Unpacking

Thirty six hours after our things arrived in Edmonton, we are well underway in the unpacking process. Several realizations have come to me as I sift through the multitude of cartons in my new home:

1) A modern move requires literally a small forest of paper. I have never seen so much paper in my entire life. There are to date at least 10 large boxes that are packed tight with the paper that our stuff was packed in. I look at the heap and I cringe at how “un-green” the whole thing is. Overall its probably better than buying all new things, especially since the paper will be recycled, but its still guilt provoking.

2) Having a well organized house prior to moving makes unpacking much much simpler.

3) We have a lot of stuff.

4) No matter how much stuff you have, every move requires you to buy more stuff whether its cables, small pieces of furniture or simply a dust pan. Its aggravating but true.

5) Putting things away and organizing them gives me a feeling of satisfaction.

Resist the temptation of the "special"

Why do we spend money on things we don’t need or even want? What about the marketing industry is so powerful that it usurps even the most grounded among us?

Take tonight at dinner for example. We don’t have our things yet from the moving company, so we were out for dinner. The waitress told us that the house brew was on special, and that it was similar to a Stella. After a busy day we figure a beer would be nice. But for some reason instead of ordering a beer we know we will like, in the hopes of saving a dollar we both order the special. And let me tell you, it was no good.

One of the life principles I have adopted is that life is too short to consume things you don’t enjoy. This presumes of course that there are options, and that you are not in a situation of poverty or service. Sometimes it takes an extra effort, or extra self control. Sometimes its awkward to send something back at a restaurant. But when given the chance, even if it costs a little more, its better to enjoy your food and drink. Eddie taught me this. I never used to send things back at restaurants because I felt like I was insulting the server or the kitchen; but now I realize that if you are paying for the food or the service you are allowed to voice your opinion.

This not buying what you don’t need or don’t want applies to more than food too. Sales have the power to seduce us, and often I think they wind up causing us to spend more money not actually less. Its one thing to buy toilet paper in bulk because its on sale, because even if you don’t need it now, you will. Its quite another to buy pants you don’t really like because they were a good price, or a kitchen gadget you never considered owning before because it was on sale at costco, or granola bars you don’t ordinarily eat because they were 20 for a dollar. If you don’t need it or want it, you won’t use it.

So adhering to this principle we sent the beer back and ordered some Kilkenny. And they were good. And when we got the bill at the end of the night, she didn’t even charge us for the beer we didn’t drink.

Camping in the Urban Jungle

Our only dishes are some paper plates, and plastic cups and cutlery, as the moving company is not delivering our stuff until tomorrow. Thankfully I had a few plastic containers that served as make-shift bowls for breakfast this morning.

When we arrived in Edmonton yesterday our first stop was to the big box area to buy a guest room bed, with the hopes of same day delivery so we could sleep on it until our bed arrived! Apparently we missed the same day delivery cut off by about 30 minutes. No bed for us last night. Subsequently we found what may in fact be the largest Walmart in western Canada, and there we got a Coleman airbed and pump. Surprisingly it was a pretty decent sleep!

In the last 24 hours we have stumbled onto some great finds in our neighbourhood. We found a pet store that sells our kind of dog food, a fantastic bakery with amazing croissants, and an Italian restaurant that served the best penne arribiatta we’ve had in years. The city of Edmonton is definitely making the transition smoother.

What makes a place home? According to Eddie, home is where you sh#t the most. Its a complex concept. I feel at home here with Eddie and the dogs. Part of me yearns for our home in Saskatoon, but the physical space while still there, is no longer home. Our things are not there, our employment is not there. Is it where ever you make it? Can you have a home for a time? I think Edmonton will feel like home while we are here, mostly because we will work hard to have our house be a sanctuary, a place we can rest and rejuvenate. However part of me will always think of my parent’s house as home, and part of me will always consider Saskatoon as home.

I want to make a better effort to live in the now, to not always be looking ahead to the future. Maximize the living for each day. The balance between being content and striving to achieve has always alluded me, but I am going to try in earnest to find it.

Pack it up

June 20, 2010 - Moving... again.

The moving company came today and in a swift, efficient manner packed up all our worldly possessions, in about 5 hours. Tomorrow the truck comes to get all our things and we will be on the road to Edmonton. It is un-nerving seeing our house practically empty.

It feels like the most grown-up venture to date, moving to another province for work/training. Eddie and I are sitting on our deck enjoying the afternoon sun for one of the last times in our first house together. The freshly painted fence gleams a refreshing white, and the simple act of sitting together outside is calming.

This move is bittersweet. We love our home, the city, our family and friends. Saskatoon is where our hearts reside, and where we first put down roots as a family together. So many great things have happened over the past three years: my sister and I are closer than we have ever been before, we've made a ton of great family memories, Eddie and I have had fantastic vacations, I've developed confidence in my professional abilities, we've bought our first house, our first pets, I've discovered a passion for cooking, the list goes on. Part of me is sad to leave.

And yet its time to go. I know that. We've finished our residencies here, and we're not ready for independent practice so we have to move to where we can finish, and become the physicians we are meant to be.

Apparently part of happiness is growth and adapting to new situations, we're on our way!

And I'm so glad I married a man who makes me laugh every single day. When I was wistfully looking around at our boxes, Eddie quipped " oh well, home is where you s#*t the most!"