Yesterday, I was outside raking the yard in the sunshine. I was moving my tender seedlings onto the porch to begin hardening them off. I was thinking about where I want to plant the new flowers I picked up at the Gold Show on Friday.
Today, there is about 8 cm of snow on the ground, and more falling from the colourless sky.
Maybe it's this never-ending winter, or maybe it's something more, but I spend more than the usual amount of time dreaming of a life lived elsewhere. P and I have talked about leaving the Yukon 5-10 years from now, but I find myself wishing it could happen sooner than that. I long for milder winters and more than 90 frost-free days a year. I want to be out in my garden now, I want to see green things growing and to feel the warm sun on my shoulders.
It's more than just this winter business, of course. I wish it were easier to get local food more of the year. I'm not comfortable with how far our produce travels to reach us. The farmer's market will be open next weekend, but the first vegetables won't be available for almost another month. Living here just doesn't seem to jive with so many of my values.
I try to focus on the positives: the tight-knit community, and the fact that people are trying to farm here....but I know these things exist outside of the Yukon, too.
For now, though, I must accept where I am and make the best of it. I will support the local food movement as much as I possibly can. We will improve our little homestead, make ourselves comfortable for as long as we remain...but I will continue to dream of greener pasture.
It must be disheartening but don't forget all of the things you love about the Yukon. Your summer days will be warm and long, once they finally arrive. Soon you will have 24 hour daylight and warm warm sunshine. You'll be able to putter in your garden and your plants will thrive on the 24 hour sunshine. It won't be long now and you'll be preparing for our visit and planning your date nights and then, before you know it, you'll be leaving for Whitehorse to have your baby!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mom! Feeling much more optimistic today. The forecast for the coming weekend looks beautiful. But let's not rush to having the baby in Whitehorse...that means summer is over!
DeleteI feel your pain! I too spend a great deal of time dreaming of living elsewhere. Our plan is to be gone, at least for the six most wintery months, by 2017! Although winter seems to be getting longer every year & I like the idea of a seasonal home here & a permanent home somewhere in Central America more all the time!
ReplyDeleteMy partner would love to do just that, having a home somewhere in Central America. I have to say I'm not sold on that idea yet, though! I am a bit of a home-body and I don't altogether dislike winter...I could just use a little less of it!
DeleteI don't think I could leave the Yukon, although this never ending winter is giving me an awful twitch! :)
ReplyDeleteWe will see what I say after we do another five years here.