Mastodawn

EllenIn Edmonton

@dave
You haven't been visiting us! I think that the change of seasons is a natural time to have a burst of energy and interest in new things.
For me, I'm trying to maintain streaks in the various interests that I have, with very good results. A person can make a lot of progress with a daily small effort in various areas.
Are you on the island this year?

@EllenInEdmonton I have not! I've been working on building myself back up... feels like I'm getting there, slowly.

I agree the change of seasons makes sense... my problem is the boom-bust nature of my focus, the deep exhaustion after going hard on something, and feeling like I have to rebuild everything from the ground up after every cycle.

Maintaining streaks on a variety of fronts is perfect! That's what I'm trying to do - incremental, well-paced progress on a few things, instead of going hard all on one thing.

Yeah I think we may be settling down on the island! We love it here, though my wife is worried about health care. She has specialists and a family doctor of 30 years in Ontario - but she also hates having to go back for health stuff. Trying to figure out if we can get referrals to specialists here.

EllenIn Edmonton 2d ago

@dave
BC has an astonishing shortage of health professionals, given how many of them wanted to relocate there. Still, it's worth trying to get referrals and settle that aspect of life. I've had numerous family members on the island over the years, but I've never been tempted to make the move myself, preferring 4 seasons that are generally sunny. It's a nice place to visit regularly.

@EllenInEdmonton We're hoping her existing specialists in ON can refer cross-province... I've read about mixed experiences with that but it doesn't hurt to ask.

As for a family doctor, I believe it's a 6-12+ month waiting list depending on where you are.

I found the winter tougher than I expected, but Vitamin D supplements and a light therapy lamp made a noticeable difference. Still, I prefer it over the alternatives.

That being said, the island might not be the best place to settle down given the current gas prices. Victoria's got some of the highest prices in the country right now.

EllenIn Edmonton 2d ago

@dave
If you can stay somewhere that allows you to use transit or your ebikes, the gas prices are less of a problem, but that might not be easy when you live in an RV. I've certainly kept my car parked more days than not over the winter.
Try to get on the list for docs ASAP. My sister and brother-in-law waited the better part of a year to get a Nurse Practitioner, but they've since been able to get him a hip replacement, so there are options.

@EllenInEdmonton An ebike might be a wise investment! We're considering settling down our pace and just moving back and forth between the same two campgrounds at least for the next year.

We have to leave this one - outside of Victoria - the end of this month, and we're headed up-island to a spot around Parksville and Nanaimo. Then we'd probably come back to this campground in November for the winter.

There's a 30-40+km regional trail that goes right by where we are now. It'd be perfect for getting to town on an ebike. Not sure about the place we're headed next though.

EllenIn Edmonton 2d ago

@dave I’ve wanted to bike on the Goose since I learned of its existence but it still hasn’t happened. I hiked a stretch of it in Sooke. I haven’t taken it but transit service looks good up-island.