During the first two weeks back in Nova Scotia, I didn’t feel like doing much other than relaxing at my step-mother’s cottage on the Bay of Fundy. As if on vacation, I sat outside looking at the water or sat inside reading novels. During the next two weeks, days of enthusiastically working through my move-home-to-do’s (healthcare coverage, driver’s license, new mobile number, change of address updates, financial stuff) were matched by days of feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Along with the remaining move-home-to-do’s, I had tiny house arrangements and a growing list of actions for the farmhouse* and MBR property.
But progress wasn’t going to happen at MBR while I lived a 3 hour drive away in the cozy comfort of the cottage—so Greta and I moved into the farmhouse even though we didn’t have running water yet. We’re essentially camping in the front porch. As MAC stated when she saw the house, my OC-like and germ-phobic tendencies are indeed being tested. But with my brother and sister-in-law’s help last week, we got a lot done already, including a giant yard sale. After one week, I started sleeping better, feeling more comfortable, and getting back into daily meditation, exercise, and writing.
The craziest moment in the first month was when I was about to get in the shower at the cottage and saw a tick attached to the top of my foot. Because of the threat of Lyme Disease, ticks are a serious concern in the northeast. After a bit of mayhem yelling bad words and running around in my underwear with it attached to the top of my foot, I removed it correctly and then educated myself for future incidents. My sister-in-law, Natalie, asked if I was thinking at the time you know, I could have worked a couple more years out west.
In the “oh, yes, I remember” category:
- The creepy sound of June bugs hitting the windows at night.
- Those tiny blackflies that bite hard.
- The 15% sales tax.
- Humidity.
- Strict waste collection rules for bagging compost, paper, plastic/metal, and landfill garbage separately in see-through bags.
There have been lots of ups, including:
- Walking the beach with my 6-year old niece (reminder: I need to stop saying “careful” to her so often).
- Having the time with my immediate family that isn’t a hurried week-long vacation. Celebrating Canada Day with family.
- Meeting friendly and kind neighboUrs (they have offered help and I have already taken them up on it!).
- Observing magic hour light and sunsets. Simply looking at the water/ocean/bay/basin/state of tide.
- Meeting the wonderful people who built my tiny house.
But don’t ask me “how’s retirement?” I’m not employed, but I don’t know yet. I think it will take a couple months after I start living in the tiny house for it to feel like the steady state from which I can answer that question. Until then, I’m going slow, celebrating small victories, and frequently laughing at myself and my Green Acres moments.
*To distinguish it from the tiny house, I’ll call the existing house on the MBR property the “farmhouse.”
References and related links:
- MBR: Minas Basin Retreat, the property where I will be living in my tiny house. The Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy (with the world’s highest tides).
- MAC: mon amie Caroline.
- OC: obsessive-compulsive.
- Lyme Disease Info (SOURCE: Province of Nova Scotia site).
- Green Acres: a 1960’s TV show about city folk who move to a farm.