Notes From the Road - Yes, We Are Still Married - Post No. 9
After 3 weeks and 3,400 km we are home again. This is why we travel, said my wife: for the pleasure of coming home. We mostly went to places we'd been before and it hasn't been that long since we were last in B.C., but with our new focus on reducing US visits we had a different perspective.
Like A Giant National Pendulum Over the past few decades, people have been migrating towards B.C., attracted by its many pleasant natural features. We happened to catch a recent TV news report in B.C. discussing the new and worrisome drain of people, mostly under the age of 40, leaving BC and heading for Alberta and Ontario. First they come, then they go.
There are, of course, many different reasons why people are moving away, but cost of living, particularly housing, was high on the list, as were taxes. An average family living in the lower mainland area pays a staggering amount for housing and in taxes, gobbling up any advantage in wages. Of course B.C. has some advantages that are not quantifiable (weather, ocean, beauty) but right now, many people are voting with their moving vans. One statistic stood out to me: an average 3 bedroom family home in Calgary costs just over $600,000, in Edmonton around $575,000. In Vancouver that average home is $2.08 million. Not everyone lives in Vancouver, of course, but those that do pay dearly for that privilege.
The Essential Salt Spring Island We got to Salt Spring Island for the first time ever, and it is easy to understand why it is so popular: a vibrant arts scene, beautiful surroundings, friendly people. It seems like almost everyone sells something - goat milk, goat cheese, farm produce, soap, wine, pottery, glass, art, mixed media, everything you can imagine from those straddling the line between a hobby and a living. Boaters, hikers, cyclists and kayakers are here too. In our 6 days we went to a live music concert, enjoyed live music in a restaurant we walked to, took in two different markets (one mostly food and the other mostly arts and crafts) and only scratched the surface of the galleries, bakeries, bookstores and restaurants. The only national brands in view were CIBC and BMO, but it seemed like every rural driveway had a stall selling ... something.
On our last day on the island I came across what struck me as the essential Salt Spring experience: a fellow about my age riding a motorcycle with a sidecar. His dog, a medium-sized poodle cross of some kind, was seated in the sidecar, clearly enjoying the ride - and wearing motorcycle goggles (the dog, not the driver). How does one explain to a dog how much better the sidecar experience will be wearing goggles? I did not have my phone in hand and the pair was gone before I could arm myself. I missed the shot.
Introduction to EVs We recently bought an electric vehicle, and in a future post I will share what we are learning, good and bad. This was our first road trip and in general the experience was positive - we became aware of just how focused we have been on saving time. Having to stop periodically for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour a couple of times, does make the travel day longer, but also somehow safer, more relaxing. Janet pointed out that I have never, ever had a discussion with the guy at the next gas pump about his gas station experiences, the route he is travelling or how far he can get on that tank of gas. You have those conversations at charging stations all the time. It is nothing if not more social.
Still Married In less than two weeks we will celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary. This summer trip reminded us why we celebrate. It was filled with friends and family along the way, many bookstores, galleries and restaurants. Visiting favourite people and places, and places we've never been, helps us remember just how rich our lives are. This thought helped us get through our first serious exposure to Range Anxiety, something EV drivers experience more acutely than drivers of gas-powered vehicles. Running out of power is not an option. Range anxiety is similar to the feeling you get when that little "low fuel" warning light goes on in the dash of your car warning you that you have less than 1/8th of a tank of gas, except that you have that feeling all the time - there is not a charging station on every corner. Planning the journey had our full attention, and 49 years of joint planning experience was helpful to have.
