Ten Years in Vancouver
Ten years ago, I moved to British Columbia.
It just sort of hit me today that I moved here a decade ago. In fact, I think I arrived at my new apartment on September 2, 2000 – so 10 years and 1 day ago. I had just finished up my Master’s degree at the University of Guelph about two weeks before, and then packed up my many, many, many belongings ((I’m glad that I have more control over my pack rat tendencies now!)) and made the long journey across the country in a U-Haul, towing my beloved little Honda Civic behind me, to start my PhD at UBC. I was married at the time and my then-husband was starting college out here as well. So many things have happened in the last 10 years – got rid of the husband, for one. Actually got that PhD. Made lots of amazing friends. Took up playing hockey and running half marathons and even got back to skiing a bit ((though not nearly as much skiing as I would have liked)), but this time on real mountains! Have done some very cool jobs and have now found a career that I love in an organization that I love working for. Got laser eye surgery. Got the Smart car I’ve long wanted. Am saving money in pension and RRSP and TFSAs, like a grown up! Became an aunt – and an honourary aunt a few times too!
I was talking to someone today about how I miss being around my family (who all live in Ontario or Quebec) and my friends back east, and they asked, “Do you ever consider moving back there?” and in a heart beat I said, “Nope. Never.” I just love it here too much. I mean, you’ve got mountains and beaches on your doorstep. There’s amazing vegetarian food everywhere! And beautiful trees and the air is so clean. The weather is never too cold, nor does ever really get too hot, so you can comfortably go running or biking all year round. Sure it rains a fair bit in the fall and winter, but every time it rains I think, “It’s probably snowing back east!” And as much as I complain about living in Surrey right now, I’m still in the Lower Mainland and I’m very happy about that!
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Woo hoo! Congratulations.
I arrived in February 2002, and I aint ever leaving either! I got so lucky in that I met my husband (who can’t really do his job anywhere outside of Vancouver) just as I reached the stage in my life where I wanted to stop moving around, and when I was in a city I love!