we moved to Kelowna
Dear Venting Machine,
I'm in awe.
No really - unending awe. Maybe it's the simple fact that I haven't traveled in two years, especially with the endemic (that's not a spelling error, I'm calling it an endemic from now on, unfortunately). I will forever be jealous of those who traveled within the two and a half months of 2020 prior to lockdown. Ya had it guuuud, and ya didn't even know it.
I've always known there is an energy shift when you move. The act of moving is a forcing of the mind, body, and spirit into an unfamiliar environment where you know next to nothing. Sure, you've done your due diligence with Google research and speaking to friends who have lived there... but that's like glimpsing a world through a telescope. There's nothing that will compare to actually living there in the context of your own life.
It really is all about perception, because locals have muttered how "drab" Kelowna is in the winter months while I giddily marvel at the scenery like a toddler at DisneyWorld. How can I not, with Knox Mountain and its companions looming outside of my window?
Our fifth day in our new city - the sunset rewarded us handsomely.
The view from our bedroom. *drools*
Here is my journal entry from February 2nd, the day after we moved in.
We moved in last night and it took all of three hours to unpack. I mean, we still have loads to go... but mostly everything is away, save for some clothes for which we need to buy hangers. They gave us all of five hangers in the closet. The apartment is much bigger than depicted in the virtual tours we took. Even though it's only about 400 sq ft it feels larger than I had anticipated. The view is what gets me. It's a north-facing window (womp womp) but we do get a 180 degree view of the mountains. The Okanagan Lake is off to the left, only footsteps away from our apartment complex, which is an honest-to-god dream come true. Matt and I had made a bet earlier as to whether we'd get the dope view of the lake, or the back view of the electrical facility next door. We got neither. North-facing windows don't get any direct sunlight unfortunately (plant mom dreams, I bid you adieu), but I am ridiculously happy with the view. We awoke this morning to the sound of Canada geese honking away and the white of the snow-tipped mountains in the distance reflecting the sun.
We went for groceries earlier, around 3:30. Urban Fare is the equivalent of Urban Fresh here, slightly more expensive, with lots of gourmet organic options. Still, Matt went for it since it was conveniently next to the pharmacy where I needed to pick up a few packages. We spent about an hour walking around the aisles. I'm so dumb for bringing him along. We shop differently and it usually ends with him waiting on me as I scour the aisles for specific ingredients. I'm also dumb for trying to avoid sugar - this month of all months. As if my diet isn't limiting enough already, what with being gluten-free and basically vegan. More on that in another blog post.
As we checked out, the total came to a whopping $670. We were both surprised. Matt made a comment being like "What? That can't be right, how did we spend almost $700?" as I was politely trying to check out with the cashier. I'll admit I was also shocked, but sighed and decided that maybe we chose the wrong spot to shop since everything did seem to be priced high. Also, a first grocery shop which includes all of your condiments, spices, etc will always be more expensive than an everyday shop.
Either way, Matt was still confused as we made our way out of the store. He kept saying that there's no way we spent that much; we didn't even have that much food. I kept repeating that this trip was always going to be more expensive. Still, I scanned the receipt when I got in the passenger seat.
Sure enough... I came across a line item that was in the triple digits. Three-hundred and sixty-one dollars... for 406 limes.
Wait.
406 limes?
We got a single lime. She charged us $361 too much! Holy shitttttt.
We basically ran back in as Matt shook his head at me. Whatever - I was going to check the receipt anyway, just when I wasn't standing in front of the cashier. We would have caught that either way. I mean, it makes a funny story in hindsight, but that's a huge mistake, no? If I had accidentally charged someone $300 too much for a single item when I worked in the service industry… I'm pretty sure I would have been fired hahaha. Matt and I obviously aren't assholes, so we were gracious in pointing out the error with a laugh to the clerk.
400 damn limes. When ya girl only needed one. That's one huge cinco de mayo party.
