Here's the update: After a three year exile, I am making a not quite triumphant return to the metropolis of Edmonton. Now, this is a significant step considering I spent the greater part of my youth concocting plans to flee the place. I spent a year in Europe and moved to Camrose just to get away from it. And after all this time I have learned that, yes boys and girls, there are worse places to be than Edmonton. So here goes, my top 5 reasons I'm excited to move back to Edmonton:
1. Household recycling pick-up
Oh yes, believe it or not, Edmonton is a champ at the recycling game. I never really appreciated the joy of household recycling pickup until it wasn't there anymore. The system in the borough of London where I lived in 2007 was similar and it wasn't until I moved to Camrose that I really learned how awesome I had it in E-ville. The blue bag rocks.
I did make my best recycling efforts at the drop off location in Camrose, it's just such a serious pain in the rear.
2. Public Transportation
Camrose gets a bad rap these days for its lack of public transportation but the truth is that there isn't really anything that isn't a good 20 minute walk from just about anywhere in town. That being said, I can see how a lack of wheels would be a major pain if you were a senior or disabled. Or had to somehow get a massive bale of toilet paper home.
My rural counterparts don't often share my enthusiasm for riding the bus. To a lot of people buses are associated with a lot of unpleasantries like smelly homeless people, smelly crazy people, and waiting in the elements. To me, public transportation means not having to worry about parking, paying for parking or fighting traffic and for this I am more than happy to put up with the occasional stinker. Plus, I'm really looking forward to walking off the 15 pounds I've gained since becoming a regular member of the motoring public.
3. Backyard Gardening
Yes, I've had multiple gardening experiments in the last couple of years but it's a hell of a lot easier to maintain a garden when it's right in your backyard. The new casa's garden is small but it'll do for some veggie growing. The deck should also be helpful container experiments. If only I didn't have to wait all winter to get started...
4. Variety is the Spice of Life
Oh man, am I ever excited to live somewhere where a girl can get a half decent tandoori chicken. I was going to say "where the majority of restaurants aren't pizza joints" but that's the sort of thing that's difficult to verify. But seriously, how much pizza can a town of 17,000 people eat?
5. Less Drive Time = More Free Time
Is it very obvious that I dislike driving intensely? I don't want to say hate because I sure love a good road trip but man have I grown to seriously abhor the hour long drive between Camrose and Edmonton. I may have exiled myself from Edmonton, but man is my life still there. Between visits with family, errands for family, favours for family and the occasional thing I want to do, I've spent a lot of time in the car. And I can't wait to not have to do it any more. I also can't wait to not have to pay for all that gas!I'd always had very romantic notions about small-town living and the rural life. I guess I'm over it. It can be cute and quaint but I'm an urbanophile out and proud. It will be good to be home. At least until I get sick of it again...
