EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

After several blogs on the Corona Virus and its dominance in 2020, I will take a break and discuss other happenings. After all, the world still keeps turning, regardless of the lead news stories.

A big decision in my life is unfolding. After decades of living in Canada, I am returning to the US. I knew it would eventually happen, but human nature is that we are never really prepared. Some of you know that I am a passport-carrying citizen of the US. I also have been a card-carrying Permanent Resident of Canada for almost two decades.  

Several factors confirm the move that seem to be converging. My children, Sheldon and Rachel, are now 21 and 20 respectively. They are both spreading their wings, and are “in my heart rather than in my hands”, as my dear Mother used to say. Secondly, I am 67 in a few months. Thirdly, my consulting for the BC provincial government in the area of ‘agricultural emergency management’ has almost dried up, partly because of budget chaos due to the CoV outbreak. At best, I am ‘semi-retired’ now.  Fourthly, I rent here in Victoria but own a cabin in North Carolina that is waiting for occupancy. My wonderful renter, Tony, recently left after four years. Lastly, the cabin has been neglected and needs repair and maintenance both inside and out, including a new roof. I am getting no younger, and it will take months to get the place back in order.  Honestly, I prefer to spend my energy on the cabin rather than volunteering here on Norrie’s berry and fruit farm.  Finally, during this weird WuFlu lockdown era, what better time to isolate myself with repairing a quiet cabin down a long, graveled road outside the small town of Saluda, NC.

Moving is no fun, especially after two decades here in Canada. I am beginning to pack boxes. I am trying to triage. Items to get toss; items to keep; items uncertain. Subcategories are 1) Tossed Items:  throw away or give away to Salvation Army.  2) Items to keep: I can’t take all this on one trip to NC because I am flying down, so I plan to box, store, and get on a future road trip. 3) Uncertain items: I admit to being a packrat. I have stuff from my 20 years in Canada, and 20 years before. Do I need all this? After 25-30 projects professionally, do I need all this paperwork? All these books? As a sentimentalist, all these knick-knacks that bring back memories from years of travel? Memories of raising Rachel and Sheldon?

This is all agonizing! But a necessary exercise for someone with my lifestyle. I vow to only do this one time, and only one last time! I am not moving again! I fully agree with Henry David Thoreau who quipped, “We are prisoners of our possessions.” No truer words! I have a life sentence of possessions.

I am still trying to balance packing boxes and cleaning out with necessary work on the farm. It is picking season and we have lots of families coming out for strawberries. I think most come for the outing and the experience of having their kids outside, expending energy from this ‘lockdown’. Picking berries is a secondary bonus. And we are willing to accommodate. Norrie, the owner, is wonderful with those who come through the gate. But I worry. He is 82 and slowing down also. The farm is very taxing for the two of us. It is almost undoable for one person.  As I leave for most of the summer, he will be on his own. I will pray for his health and wellbeing.

My plan now is to fly to N Carolina for the summer, do essential work on the cabin, and return in early Fall. I plan to borrow or buy a pickup and haul a trailer back to load up the boxes and other stuff and drive back down before the winter. Plans after this are unclear.  But what else is expected in the year 2020!

Thanks for reading. Stay well.