I'm questioning our social norms and comfort zones - North America's value system. I'm choosing to tumble through life rather than following that predictable path that quite simply doesn't work for me. I'm bluntly inviting that elephant out of the corner and onto the stage of my life. This is me creating my own version of happiness.
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Monday, November 30, 2020
A Sober November
Monday, November 9, 2020
A new adventure
For the previous 18 months we allowed ourselves to become weekend warriors, both adventuring hard and countering it with audlting. There was also some incredibly difficult times, for many reasons I’m not ready to write about, but there was much celebration in-between and lessons and the heartache. After much consideration, I declined a permanent job offer as big-wig recruiter, and allowed my contract at the Mine to expire. Mike ended his 15 year career at the Mill by scrawling down a simple “I Quit” with his end date and handed it to upper management. His supervisor admitted that throughout his years in the industry, many men talk about leaving, but not many follow through. I hadn’t traveled outside of this country or even this province in well over two years. September came and went due to COVID travel restrictions, and instead of going to Australia as originally planned, we agreed to set our savings aside and opted to moving to the Ski town of Smithers, BC until the boarders open.
We found the perfect place for two Canadian Snow Birds: before entering the town site, turn right, where an eight kilometer snaky, dirt road will lead to a one room A Frame – we’ve come to call it The Cabin. There was a loft offering a bed and a sort of a refuge, as it created the illusion of privacy. Mike was far more unsure about such a small space than I ever had been, for me, I was home. The loft would allow for further sleep for Mike, as I often woke up before him in order to calm my crazy with a workout and bribe Hugo with a literal trail of breadcrumbs to come on a walk with me, thus acquiring the necessary alone time for two introverts in one relationship. A kitchen and bathroom were tucked into the back of the tiny triangle, but the star of the show was a small wood burning stove which would need regular stokings’ during long hard winter days.
Mike has never pretended to understand the type of restlessness that surges in my soul when I’m limited to one location, or the feelings of exhilaration I get when traveling to new places. Regardless, he supported my need for something new, being Smither, even for a little while, after which will be Australia for a year. Although I have some internal struggles with this town, I’m so thankful to have found my people, as well as Mike’s people, who have become my own. Conversations arose, unchangeable goals discussed and agreements were made in that Vanderhoof will ultimately become our home town. We are finding a way of balancing my nomadic tendencies and the need for some stability for Mike in order to calm both of our souls.
Not long after purchasing two seasons passes for the local ski hill, we agreed to come up to Smithers a week early in order to set ourselves up for a happily anticipated long, snowy winter. I hadn’t gotten firewood as a primary source of heat since I first moved up to Vanderhoof and lived on the Bearhead. Mike and I went for firewood when there was frost in the air and I had a layered up with lined Lulu’s under my jeans and several wicking layers on top. It was my first time having to actively help fall trees and honest to god, the first few times we did this, I had to fight against every natural instinct in my body to not run the hell away as Mike made the first cut in each tree. With one specific attempt at tree falling, the hefty Pine shifted the wrong way and pinched the saw. After trying to talk him into leaving his chainsaw (perhaps I was a little dramatic in suggesting this), Mike attached a study towrope from the tree to the truck. As I watched in safe distance away the truck pull against gravity and in turn the massive tree fell across the road, my whole body tensed to such an extent that my ovaries hurt. I’m not even kidding you. My adrenalin still surging and my knees quaking I loaded the truck with the body of the tree. We sipped on some hard earned beers that evening while paying cribbage and eating pizza.
We spent our final full day outside before heading back to Vanderhoof in order to meet up with some people to view our house, who were interested in temporary calling it their home for a couple of years as rent it. We tossed our cross country skis into the box of the truck. Hugo hopped into the back seat, and with coffee in hands, we were off. There was well over a foot of snow when I clicked into my skies. We broke our own trails and manoeuvred over streams and up some pretty steep inclines. Mike admired the open cutblocks and scanned the area for any wildlife with his .22 slung over his back. Once we were satisfied with the first ski of the season, we threw on hiking boots and Kevlar gloves and Mike successfully fell two huge pines and they lazily slid up the bank following the truck. We snacked of farm fresh egg sandwiches admiring our overloaded truck and discussing the amount of snow sure to come. It was the kind of day that reminded us of the adventure to due to a leap of faith into the unknown.
Because there's no rules that says we have to
live life like everybody else.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Into the North Designs
Shannon was gushing about some of the events she’s been invited to, from a twelve year old’ birthday to an appetiser party in Prince George. She said that her favorite thing about what Into the North Designs has given her is the ability to meet new people and bring people together. With her bubbly personality and laid back attitude, you can tell, she just wants to have fun, and it’s incredibly infectious. Back in August, during snacks and well into beverages, Shannon appeared at a bridal shower that I arranged in my backyard. A handful of forced friends (thanks to the common grounds of career paths and independent women goals) got together to celebrate an upcoming wedding. Shannon’s relaxed personality and good nature only added to the event. She took us through the process of sign creation and provided tips and tricks along the way. She patiently answered questions and helped with tedious process of peeling off the stencil and helping stain the boards. Our laughter increased, as did the beverages for the soon to be bride and her girlfriends. She contributed to conversations with people she didn’t know very well with her incredible personable and had a contagious laugh.
From our conversation, I felt that the definition of success of Shannon’s business wasn’t so much the financial profit, but the idea of bringing people together. I would say that a completed sign is only a small piece of the product that she sells: she’s all about bringing people together.
Everything Happens for a Reason - Shannon favorite quote off of a sign.