Back to blogging

at Girl Meets Capital City.

On hiatus

Big changes in my life and I’m needing to take some time away from blogging. My apologies for the sudden dearth of postings and I hope to return soon.

Returning

I realized the other day that I have been neglecting my writing lately, both online and offline. I have gone through these dry spells before and they don’t concern me, but I also know that writing is integral to my well-being. If I don’t start again soon, I will be quite miserable.

I just returned from camping during the long weekend. It was my first time and I enjoyed every minute of it. I felt different, more myself. I think it changed me. It made me look at life differently. It made me closer to the people I love.

Returning was an interesting culture shock. I felt distracted and disoriented — my prevailing state as of late. These words are my first since returning, and hopefully there will be more.

Ready to move

The closets are cleared, drawers emptied, bags filled and boxes packed. In the past two weeks, most of my time and energy have been devoted to the move, which happens this weekend. Some days I can’t get enough of cleaning and organizing, others I absolutely have no energy to do anything. Some days I am excited and optimistic, others nervous and uncertain whether I will be okay.

The big mental theme of this experience has not been “leave” but “out”. I don’t see myself as leaving, technically, but rather just stepping out of the city I have lived in for the past eleven years and into a new one. Because Victoria is so close, it’s hard to imagine not returning regularly to visit family and friends. In some ways, it doesn’t feel like moving at all. In other ways, it feels very similar to when I first moved to Canada.

Moving has thrown my life sideways for a little while. Having one foot here and another over there is quite a balancing act. What shall I take with me, and what shall I leave behind? Will I need this there? Then I make a mental picture of my apartment and decorate it in my head. I wonder if this lamp will go well there? I wonder if my heart will find a home there?

Despite the strangeness and uneasiness of being “not quite here, not quite there”, I have never been more ready. I had been feeling this distressing urge to have a new experience outside of Vancouver, and my call was answered. See you in a few days!

Weekend of firsts

I had an extraordinarily successful weekend. It was a weekend of many firsts. I fell in love with Victoria and I’m looking forward to living there. I looked at five potential apartments and had no question in my mind which one I wanted. The family who owns the place is incredibly nice, friendly and helpful. I was overwhelmed by their kindness and hospitality. If there was one thing that stood out for me on this trip, it was that there are many kind people in the world, and when you find them, you become that much more hopeful about life.

It was all so exhilirating — a great city, my first job after graduation, my own place, a promising job and a warm community. I’m so glad to have found my place, and so grateful for the opportunity to call it home.