Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Leaving on a jet plane

I used to think that a true Yukoner had to "stay the winter". And I've done that. I've lost it at 40 below when the sun doesn't begin to rise til 10 a.m. Those days included lots of Bailey's, pot, and pierogies. T.V. marathons, dinner parties, wine, long bundled up walks on the frozen river. Going back to bed whenever I felt like it, buried under the covers with a space heater cranked up high.

Now that I've got kids, very young kids to be exact, those days feel housebound and crazy-making. Already I feel myself breaking. It's a battle to get Aedan outside for 15 minutes of running around the yard. I know that when he's a bit older, it may be different, but for now, it's really hard. And I am prone to seasonal depression; it's gotten much worse in the last two years. I could take pills. Or, I could leave.

That's what we're doing. We're headed out for almost 4 months, our longest stretch out of the territory yet. And I no longer feel like that makes me less of a Yukoner. Actually I'm over the whole "big tough Yukoner" thing. I want to be healthy and happy for my kids, for my husband, for myself. So we'll be spending 3 weeks in Ontario visiting with family, and then we'll be spending December and January in Costa Rica. We've rented a house there, and we're so excited to be trying out the snowbird lifestyle. It's something a lot of people around here do, and something that P especially wants to explore. 

I can't wait for fresh, ripe fruit juices running down my chin, seafood, ocean breezes, salt water swims, and walks on the beach. Aedan is in love with sea creatures, and for months now he's been talking about seeing dolphins and fish. I'm excited to explore tidal pools with him, play in the sand and the shallows with him. 

I'm going to try my best to update regularly during our travels, and I hope you'll enjoy following along with us on this new adventure!

7 comments:

  1. I'm glad you're getting out! It's sensible and good for you and your family to stop trying to force yourself into a lifestyle and persona that obviously don't agree with you. There's nothing wrong with who you are. Celebrate your love for sunshine and people! Have a great winter :)

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  2. whoa!!! I cannot wait to see photos and read all about your experience!!

    Have a fantastic winter away!

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    1. Thanks, Kara! And I look forward to reading about your adventures!

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  3. Sounds amazzzzzzing! I want to come along!

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  4. Wow, what an adventure sounds wonderful, I do hope you can keep us up to date if not have a wonderful, wonderful time.

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  5. What a lovely idea Tara! I do get stir crazy in winter and it is not even a proper winter here (we don't really get snow much, it just rains more). Mental health is very fragile I often think (my own, too) and I am glad to read that you are taking care of yourself by spending the winter in a place with plenty of sunlight and warmth. My brother visited Costa Rica and loved every minute of it.

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