I’ve been in a nostalgic mood lately and more acutely aware of the passing of time. It’s been fourteen years this month since we left Ottawa for the UK. Ten years since we returned to Canada and my mom passed away. It’s been twenty years since 9/11. It’s strange how things that happened so long ago can feel so recent. It comes with getting older, I suppose.
It’s also been a year since we bought this house. Maybe it’s too early to assess, but here’s my initial thoughts on the pros and cons of moving to a small town.
Pro: Walkability. I love being able to walk to the grocery store if I just need a couple of items.
Con: Buying a few extra impulse items (generally heavy ones) at the grocery store, then looking for my car in the parking lot and remembering that I have to haul them all home.
Pro: Friendly people who say hello and stop to chat when you see them on the street.
Con: Inability to put my earbuds in, go for an introspective walk, and get ‘in the zone’, without coming across as rude.
Pro: No being stuck in traffic, no constant waiting at red lights.
Con: No doctors taking new patients and multi-year waiting lists.
Pro: Strong sense of community and people who support each other.
Con: Community pages on social media mean you’re more exposed to everyone’s complaints and grievances.
Pro: Lots of local farmer’s markets and places to buy farm fresh eggs and other produce.
Con: The markets can be a little underwhelming if you’re used to big-city markets.
Overall, we’re very happy with our decision (and our timing) and I expect that will only improve as community events start up again.
Nick spent a few more days in Nunavut and seemed to enjoy Taloyoak, the northernmost community in mainland Canada.
He’s back in the Northwest Territories now, covering sites that are inaccessible by road, so they travel by helicopter – an experience he rated as ‘super cool’ – and he’s really been carpe-ing the diem as he heads into the final few days of his far north adventure.
Wherever you are today, I hope you’re carpe-ing your diem too.
Pro: much closer to your sister.
Pro: walking distance to ice cream.
All is good. 😁
Pro: Walking distance to ice cream. Con: walking distance to ice cream.
Always love reading your posts!
Thanks Shanon. Looking forward to reading something of yours one of these days, now that you’ve got your typewriter all ready to go.
I really enjoy your posts. Discovered you after you were featured in the Globe & Mail. My sisters follow you (they’re in Ottawa) too while I’m in San Francisco.
Thank you so much for letting me know. I was having a meh sort of day and your comment really perked me up. 🙂