Saturday, January 8, 2011

landlocked


I grew up on farm. I grew up on a Island, surrounded by the ocean. I grew up where everyone knows everyone, & the most trouble that usually happens is at the local hockey rink. Seeing as that is where every teenager hangs out on on Friday night, as there is nothing. else. to. do. The total population is 141,000. That's it. The whole entire province. It's one of the most beautiful places in Canada. People travel from all over the world to come see where Anne with an e, lived. The East Coast vibe is the best damn vibe around, just ask any maritimer & they will agree. PEI, is probably one of the best places in the country to raise a family. And yet, here I am, trapped in a city. I want to go home....

But. This is where the money is. In this landlocked province. Damnit. I don't know what we were thinking. Well, not true, I do what we were thinking. Money. That is why we moved here. Our jobs. We could never make as good an income back home as we do here. Silly. Really, to think money was more important. I don't like my city. I have tried. Honest. I do see the beauty here. The mountains. There is no doubt that beauty lives here. I figure I must have salt water running thru my veins. I would give up the mountains in a second, to be by my ocean again. There is over a million people in my city. Over a freakin million! It takes at least 2 hours to get a typical errand done. The city is  very spread out. My sister n law lives in the SW part of the city & we live in NE part. Opposite ends. It takes almost 45 minutes to an hour to get to her place, not in rush hour. In rush hour, well I don't even know. We wouldn't dare try. At least 2 hours. Stuck, in traffic. It really sucks.
sunshine mountain. Z@ 3 weeks. Poppa @56 years
I use to think of myself as city girl stuck in the country. Now, I am a country girl stuck in a city. I can't win. I have so much worry raising my boys here. D(who is a farm boy) & I really have no idea how to raise city kids. When do you let your kids start riding there bike on their own?? What age can they walk home from school by themselves?? How do you keep your teenagers in school all day when their school is in the same parking lot as a mall?? We are in way over our heads. We know it. We both grasp on to our city friends. Bombarding them with questions. They usually smile at us. A little pathetic like. I'm sure they consider us deprived in some way. But I'm okay with that. I usually just smile back. A little pathetic like, cuz they don't know what they are missing. How laid back life can be. Or maybe they do, they just consider it a form of vacation, instead of everyday life.

So, I don't know. This is where we are. Working our butts off, to save our money to take our boys back home as often as possible. There are advantages for sure; my boys get the best of both worlds. I mean, they get the mountains & the ocean. You can only pull that one off in this country if you live in Vancouver. They take both skiing & swimming lessons. They know the west coast & the east coast & they are still just toddlers. Z was at the top of a mountain when he was 3 weeks old. We went with my dad. He was 56 & it was his first time at the top of a mountain. I might not enjoy the city. But I will exhaust myself exploring it for my boys. And secretly, I can't wait to buy them lil cowboy boots. I mean we live here, so we have to Stampede, right?!

12 comments:

Crystal said...

I grew up on a farm, in a small town- only 1400 people. Now I live in a city of 160,000 and I think it's really big. Funny how perspective is. I have 4 little dudes and stay home with them. But I hear ya on the money thing. We would love to move somewhere warmer but the living expenses jump up dramatically when you leave this sleepy town.

I'm visiting from FTLOB. I have 4 boys w/hubby.

asliceofsmithlife said...

HI Sherri!
I live where I was born and raised, which isn't a huge city, or a farm town, just in the middle, although my hometown is growing by leaps and bounds and tourist love it here! I'm glad you are able to appreciate the blessings of where you live..."having your kids know the best of both worlds".
Thanks for linking up this great post to our No Ordinary Blog Hop!
I'm your newest follower!
Have a blessed weekend!
Tracy at "A Slice of Smith Life"

Anonymous said...

Hi Sherri! Just wanted to pop over and say hello after your sweet comment on No. 7 via my Write Now, Write Later post. Thanks so much for visiting. I totally related to your country girl stuck in the city post...we've finally "gone country" again, leaving Boston in the dust and moving to Southern Maine. I have to admit, there are some city slicker ways that I grew accustomed to :)
A friend of mine also grew up on PEI and on a farm. We shared farm "war" stories often.
Nice to meet you. Have a great weekend.
Kelli

Datssocute said...

Thanks for the follow, I'm doing the same in return. Can't wait to see what else we have in common. come by anytime and check us out. BJ @ http://datssocute.blogspot.com.

Me said...

A/ I LOVE this song.

B/ Where was that 2nd photo taken? The mountains are beautiful!

C/ Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting! Making ppl laugh through things that sucks as much as a moron almost plowing you don't with her SUV is a must!

I'm your newest follower!

Michelle

The Adventurer said...

HI thanks for linking up to the NOBH:) Now following. I can relate to your post I have always been a suburban gal until my husband moved me to a rural part of the state, and I thought I would died of boredom:) We moved eventually and I am much happier. Hope you can peace with where you live:) Hope you stop by for a visit:)

Michele said...

oh, how I want to live on an island! I grew up on the coast and I miss it terribly living in the midwest now!

Unknown said...

I can see why you miss PEI, especially raising boys! What a blessing it must have been to grow up there. We recently watched the first Anne of Green Gables movie and I now have PEI on my "must see" list! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment! Have a great week.

Unknown said...

HI from your newest follower. I have always wanted to visit PEI because of my love of Anne of Green Gables. If you ever get a moment please stop by and follow back http://mommywantstoread.blogspot.com/2011/01/monday-blog-hop.html

(Single)Mommy said...

Thanks for following me I'm now followin back :)
http://myadventures-in-mommyland.blogspot.com/

laughwithusblog said...

I would love, love, love to visit that area where you grew up!

Sherri said...

Yay!! Most comments ever, Lol!! PEI is so beautiful & u all should go:)!!! I love my Island & my whole family is there!!
Michelle: picture was taken in Banff, Alberta, Canada:)