk, but where was the waterfall? I decided to check AllTrails to see where I was on the trail.
I’m the blue dot. Not even on the trail yet!!! Could this be right?
I persevered. Onwards!
Continuing my climb up the cliffside. Not a difficult trail at all. Good thing ‘cos I only had Birkenstocks on my feet.
And then suddenly….
There it was! THE WATERFALL.
I had to be on the trail now, right?
Yup, on the trail now!Not too shabby, for being right in town.
I continued on the trail and within moments I was out on the street, and at the beginning of it all.
Trail Head
And an hour and twenty minutes later, I was back home. I’m so thrilled to have such easy access to all this gorgeous nature, without even having to get in my car. Walking to a local trail on the regular was a big part of my former life in Ontario and I am so happy and grateful to have a similar experience here, at my new Vancouver Island home.
Do you have a local trail you can access easily for a quick dose of Vitamin Nature?
On May 28, I left Ontario by boarding the first of two planes to get to my new home on Vancouver Island. I had been planning this move for about 18 months, and the pandemic had initially thrown me for a loop. Back in mid-March I thought perhaps my move would not go ahead as planned due to travel and quarantine restrictions. As the initial weeks went by and I sat glued to the news, I began to realize that my move could go forward so I was off to the races, again!
In short order I had secured an apartment, a mover, and a shipper for Edward the 3rd , and I began sorting and packing my stuff in earnest, once more.
On May 26, during a period of unseasonable high heat and humidity (!), my movers arrived and did a stellar job of denuding my home of its things. (Can you believe it was snowing only 2 weeks prior? Typical Ontario weather roller-coaster!) I felt quite bad for them to be working so hard in the 33C heat. I cranked the A/C and made sure there was plenty of ice-cold bottled water in the fridge. And then I got out of their way.
Have you ever seen a more neatly packed truck?‘Til we meet again, on Vancouver Island!
My friend Joanne very kindly offered to take this newly-homeless person in, and we enjoyed each other’s (and husband Gilles) company to the utmost until it was time to go to the airport. One teary goodbye later, and after breezing through security, I was faced with these weird images of the usually bustling Pearson airport.
Never have I ever seen these screens so devoid of flights.Part of me finds this eery. The other part wishes the airport was always this empty of people.
While flying, we passengers had to have our masks on at all times. Every middle seat (on 3 seater rows) was unsold, to help us distance somewhat during the flight. I had no one else in my row. A win under any circumstances! 😉
Good morning, Ontario! And au revoir!Different airport (Calgary). Same lack of people.
The plane to Nanaimo was smaller, with only 2 seats per row. Again, the seat beside each passenger was deliberately left unsold, for social distancing. IT. WAS. GLORIOUS.
While I took the picture this propeller was busily spinning away yet this shot makes it look like it was not working. It was! Honest!This planet we inhabit is absolutely breath-taking. Approaching Vancouver Island. Propeller still working.
After settling in (for now) with my dear daughter and her man, it was time to sign my lease and finally see my new home-to-be, in real life.
The living/dining room space (and balcony) of my newly renovated 2nd floor apartment.The galley-style kitchen, looking into the dining area.The bath. Yes! That is a sliver of ocean/mountain view as seen from my balcony. View of Departure Bay from nearer the edge of the property (which ends in a treacherous cliff, so no safe water/beach access). The mountains in the distance are mainland B.C.
I’m just thrilled with this apartment, so far! I feel that I really lucked out. It’s a 2 bedroom. I didn’t include any bedroom photos as they are just empty rooms with a window and a closet, each. Easy enough to imagine.
And now I wait – not entirely patiently – for my belongings (including Edward) to catch up to me here. Stay tuned for Part 2!
I’m sitting in my almost empty dining room, sipping coffee, listening to the last pair of my home’s curtains spinning in my washing machine, and watching the snow blow past my window. YES. SNOW. The second snowfall in 3 days. IT’S MAY 11, people.
As if it’s not already hard enough for me (and others) to remember what day of the week it is, I am having trouble remembering what damn month I’m in. Looks more like late March or early April to me. If this is Mother Nature’s way of getting people to remain in isolation indoors, it’s working!
In 2 weeks and 1 day the movers will be pulling up to my door to take away all of my worldly goods to my new apartment in Nanaimo, British Columbia. I feel pretty calm (I know; I am surprised too), and confident that I am ahead of schedule in the packing department, therefore I am taking the time for a short blog post. If this means the Universe will now smite me because of these feelings, well…so be it.
Seriously though, Universe. I’m not at all being smug and thus smite-worthy. By no means. Nothing to see here. Please move along. Please!
All my curtains are down, washed and mostly packed away. (I have 11 big windows in my apartment so this was not a small job). Extra furnishings I didn’t want to take with me have gone to new homes. Artwork is off the walls. It’s getting very echo-y in here.
A lot of my things are already packed or staged for packing. A lot of my things I have decided are no longer going to be my things going forward, and I’ve said my goodbyes to them. I’m living out of boxes as far as clothing is concerned. My walk-in closet has been emptied.
The only room as yet untouched is the kitchen.
Art supplies have been put away (again!) and repacked, for realz this time. The art I have created these past weeks in pandemic quarantine is going or has already gone to new homes.
I painted these 3 in the style of British artist Yvonne Coomber, during the course of the pandemic. I see more of these in my future. They are such happy paintings, and fun (albeit messy) to create. Think of Dexter’s Kill Room. That was pretty much my set-up, to paint these. My first attempt. It wasn’t planned but apparently I was channeling hollyhocks because that is all I see in the finished painting. 2nd painting – I wanted to put water in the background. Think of peeking through the dune grasses for this one. The flowers are more abstract, and less recognizable as a certain type. 3rd painting. I find with this style of painting that MORE (not less) is definitely MORE. I loved going all in, with the flowers.
I’m itching to do at least one more of these – this time one for me. For my new home. With mountains in the background, and an ocean instead of a lake.
But for now I will only dream. Because I am NOT unpacking my art supplies yet again.
That would really be asking to be smitten- wouldn’t it now, Universe?
