2020 brought a lot of things, arguably many of them harmful. Working (primarily) from home certainly affected how I felt about where I was living in the suburb of a large metropolitan city. And so, I joined the great migration of 2020/2021 and decided to leave town.
We chose a small town in the heart of central British Columbia's Okanagan wine district. Last population count - under 12,000 people. No Starbucks in town. No Wal-mart. No Costco. A town filled with orchards and vineyards. Rural.
We moved in two days ago and just finished unloading the moving truck yesterday. Boxes everywhere and months of unpacking, I'm sure. I'll post my reflections as I go. Becoming a full-time remote worker. Adjusting to a much different way of life. The first introduction to my neighbours generated the warning to watch out for the black bear roaming the street!
But to start somewhere. The most startling thing I've seen so far is the stars. Perhaps you've camped in the wilderness. Or, like me, you've found a wonderfully remote B&B and enjoyed a little out-of-the-city recreation. With the absence of light pollution from a city, the stars are amazing.
I'm not sure the last time I stopped and looked at the night sky, other than to see how low a plane was flying. Now, I can see the bright stars in all of the constellation's glory from my bedroom window. I don't remember the names of any of the arrangements, other than the dippers. And I can't remember so many stars in the sky at one time.
There is something special about standing outside watching the sky and listening to the neighbourhood's crickets and frogs. It's peaceful and serene. Relaxing and tranquil. My back yard looks out over the Prairie Valley - a place of trees and grapes. A few lights shine from the road and other houses and farms. But the brightest light is the stars.
As my friend, Stu Lennon, would say - I'm living the dream.