How Far?

851, 23.7, 9, 0...What could these numbers possibly mean you ask? Well please, let me tell you. :) 851 would be kilometres from my previous home. Yes, I moved from Hamilton, Ontario 851km away to north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. To be specific a little unorganized township called Goulais (pronounced Goolee) River.

What is in Goulais River, you ask? Compared to the city of Hamilton, not much. But it is on the shores of the beautiful Lake Superior. There are a couple corner store type places, a really cool covered ice rink, an LCBO (not much selection unless you like Molson and Labatt) and lots of space, yes space. Why would we go to a place like that? Well, it's quite beautiful and peaceful. If one is looking to simplify their life then this would be the perfect place in which to do it. It is also cheaper. We knocked off $100,000 from our mortgage and have more space then we did in Hamilton. We also believe God called us to move here. We're not sure of all the reasons...yet!

23.7 would also be kilometres from the nearest street light! And that street light would be on the main highway, the only highway, the TransCanada Highway. It's a lonely and dark drive into the house when you leave the highway.

9 is the number of hours it takes to drive here from Hamilton (that is if you hurry, don't run into traffic leaving the GTA and don't stop for too long when you pee). In fact, the Sault is about 9 hours from just about any major centre. It's about 8 hours to Chicago, 9 to Ottawa, 9 to Buffalo and 8 to Thunder Bay. It's just in an awkward place, where Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan all meet. And then, of course, you have to add the time it takes to get from town out to our place which would be about 60 minutes in the winter and 40 the rest of the year.

0, my final number. Can anyone guess what that represents? Anyone? No. Well, it stands for the number of neighbours I have. Yes I have 0 neighbours that live here year round on my street. There is one guy that comes up to his camp (for my Torontonian friends that's way less than a cottage but more than a tent) on the weekends and that's about it. I went from sharing a suburban backyard with six other neighbours (a great bunch of folks, miss you all) to having none! It's definitely something that is taking time to get used to. No more yelling out the back door to see if anyone has an egg. If fact, it's a real hassle if I run out of something because it takes about 20 minutes just to drive to the "Goulais River General Store" and I'm not guaranteed they will have what I need.

So yes, when I say that I have moved to Goulais River most people ask me where and how far? Oh and they also ask why? Why would we do such a thing? That's a really good question. Some days it just seems too clear to me. I'm up for adventure, I like change, I like challenge, I like trees and the outdoors. But then other days is gets a little confusing. Is this really what I wanted to do? Did I really hear God telling me to move up here? Am I crazy? Things have been good and interesting so far. I have learned a lot in the past few weeks and as I get breaks from schooling the kids, loading the wood stove and cleaning the house, I will try to record them here for us all to read.

Have a good night and enjoy your forced air furnaces!