Oh - Canada?
No, I don't really know why.
We have always wanted to live in Canada. This goes back at least to the early days of our marriage, when Zoë was interviewed - by telephone, I should add - for a job in Nowheresville, BC. It wasn't really right for us then, but I guess it set up a kind of longing which has never really gone away. Back in early 1998, I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Toronto, and I came back raving about it - I'd have moved then and there, given the opportunity, but No.1 son was but a few months old, Zoë was not yet back at work; too many other things were not right, and the moment passed. It never went away, though - that glimpse of a lifestyle is as vivid today as ever, and it informs some of what this is all about.
Since our conversation in the park (or Conversation In The Park, as I like to think of it), Canada has again become our focus. Over the years, there might have been opportunities to move abroad at various times (I guess if I had pushed hard enough at certain times, I could have arranged a move with my current employer, but would we both have been happy in, say, Luxembourg? I doubt it.) I think we'd both have considered Australia or New Zealand, or - well, anywhere, really - but the question always nagged: why, and what would we do?
Now, it seems we may have at least part of an answer to some of this: the sums add up - more or less; the boys are the right age; my work has come to an impasse of sorts; the equity on this house would buy a staggeringly large house in Canada; there are opportunities for Zoë to work, and earn enough to support us; we could be happy - happier than I think we are now.
It's a big dream, and there are enough potential stumbling blocks to make it a daunting prospect, but we think we can do it, and there's really only one way to find out...
We have always wanted to live in Canada. This goes back at least to the early days of our marriage, when Zoë was interviewed - by telephone, I should add - for a job in Nowheresville, BC. It wasn't really right for us then, but I guess it set up a kind of longing which has never really gone away. Back in early 1998, I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Toronto, and I came back raving about it - I'd have moved then and there, given the opportunity, but No.1 son was but a few months old, Zoë was not yet back at work; too many other things were not right, and the moment passed. It never went away, though - that glimpse of a lifestyle is as vivid today as ever, and it informs some of what this is all about.
Since our conversation in the park (or Conversation In The Park, as I like to think of it), Canada has again become our focus. Over the years, there might have been opportunities to move abroad at various times (I guess if I had pushed hard enough at certain times, I could have arranged a move with my current employer, but would we both have been happy in, say, Luxembourg? I doubt it.) I think we'd both have considered Australia or New Zealand, or - well, anywhere, really - but the question always nagged: why, and what would we do?
Now, it seems we may have at least part of an answer to some of this: the sums add up - more or less; the boys are the right age; my work has come to an impasse of sorts; the equity on this house would buy a staggeringly large house in Canada; there are opportunities for Zoë to work, and earn enough to support us; we could be happy - happier than I think we are now.
It's a big dream, and there are enough potential stumbling blocks to make it a daunting prospect, but we think we can do it, and there's really only one way to find out...
posted by Richard at 4:37 pm
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