The Teeswater.ca team thought I might make for an interesting editorial – being from ‘away’ and all – so here goes…
My wife and I arrived in Teeswater about a year ago, after buying our house over the Internet no less, full of apprehension and worry about how we would find living in a small town again after years on the Wild West Coast.
Where we used to live, Chilliwack B.C. (population 92,000), our life had become a matter of scurrying about to avoid being nailed by the world’s worst drivers or accosted by panhandlers and drug dealers. Our middle son (the oldest is in college) had to pass crack smokers in the park on his way to school, on an almost daily basis and our youngest couldn’t even poke his nose out the front door without being in Mommy or Daddy ‘s firm grip. Ok, that last is more because our youngest is SERIOUS high adventure!
Needless to say we were QUITE ready for a change of scenery!
After a year here in Teeswater the culture shock has worn off and one of THE things that Lori and I have come to notice and appreciate is that when people pass our front porch they ALWAYS say ‘HI!’. What a refreshing change! No matter if the person is a good friend like Lynn taking Smoke on his nightly walk or someone we have never met before, the smiling wave and ‘Hello!’ appear about the time their steps reach the property line.
Sure, there are things we miss from the city, but over time they have become less and less important, replaced by the feeling of safety and belonging that has grown in our house since we made the move East. Other small things like having a grocery store only 2 minutes walk from the house, world class burgers right around the corner at Laney’s and Ben’s hockey practice two minutes the other way at the arena make us appreciate the simple beauty that comes from living in a small town!
Thank you Teeswater for making us feel at home!
Mark
