Checking in on Life Chaos (aka Moving)

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Update on the move.

This is going to be a super short one as life is getting busy right now. Things are going really well with the move and despite the fact that I’ve packed the house at least three times in my head at night when I’m supposed to be sleeping, I am not stressing too much with all that’s going on. We’ve sold our house to a lovely young couple who have a dog (Roxy our Bengal cat is not sure how she feels about this), however we think it will be great to have new people enjoying this house and this neighbourhood. We’re planning to meet up with the new owners before we leave to give them some tips about the systems in the house and answer any questions they might have. It feels good to be able to pass the torch so to speak.

Deer in the forest.

We’re also in high gear with our new property and working on getting some small projects on the go before we make the move. Oh and for those who have continued to ask me why we’re moving - I keep repeating that it’s to head somewhere a bit closer to nature and a bit more peaceful than the hectic pace and noise of the inner city. The fact that Kory’s face lit up when telling a good friend of ours about our plan to move our camper van to the new house and stay in it overnight while we get the new digs cleaned and ready for the movers shouldn’t be interpreted that this move is all about getting RV parking at home - nope - no way - no sir!

Just kidding about that - I too am looking forward to having the camper van close by and it will probably mean that we do more impromptu overnight trips than we’ve done in the past as it is currently a pain to drive 40 mins to pick up the camper from the storage lot. I might be a bit excited about this prospect too!

New walking locations.

Roxy enjoying a walk.

One of the really cool things is that we’re finding all sorts of new walking locations for Roxy as we explore the area around the new house.

We’re going to have to introduce her to these areas gradually as we scope out the local wildlife to ensure that we keep her safe.

She really enjoys small narrow trails through forested areas and there looks to be a number of these close by the new house.

Adventure awaits us!

A bald eagle greeted us during a recent walk.

We found a very cool spot that heads down to the Elbow River and along the way I spotted 2 bald eagles which was pretty exciting.

We also found a bald eagle feather which likely means that they have been frequenting the area - a good sign for photographing them.

I’m really looking forward to seeing all the different wildlife and birds in the area as it is more wild than the area around our current home.

There is a forested area and ravine behind the new house, so we believe that there will be a lot of wildlife in the area - especially since there are no fences allowed between properties.

With this open access with also need to be aware of safety issues with Roxy outside. She does not go out unless she is on leash and with one of us.

Thanks for the suggestions regarding acclimating Roxy to the new house.

Roxy amongst moving boxes or kitty playground?

I’ve really appreciated the suggestions and encouragement that I’ve received about getting Roxy acclimated to the new house. We’re planning on taking her with us to the new house as we start to get it cleaned and prepped for moving in - we think that will help her to explore and feel more comfortable with the space. We’re also planning on having her wear her radio tracker harness for the first few weeks as she gets used to the new house (it might help us to find her also as she’s become a Houdini at home).

So far she sees the packing boxes as really cool spots to hide and play which is good as we were concerned that she might get upset with the changes - she’s pretty resilient and as long as we are calm she seems to do really well.

I’m really looking forward to all of this upheaval being over, but I’m also really enjoying this phase of the transition. Maybe that’s all the mindfulness I’ve been practicing, but it feels important to be here in the moment and not miss the fun of finding all sorts of things I’d forgotten we have as I pack up 12 years of accumulated belongings.

Do you have any major changes coming up in your life? If so what practices are you putting in place to make sure that you are taking good care of yourself during the transition? Please feel free to share in the comments below or drop me a note by clicking on the “Connect With Me” button.

Butterfly on a native plant..

I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.

Pamela McIntyre

A recently retired engineer, now aspiring nature and wildlife photographer, I use my craft to promote mindfulness and wellbeing. I write about my transition from working at an executive level position to retirement and how photography has enabled me to find my creativity and reconnect with nature.

 If you’ve enjoyed this post or something I’ve shared resonates with you, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or through a direct message (please use the “Connect With Me” button) and be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss any posts or news.

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