Disclaimer: None of the following rant refers to, in any way, shape, or form, anyone I’ve ever “met” online. This is purely a rant against “real life” people.
All I’m asking for is just a teensy, itty bitty little bit of support. Not a lot. Just a bit.
If for once in my life, I could tell someone in my town that I’m moving to Prince Edward Island and not have them look at me like I have 3 heads, I would be overjoyed. Seriously. Everyone just stares and then responds with, “Why would you wanna do that?”
St. Catharines - When you need a little Niagara. (Our actual slogan.)
Umm, why wouldn’t I? People move to new places all the time. And please do not tell me it’s because St. Catharines is just so awesome. We’re pretty much a really, really big retirement home. There’s nothing here. Everyone I ever went to school with plans on leaving as soon as they’re finished their degrees because they know there’s absolutely no employment here. Unless, of course, you specialized in geriatrics. Then you’ll be fine.
Everyone thinks we’re nuts. No one thinks we’ll be able to do it. We could not possibly, ever be happy in a place that isn’t the Niagara Region. No, no, of course not. Because Niagara is the centre of the Universe. Ontario is the centre of the Universe too. (That’s Ontario arrogance for ya. No wonder the rest of the country hates us.)
The various responses/reasons as to why Jesse and I should never, ever move to PEI and why if we do, we’ll be miserable:
“The food costs more there. This won’t be a walk in the park. Don’t think you’ll get there and be able to afford to eat very much. It’s expensive there.”
“PEI potatoes cost more when you live on PEI.” (This is actually true. I don’t know why. But what I don’t understand is how that’s a reason to not live somewhere. Will all of Switzerland leave Switzerland because Swiss chocolate is more expensive there?)
“It’s gonna snow a lot. They have bad winters. It’ll be cold.” (WE LIVE IN CANADA! IT SNOWS, PEOPLE! GET OVER IT!)
“There’s not a lot of people there. Why would you wanna live where there aren’t any people? There are no big clubs. The shopping must suck. You won’t be able to buy anything.” (And when was the last time you saw me in a club? Never? Exactly.)
“You’ll hate it. Don’t worry. You’ll be back in two years.” (This person didn’t even give a reason why I’ll hate it. Apparently I just will.)
“You should move to Vancouver Island instead. Not PEI. Move to BC.” (Umm…right.)
“It doesn’t get really hot in the summer there! You won’t be able to get a good tan at all.” (Do I look like the kind of person who’s really worried about that?)
“You’ll never be able to find a job there. You won’t be able to make a living. You’ll be back.”
The next person who says anything like this had better watch out
Because I just might have to hit them. Sure, it’s not their fault that they just said the same thing as everyone else, but I’ve got to blame somebody now, haven’t I?
Seriously though, I’m going to pitch a freaking fit. Am I making you move there? Am I kidnapping you and forcing you to live in a bathtub with my lobsters? No! So why on earth are you getting so bloody upset about my life choices?
Oh wait a second. I get it now.
While typing this out, it’s just occurred to me why everyone gets so upset about my leaving.
Niagara is a dying region. Sure, everyone blathers on about our wines, but that isn’t an industry creating high paying jobs – it’s great for students, but to raise a family? Not really. Maybe my leaving scares them because they wish they were leaving too, but they’re not. Maybe they wish they were moving on to new places, and the fact that I actually am scares them. Maybe they’re jealous.
Either way, I know that their issues have to do with them, and not me. After a while, it just gets a tad frustrating being told by everyone and their mother that you’re a nutcase and you’re going to be miserable. You’d think I was actually doing something crazy, like proposing time travel, and not just moving to a different province.
Sorry, St. Catharines. I understand that you’re upset, and that I’m probably bringing on Armageddon by leaving, but you’ll just have to suffer through. I’m going whether you like it or not.
9 Comments
Yep, totally their issues. And totally annoying.
But, I hearby give you permission to punch the dentures out of the next old dude who talks crap to you. hehe.
Leah’s last blog post..CED June Theme: Sound
BEST COMMENT EVER!
I laughed for ten minutes.
The old people in this city had better watch out now ;-D
Isn’t that the worst? And here I thought I was the only one with those issues.
If I had actually listened to all the people in my past who said, “Are you sure you want to do that?” I would:
• …not be married (16 years now).
• …not climb into very high places for fun.
• …never have lived or visited another continent.
• …not be sitting in my own studio makin’ art.
• …not like to eat wasabi.
• …never have published a book.
I’m sure there’s more.
Why do people do that? Maybe it’s because they – oh, hell. Who cares?
Oh, and don’t really punch out someone’s dentures. You’ll hurt your hand.
As artists, we have to be conscious of our hands. So here’s what you do:
Grab the back of the head, squeeze just under the chin, and…
I am now calling you Sparky Wasabipants forever.
Because that’s the best name in the world.
Wow, Sarah. It sounds like you’d be really disappointed if you moved to PEI for the cheap potatoes.
But since you have 101 non-potato reasons to feather your own wonderful nest, I think you’ll be just fine.
And if you really get stuck, I will send you a potato. New Zealand is a dairy farming country, so we can’t afford cheese. But we totally have cheap potatoes.
xox
I am from Western New York and went to PEI for my honeymoon. I would move there if I could and totally understand why you would want to. You are not crazy and you will love it. Congratulations!
PEI is so amazing. I try to visit The Island as often as I can. I wonder if these naysayers have ever even been there? What it “lacks” in comparison to Ontario is what makes it such a great place!
My husband and I plan on moving out there in 5 years once our children are finished high school, we love it out there. I laughed when I read the comment about there not being any people out there…that’s exactly why we are going, it’s a small province with 140,000 year round residents, 1,000,000 come visit in the summer and spend their money and cause all sorts of excitement..then they leave and calm returns to the island…it’s peaceful and beautiful…and you can buy a pile of land on the ocean for less than a single family row-home in Ottawa on a busy street in the centre of town…you don’t have to justify moving there, I just wish we could move now and not have to wait!!! And the best part, no traffic!!!! And people still wonder why you want to move??? Good luck in your travels!!
I am originally from Ukraine, Kiev, city of over 3 mill people, moved to Canada as soon as I turned 20 (and yes, family and friends said: … mate, what are you thinking), 7 years later I gave up (with ease) Toronto and move to Saskatoon. Guess what ALL (none of them been to Saskatchewan) my friends said! the trick here was to decide to move and do it in 3 days… don’t give anyone time to discourage you.
Now, year and a half, wife and a 8 months old kid later, we want to move to PEI and we haven’t even been there. And why not! Moving shouldn’t be a big deal. It’s just another step.
Good luck!
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