Vancouver: Nearing The End Of A Magical Stay

OUR time in Vancouver is almost at an end. Three months has skipped by. We arrived when it was wet, grey and cold. But for the best part of the last month we have enjoyed fabulous sunshine.

The lifestyle here for individuals as well as families is pretty amazing even if the cost of living is high. Vancouver offers everything we essentially desire from a place to live - and more. The consciousness of the people here is unique. We have made good friends and discovered a tremendous sense of community. There's a side of us that is sad to be leaving. That's for sure. But we shall endeavour to take what we have enjoyed most here and try to transfer/create that in our lives wherever we go. 

The owners of the home we rented have just returned from their own adventure - in the Far East. Their time away has enabled them to reflect on their lives. Travelling does that. It offers you a unique perspective into life and the lives of others. 

Some of us use that perspective to improve our lives and those with whom we come into contact. We find that it makes us appreciate what we have. Others just melt back into their routine and the lessons learned and experiences had are quickly forgotten. 

Getting the balance right between work and play and earning money to support a family and staying healthy and spending time with our children is often times a tricky/challenging one. Usually, a compromise or two or three is required. We are still working at it.

After three-and-a-half years of moving around the world, we are returning to the UK. We don't know how long for. We don't know what the future holds. Who really does?

But we are exploring possibilities and trying to make dreams come true. I went to Vancouver for a three-month apprenticeship as a coach at CrossFit Vancouver. The course offered me everything I desired and took me to a new level. I met some incredible people. Now I'm venturing to take all I have learned and open a gym of my own, taking the best of what I have learned and experienced (from training at CrossFit gyms around the world) and making that the cornerstone of my own practice. 

Jamie, too, has her own dreams. She is already a yoga instructor, but while in Vancouver she got to enjoy Moksha yoga, a form of hot yoga, and she wants to bring that to the UK. That's an ambition she has had for several years, long before we arrived in Canada. 

All dreams start in the imagination and then are either abandoned or manifested. We are now trying to make ours a reality. 

But Vancouver will always hold a special place in our hearts. It's a magical city with wonderful, friendly and courteous people and so much to explore. Unfortunately, we only really skimmed the surface. My commitments to my apprenticeship program and our limited budget didn't afford us as much of an opportunity to journey far afield as we would have desired.

We did get to spend an amazing weekend with friends in Salt Spring Island. That, though, only convinced us that there is so much more surrounding Vancouver worth seeing.

That's for another day and another time. 

 

 

 

Comments

[David]

Great pictures.

[Rachel]

A hot yoga, hmmm haven't heard of Moksha yoga.. I'll check that out. Leaving has always been the hardest.. but among the places you've been, which one is nearest to you heart and would visit more often if given the chance?

[Claude]

Hi Rachel. Thanks for following our site. Let us know how you get on with Moksha. As for the place closest to our heart, I would say Vancouver is top as a living destination, followed by New Zealand. For vacations, Kukljica in Croatia comes out top - ALWAYS!!!

[Online Tamil Nadu Name Change]

Awesome post .i hope everybody will like your post

[ben]

Awesome family! You really do have great time of bonding.