I thought I would jot down some thoughts on my move to Nova Scotia it has been two years and two weeks since “landing” here on the east coast I used that term because in retrospect that is exactly what we did. I was told on a major move give yourself two years to adjust so now everyone is asking have we adjusted and what are our thoughts on the move and how do we like the east coast? And are we staying?
Well, where do I start. I guess I would say that I feel extremely blessed with every single person with whom I have met, in one way or another they have all touched my life. It all began about four years ago when my husband at the time, in the middle of the night sat up and said I think I want to move, I said whereNFLD? He said no Nova Scotia….. In retrospect I am way to agreeable, I said ok and the decision was made, I was very happy where I was. I lived on what I have to say was the most beautiful 10 acre parcel in the Creston valley, we had a 360 ) view of the Purcell and Selkirk mountain range lived in what we called a moderate climate (which I am now certain most Nova Scotia’s would call mild)
I had formed friendships and a sense of community for my children, I was Born in Toronto raised in FtMac AB and had chosen B.C as my home, we began looking at where in Nova Scotia to move, Again my husband said Windsor and again I said Ok his reasoning for Moving East was he wanted to be closer to his Family he is From NFLD, and liked being near so muchmore, in the way of Universities and Health Care, I guess my biggest concern was for family would we know enough people here? and I was assured almost daily we would. The adventurous spirit that I have was ready for the challenge! Boy if I knew then……. This is why we do not get to know everything, Just prior to leaving B C my husband took a job in Alberta, I was then sure that we should also stay out west but again too agreeable, said ok if he still was sure we would have a better life in Nova Scotia then ok we packed up sold our home and headed east 3 kids 2 dogs one a large breed, and a small cat I rescued from the barn, and following later my horse, what a drive if you have the opportunity to drive across Canada take it but maybe leave the critters homeThe plan was he would travel to and from the west as many people here do, the day we landed was a crisp beautiful fall day! happy to get out and stretch Windsor felt good, we began to settle in I believe if I remember correctly Dominic was here with me less than a week when he left, Well I was so unprepared for the next year, I believe I spent the entire first year saying “excuse me?” because I had no clue what to expect next A dry well, a basement Flood and what I would call a brutal winter, I had separated from my spouse, spentthat entire time learning about what is different! “Culture shock” would have been an understatement!
We never saw any family other that two visits with one cousin, but I Know what has a back has a front, I, in the mist of the Nova Scotia winter, spring and summer, found a part of myself that I had forgot existed and a friend I am sure was heaven sent, And we are both thankful God waited till we both had brains and responsibility before bringing us together. So sure, I now get that water does not just continually flow from a mountain into the spring, and yes I have at least 10 sprinklers I will probably never use that I brought from BC to water my grass with, and no I am not a hippie although I may appear this way to some, I still call the groceries store Overwetti, and my kids still miss the 7/11 slurpies and winter carrots you get to dig on Christmas morning may never be possible here, and rain happens in summer more often than not, you need to mark your driveway so the plow can find you bugs do not exist only at the lake in the evening they are out in the day here too, The Wind blows in all directions at the same time, and yes they do make heating pads the size of the entire bed There are no Bears here and the chances of running into a cougar are nil (my pepper spray may come in handy for the odd porcupine) the relationship Nova Scotia has with road Kill is something I will never get used too, my children have learned their mom is only one, and patience is required (this will do them wonders later in life).
Divorce doesn’t have to be messy, you can still be a family, I have learned more about myself and who I want to be when I grow up, than I ever thought possible! Am I home? Absolutely! Am I still learning? Absolutely!I haven’t lost my adventurous spirit in fact I think I am way more open to trying everything I can! And yes I have dipped into the beautiful OceanBeach here and it is soothing for the soul!The people here are amazing to say the least, and this year I am happy to say I lookup at the Horizon every day I found it too hard to look up for a very long time, My Mountains were not there, we all and still will always miss them, the sunrise and set are different but stillmost amazing to watch, , but what I did not know and could only put into words this way was Nova Scotia was nothing I had expected, yet it was everything I never knew I needed in my Life!
