Ontario Resident

I spent most of the day dealing with my driver's license and changing my vehicle registration. This was the last thing I needed to do in relation to the move and one of the most time consuming. I'm not going to talk about how I spent a lot of my day waiting in lines to get this done.

As I went through the motions today I unexpectedly discovered how much of my identity was attached to my driver's license and license plates.

I realize this may be a bit irrational but until I moved to Ottawa I had always been a resident of Manitoba. I had lived in a few different places in Manitoba but I had always lived in the same province. By moving to Ontario this has changed. With Manitoba plates on my vehicle, I was special in my own mind as I drove around. Now I am just like everyone else.

I'm not sure if anyone else has connected their identity to where they held their driver's license but I did. I did not expect this feeling to come about but it did. It may be that this is the last thing I had to deal with and there is no going back. I don't want to go back but I keep feeling like I'm going to wake up from the dream and go back to how life was. I'm sure this feeling will pass.

I have completed everything connected with relocating and I am now a full-fledged resident of Ottawa Ontario.

The Joy of Christmas

I may have turned into a softy. At some point I seem to have discovered it is more fun to watch people I care about to open gifts from me than to get stuff on Christmas. There may be a couple of reasons for this.

One idea is, I have significant resources and can pretty much get anything I want. There are limits but I don't have to wait for Christmas and hope someone bought me what I wanted. As such, I'm not often waiting a long time for things as I go and get them as I want them.

Another idea is, I like to help people. I like to make people happy and giving gifts is a rather easy way to do that. I like how excited people get when they receive gifts, especially if they did not expect them. They don't even have to be gifts I gave. When someone is truly excited it becomes contagious and I like to get caught up in the feeling.

A third idea is, I see myself as self-sufficient. I don't like to ask for help or for things. I like to do things on my own. Giving is an activity that I really don't need any help with. As long as I can make contact with the receiver I can execute gift giving self sufficiently.

Now don't get me wrong, I do like to get gifts from people I care about. It is nice to be remembered. It is nice to be thought of. It is nice to get nice stuff. I don't turn down gifts and I am always truly appreciative when I receive them. I just don't need to receive any.

It may be true that it is better to give than to receive. I didn't properly understand that when I was young but I do now.

At some point I may have turned into a big softy but I sure like to see people get presents.

Christmas On The Prairies

After moving to Ottawa and briefly living there I have returned to the prairies for Christmas. I have noticed a couple of things in returning.

It is dry on the prairies in the winter. I have always known it is dry but it has always been a gradual transition. Returning to Winnipeg and proceeding to Brandon has quickly dried me out. It is what it is but I now better understand why so many people comment on it.

The pace of life is slower on the prairies. I don't find the pace in Ottawa to be overwhelming. In fact it is just the pace that is. However, I have always found Brandon to move a bit slow and now it seems to be even slower. I have definitely become a city person. I have known this for years. It was reinforced when I moved to Ottawa. The slow pace is nice for a few days but I don't want to live this way.

People get excited for Christmas everywhere. The Christmas spirit is prevalent in both places. This is probably the most important point. It is important to take time for the important people in your life. It is important to reflect and look forward. We can become so busy with the day to day stuff that we forget to look around. The holidays are a time to do that. They are a time to take stock. They are a time to set priorities. They are a time to be thankful for what the world has given you.

I'm spending Christmas on the Prairies and I'm happy to be doing so.

Common Cold

I might have a cold. I'm not quite convinced but I might. Like everyone else, I think colds really suck. They suck for what they do to your body and they suck for how they don't really go all the way.

Nobody likes the stuffed up nose and coughing but unfortunately most colds aren't really bad enough to do you in and give up. When you have a cold you are forced to go about your day. You are not sick enough to call it quits but you don't really enjoy anything you do. You don't have your normal energy so everything seems to be such a chore.

If you get the full on flu at least to can concede defeat and quit living until you feel better. After the worst of a flu you may not be100% but you feel so much better you don't mind. With a cold you don't get the sense of journey and recovery. The cold just goes a way and you go back to normal, without a badge of honor to wear. You can't say I just survived the worst battle with the flu and I am still here.

However, not getting sick at all is the best option. Unfortunately that doesn't always seem to be how it goes.

I might have a cold and all colds suck.

Snow Road

Last night Ottawa received it's first significant snowfall. Just like my time in Winnipeg, people complain about other drivers driving in the snow. On the one hand, it is comforting to know that people are the same everywhere. On the other hand it is a bit annoying to hear the complaining.

Given the very little driver training we do it is no wonder people have difficulties when difficulties when the conditions change. Driving is something we take for granted. A little bit of pre-thought and I'm sure everyone would have less difficulty with the snowy roads.

The great upside to this is the first significant snowfall in Ottawa was on December 14th. That is over a month later than when it happens in Winnipeg. This is a good thing. It would be nice to keep the winter weather to the winter months. Coming from a place where it can be wintery for all of November to March I can get used to this.

Last night was the first significant snowfall in Ottawa, and just like in Winnipeg is was a reason to complain about drivers.

Let's Go Downtown

I just finished reading a story in the Winnipeg Free Press about all the surface parking lots in Downtown Winnipeg. It was a well written story that explained the issues quite well. I should have stopped reading before I got to the comments. The comments were not as ridiculous as on CBC.ca but very mis-informed about downtown Winnipeg.

I lived in downtown Winnipeg for just over eight years. I only left because because I was promoted into a new job in Ottawa. I thoroughly enjoyed my time living downtown. It is safe. There is a lot of places to eat and things to do. It is central to everything in Winnipeg.

I realize there are panhandlers but nearly all are harmless. They will ask and let you go on your way.

I also realize there are a lot of people dead set against living in a dense urban environment. These are foolish people. If you do not live in a community where you can walk to do many things you will not be able to afford to live. You must be able to move about your day without complete reliance on fossil fuels.

The suburbs are life sucking, cookie-cutter, bland expanse. I don't know what people do for fun out in the suburbs. Do they go to their neighbor's house that looks just like their own home? Much of suburbia is a lifeless expanse.

In Ottawa I live and work downtown. I walk to work. I get exercise and I avoid the expense and environmental effects of driving. I have not driven m y own vehicle in 2 weeks. Granted I have not been home for a week. I can walk to a lot. Many restaurants, sights, bars, a very large shopping centre, and recreation. It's great. I would not trade it.

I realize the cold winter puts a hamper on walking in Winnipeg but the downtown is very well connected by skywalks.

I know urban living is not for everyone but a lot of people don't understand the benefits of it. Those are the ones who are missing out.