I originally wrote this post two years ago this month. We were retiring(I was); packing and moving to our now-new "old homestead" on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. I guess we may have been still a month away from the drive east, but I do remember it as one busy few weeks up until we closed the sale of our home along the shores of Georgian Bay.
The point of this which came up last night when chatting with some folks around a bonfire at our house last night, is that sometimes you just need to step out in faith. When that one opportunity that can change your life presents itself - you need to grab it. Those chances only come once. When we told people two and half years ago what we were doing; and what the plan was, a few folks ended up being jealous. One person told me, they didn't have the nerve; too afraid of the unknown - they lived in a world of needing to have their ducks lined up in a row; waiting for the right moment. One couple alluded to the fact that they "loved being comfortable"(not in a material sense but in a no-stress sense) - all the while bitching about their lot in life. Most folks were glad and happy for us, but some were plain pissed - yes pissed at us.....that Lynn and I were doing something with our lives that they couldn't or wouldn't attempt. Excuses.. they had nothing more than excuses.
Anyhow when it is the right thing to do - it simply is the right thing to do. I can't make it any more clearer than that.
From June 2022...........
Time, as they say, is ticking away and getting closer and closer to us shutting the doors one final time on "the old homestead" on the shores of Georgian Bay and opening the doors to our "new old homestead" on the shores of the Bay of Fundy.
We are about 30 days away from hitting the road to Nova Scotia; somewhere around 23 days from when our house closes here and ten work days left before moving on from the employer I've been with for the past ten years or so.
Yup.....to coin a phrase - "a lot has been happening."
All the lawyer stuff is done; new house insurance is done and done; all the inspections and stuff like that have been completed, and the banking stuff has been done.
So, most of the big things have been checked off the list, after being checked and re-checked.
One seemingly easy thing, which turned out for a week or two to be a major thing was getting some antique furniture moved from the "old homestead" to our storage unit. A massive trip of four to five minutes.
The four or five pieces that we needed to move, Lynn and I could move over ourselves. We did have one larger hutch unit, that Lynn wasn't capable of helping with. The plan was to get a rental van for a few hours to get the stuff over to the storage unit.
But, do you think we could find someone to at least commit to helping for 30 minutes with the heavier piece? Nope!!!
We had several people say "No problem - I'll help"...yet never show up. And never to be heard from again.
Other friends and family - flat out - "no!"
Alias....a good east coaster and Prince Edward Islander came to our rescue.
While confirming dates; loading days and dollars with our mover. Lynn lamented "What was wrong with people - why won't they commit to what they said they would - in terms of getting these few items moved to the storage unit."
Chris(our mover) listening to Lynn's lament replied,..."I'm picking up a few loads in Ontario(including Orillia - which is very close to us) on June 6 and 7 and then heading back to PEI and Nova Scotia. I have room on the truck. If you can be ready on June 6, I'll load all the stuff from your storage unit and the antique pieces from your house and then store them in my own storage facility until you close in Nova Scotia." He went on, "then I'll be back to get the rest of your stuff(a relatively small load) when scheduled just before closing here on July 5. I'll then load your stuff that I have in my storage unit back on the truck and deliver the whole mess, a day or two after you guys close on July 12th.
So, most of our belongings are currently visiting Prince Edward Island.
The final few pieces of furniture, we're simply trying to give away.
We did sell our complete bedroom suite for $20 and they should be here today to pick it up(made them pay upfront to ensure they would show up). With most of the other pieces, people see the "free" in the ad - say "yes please" and..........never show up.
One person asked if we would deliver a "free single bed"........for free!
Replied - "You're fucking kidding me - right?"
Anyhow, it appears I've digressed slightly.
We are really excited about this new adventure. One chapter finishes and a new chapter begins.
I've been asked on numerous occasions over the past month or so, "Do you have mixed emotions about going east?"
The short answer is - nope. This is without a doubt the absolute right move at the right time for Lynn and me.
I'll have more to say and write later, but this has been the craziest, yet least stressful(to some extent) endeavour Lynn and I have EVER undertaken. Friends have asked, "How much planning went into it?" Let me answer it this way.
You can spend your entire life "talking about it; thinking about it, and trying to plan about it." Diligently waiting until "all your ducks are lined up in a perfect little duck-like row." And the result - nothing happens. You can never...... get all the questions answered; you can never get "all your ducks lined up"; and never get to the perfect time(so to speak).
Sometimes in life, "ya just need to push off the top of the ski slope; carve a few turns in the fresh pow-pow, and enjoy the ride."
Even at this point, we don't have much planned beyond what we will do this afternoon(which I think is finish packing the few remaining items in the studio.) That has been our process from the start once we made the commitment to sell(ie...signed some papers). Deal with what is in front of us at this very moment and say "fu@k it to the rest - we'll deal with you when it is your turn."
And you know what - it's worked so far.
We've tossed around a motto or two throughout this entire ride(at least to this point) often to keep things light and fun; while others were to make a point. First is/was when it came to our yard/garage sale, "Our crap can become your crap." The second and by far more important one is, "You don't want to wake up dead one day and say....I wish we had done this.......or we should have done that".
Our lives are far too full of "would've' should've and if only....excuses."
There comes a time and maybe only one time throughout your entire time on this little blue planet when even though "ya got no ducks"........ you simply have to take a freakingly massive jump. Simple as that.
--as always with love--
--- get outdoors; find inspiration; discover yourself ---
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