Year's End

I have been remiss in updating this diary. I’d left you with my prawns caught but uncooked in early October but with the help of friends Chris & Gwen I had the most outstanding meal starting with sashimi (ahi tuna), then the prawns which were boiled quickly then dipped in garlic butter, and finished with buffalo no less. Chris was once a chef and a great one at that.

The pace of life has slowed down since the hectic days of summer and I no longer have the Peter Pan syndrome of flitting hither and yon. The slower tempo of life on the Coast has taken over from the faster pace of hectic Toronto and I am now taking time to smell the roses….actually to shovel the snow!!! What is this? Just my luck that we, on the B.C. coast are experiencing an unprecedented deep freeze and record snow fall. Now, it is nothing like eastern and central Canada, it is just that we are not prepared. We don’t normally need to be, therefore don’t have snow tires, snow ploughs, insulation, etc. to the same degree, and we have hills, big ones! Only a month ago, I was bemused by my having to turn up the volume of the radio due to the noise made by heavy rain hammering on the boat. I look forward to that sound happening soon.

So what is it like on the boat? The last week has been a great challenge. With my space heater drawing all of its 1,500 watts and on full blast, I have been wakening up to a thermometer that reads 9C/48F. Once up and about, I get the coffee percolator going, and put on the propane stove which is a great source of heat, and before long I have a cozy warm cabin. Unfortunately, I cannot keep the stove going for too long a time, but by mid morning I have either headed out for the day or the sun, which has been around, brings its reluctant warmth into the my living space. I am so thankful that I grew up in Scotland in the 1950’s and 1960’s as that upbringing taught me that we don’t need 20C/70F to comfortably exist.Heck, there are many Brits today living in similar conditions as I. Last month I bought flannel sheets and a hot water bottle no less. (A little anecdote. In the mid 60’s I worked for a bank in the north east of Scotland and I recall drawing hearts using the ice in the inside of the single pane windows, attracting the attention of the girls working in the bakery across the road! Well ,the other morning I too had ice in the inside of one of my windows, but it was pointless drawing hearts as there was no one for miles to succumb to my romantic etchings.)

One would think, that being on an ocean with salt water and tides, that the surface would not freeze. I was wrong. I am surrounded by ice and the reason is this. Behind me in the marina is a stream bringing fresh water down from the mountains. As salt water is heavier, the fresh water stays on top and freezes over, leaving the tides to do their thing beneath. Life goes on.

As does work, but limited. The economic woes are affecting the hospitality business and the cold weather has forced us to close up our tent houses, (see www.rockwatersecretcoveresort.com) although we should be able to open up again once normal weather returns and we are again above zero. The job description changes with the season with emphasis being put on maintenance and preparation for next Spring and Summer. Last week had me using a power hose attempting to rid the 1,200 feet of cedar board walk and steps, of moss and algae which builds up due to rainy days and lack of sun, and can be slippery and thus dangerous. Once that was done, the snow and ice arrived so that same board walk needed salting and sanding, by hand. It is the most beautiful walkway in the world, so it’s a joy to make it accessible to others.

LOOKING BACK.

It was about a year ago that I began preparing to leave behind the real estate business in Toronto and head out to live a completely different, minimalist life, on a boat on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. Driving across Canada in April, buying the boat in Vancouver and settling into Madeira Park in May, then taking on a part time position in a resort in June, all made for an incredibly exciting year for me. I have met many new friends, firmly established strong bonds with existing friends and settled in to a wonderful community and lifestyle. Reading about living on a boat and boating around the west coast’s coves and harbours while living in Toronto, plus studying for the Power Squadron certificate, conjured wonderful images of a carefree existence, and freedom. It was the freedom of pulling up anchor and heading to yet another other idyllic fiord that appealed so much. But, alas, that was a bit naïve on my part. Living on a boat, I love. Going sailing or boating on someone else’s boat, I love. Heading out to the pale blue yonder, in Second Choice…..now that bothers me. There is so much to know and learn, along with so many things that can go wrong, things that I don’t know how to address or fix, that I question if I’m not just a bit more comfortable being a landlubber. 2009 will answer that.

When one takes a different direction in life, one has to leave behind comfort zones, tried and true habits and good dear friends, yet the benefits of the new adventure can somehow add a new dimension to life that can only broaden one’s horizons. It has for me.

Regrets? None. I do miss my old friends, but that is the trade off.

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