the summer of our discontent.
If you are a Vancouverite, whether you were born and bred here, or arrived after a stay in a less mountainy, oceany, tree-y city or town, you know four key things:
1. When you visit other places, people say, “Ohhh, you live in VANCOUVER?” with a distinct tone of envy, as though you’d said, “I live in a hut built from money.”
2. Then they make fun of the rain, as though they want to level the playing field. But we all know it isn’t level. Smirk, smirk.
3. Everyone thinks Whistler is in your backyard, when it’s actually about three hours away. Edmonton, is Calgary in your backyard? New York, is Boston in your backyard? Sheesh. But it does add to our “resort vibe.”
4. It doesn’t get super hot. I mean, yes, maybe two days a year, it gets super hot. And it doesn’t snow. Okay, maybe two days a year, it snows. But it melts! Really fast.
Now, of course, all this mystique is ruined.
1. Now everyone asks you about the junkies in Vancouver, since they’ve become the star of international coverage of the Olympics. Yes, we have a ton of junkies, as any warm city does. You can live on the streets here for a good portion of the year.
2. It has barely rained since May. Barely. I have used my umbrella maybe… six times, and three of those were yesterday. Last year, I used it almost every day for MONTHS.
3. Whistler is apparently TRYING to show up in my backyard, since we’ve become one big happy city for the 2010 Games. Well, except for the junkies. And the roving gangs of cyclists.
And uh… taxpayers.
4. It snowed this winter. For two months.
.
None of us knows what to say about that.
And this summer? Hottest days on record… EVER. EVER. And all this while the usually humid and hot East Coast got monsoon rains. RAINS.
WHAT IS GOING ON?
If we’re not melting in the heat, we’re fending off Olympic mascots.
If we’re not staring at our brown grass, we’re waiting in traffic while 300 people on really crappy bikes ride by without helmets.
If we’re not buying fans, we’re staring in fear at the snow shovels that are already being stocked in hardware stores because hey… all bets are off now.
We used to eat gelato while walking through lush, bee-filled gardens. We used to keep our Gore-Tex by our flip flops. We used to smile at our helmet and tight-short clad cyclists. We used to watch the Olympics on TV and drive to Whistler to look at rich people in snow pants.
And our only mascot was Fin (who blogs, apparently.)
I’m confused. I mean, I still love it here, but I’m confused.
So I think I’ll move.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Hey! When are you moving, Meg? Maybe next year when I come to Boston for work (if I get to do it again), we can meet up :)
August 11th, 2009 at 10:40 am
But I do live in a hut built from money, emphasis on the hut part! It is absurdly expensive to live here. With this economic downturn we may have to consider moving away from Vancouver and by away I don’t mean out to the Fraser Valley. I keep hearing about how much cheaper it is to live in places like Edmonton, Winnipeg or Halifax. When I consider that I’d be earning the exact same amount of money but my cost of living decreases it seems like a no-brainer to move but all our family is here and we love this city.
All that to say, we are confused too. I hope your move goes smoothly!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Well that’s weird - about the snow and lack of rain.
Are you moving sooner than you’d planned? Good luck with the relocate!
I love that picture of you and Gradon.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
You hit the numerous nails on their proverbial heads. Vancouver will miss you Meg, & I’ll miss reading what I’m thinking but cannot write as elegantly as you.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Glad to hear we aren’t the only ones with wacky weather. Rain all summer? I can’t handle this!! I made it through the icy winter for a cloud filled summer.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
When I was in London last summer, I needed to ask somebody a question. I saw a young lady wearing a jacket with Vancouver and some random picture of the city on it so I assumed she was from there and I decided to ask her that question. Commonalities and all. I was so disappointed that she had a perfect British accent.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Seriously? You’re moving to Boston? Congrats!!!! Boston is one of my favourite cities ever. It’s right up there with Vancouver. Awesome. More details please!!
August 12th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Congrats! Great post, I check in on occasion and you never disappoint hope you chronicle your journey.
August 13th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I remember the summer of a bad camping trip, with worn out camping equipment. With a nod to Red Green it was the summer of our discount tent!
August 14th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
We’ll be even more discontented if you leave…but if it will be it will be. And well, if it’s in the pursuit of happiness or better yet love then I guess we just have to let you go.
August 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Your dad’s hilarious!!
August 20th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
….ah…… is there something you want to tell the rest of the family????