It's mine and Matt's first time living together, and I do marvel at how well we live together thus far. Any thought of living with a man always terrified me. In fact, many of my friends know that I've mentioned having a separate bedroom from my man that would be my space, and mine alone. But Matt makes it easy. It's not perfect - we have our tiffs over this and that, and household habits that we want each other to break. But the last 11 months of quasi-cohabitation have already taught us what we needed to know. I know that he is more willing to clean than cook, and vice versa for me. Food scraps ("gook" as I've coined it) gross me out, so if I cook I'm more than happy to lounge with a full belly on the couch while Matt does the dishes. He understands that I need alone time every once in a while, so he gladly gives me my space for introspection. I understand that he likes to be go-go-go with many social outings per week or per day, so I make the effort to keep up. I'm hopeful this trend of give and take will continue; actually, I know it will. Life is good.
Needless to say, we're happy here. Let me try to explain Kelowna in a few paragraphs. I can't describe the feeling of physically being here, but I can use language to try to illustrate it.
Optically, Kelowna is a city surrounded by pine forests, mountains, orchards, vineyards, and parks. Its downtown core is flat, with a 360 degree view of various mountain ranges. Nestled along Okanagan Lake, a large body of water that stretches from Vernon in the north to Penticton in the south, Kelowna is enjoyed for its mild winters and dry, hot summers. Knox Mountain, one of Kelowna's most popular hikes, is slightly north of the downtown. A mere 50 minutes away is Big White Mountain, a local ski resort. Matt and I ski / board on weekends where the mountain is covered in fresh powder, and then return to the beautiful 10 degree weather in the city. There is no shortage of hikes, walking trails, or beaches to explore.
My personal depiction is that it feels like a fusion of California and Europe, with its dry climate, assortment of wineries, and houses stacked upon the mountainside. It's small - smaller than Halifax, my benchmark for a small city - with a population of less than 150,000. The main city centre is quaint, with various local boutiques and a vibrant arts and entertainment district (although I have not yet experienced that aspect of the city thanks to COVID). Kelowna draws influence from our neighbours to the south, hailing corps like iHop and Taco Time at its various shopping plazas. As a matter of fact, Kelowna is not at all lacking in terms of access to large retailers like Costco, Home Depot, and Walmart. Fun fact: I hate Walmart so I cringe even just mentioning the name, but it is worth noting there is one here. Shopping plazas, gated communities, and mobile home parks are particularly abundant in this city, which is somewhat reminiscent of Florida's infrastructure. The people are friendly, as evidenced by the smiles, nods, and "good morning"s whenever walking past a stranger. Biking is promoted by the city with marked bike lanes and rentals throughout the main streets, and as the bulk of the city is on flatland, it may be something I take up.
People run here - a lot. Actually, let me rephrase that. People are active here in general. It's a way of life, taught and lived from childhood onward. Growing up in a province with a 20% obesity rate, a number higher than the national obesity rating, this is not something I'm used to observing. I have never in my life seen so many Apple Watches glommed onto wrists. Even compared to Toronto, with its own microculture of fitness and health, the people of Kelowna are in another ballpark altogether. It's inspiring, suddenly living in Canada's fittest province. It makes me want to do better, and I have already! I ski twice a week, attend an in-person barre class twice a week, do barre classes at home at least once a week, and I'm considering a dance and/or yoga membership. On top of that I'm hiking, walking, and running on an ad hoc basis. None of this to say that I need to exercise 6-7 days a week, but more so to say that exercise is embedded in socialization in this city. Every time I ski, it's with a group of friends. Golf, same thing. Did I mention golf courses open this weekend? In March. It's unthinkable. In my barre classes, I meet people. We do sunset hikes while catching up with friends. The two - socializing and exercising - are synonymous with each other. I could get used to this.
Putting my new powder skis to work.
This has been a long post. I'll put it to bed soon. Life updates are always hard to write because context is everything. If someone had told me a year ago while I was living in my midtown Toronto apartment that a pandemic would soon shut down the world, that I would be getting rid of my place in the city, that I would bounce for 11 months between my parents' and Matt's parents' homes, then move across the country? BONKERS. I would have spit up my Tim's double double in their face. Then again, this has been everyone's experience. The sheer incredulousness at what has happened, and how little we knew what was headed our way. The feeling as we approach one year since that doomed day. Our lives, whatever direction it was going, were altered that day. And look where we are now! I do believe that we have learned many things in the last 12 months. I myself have learned that love and kindness will always win.
Thanks for reading. If you made it this far, you is kind, you is loyal.
Stay real,
— K. JO
