We caught the 7:45 ferry, on Friday to the island. We left the dogs behind with Mom and Auntie as the car was packed with boxes and we had a lot to do in town.

Registered for a PO Box (free), forwarded our mail (84.00), changed our address at the DMV (free), copied keys (20.00) and loaded the boat with boxes from home. SK was at the boat and helped us load up. She gave us a big hug and seemed thrilled with our move. Then back to town to pick up the on demand water heater supplies  ($2400.00) from Bill the gas guy. Pressure tank from Home Depot (230.00) , odds and sods from Home Hardware (gift certificate from Mom) and groceries from 49th. Back to the boat where SK had loaded the repaired lawn mower for Papas place. When all was said and done, we were full to the brim. But the trip was quick and smooth. No wind, flat calm seas and we were thrilled to be heading to our new home.

First night at the house was perfect. The seal, otters, birds and deer were all out to greet us.

We carried all the supplies down to the house and flopped into a heap on the umbrella chairs we brought as a last thought. Sitting at the front of the house on the cliff watching the sunset was surreal. Ian had chilled the champagne while we unloaded and we had cracked plastic glasses from one of the boxes to drink a toast to our new life.

Pinch me…!!!

Saturday I spent a couple of hours weeding the rockery in the garden. I was planning where I will put the cuttings I have been carrying around since we left the family home two years ago.

I know nothing about vegetable gardening and am the most unsophisticated of gardeners. I don’t know the latin names.

With the joys of menopause I can barely remember the common names. But I know what I like and I love to play with my flowers. The nice thing about gardening is that if you make a mistake you can just dig it up and move it, if it dies you chalk it up to experience and plant something different. I can spend hours weeding in complete contentment. I love it and I have missed it …….

Saturday afternoon we started to move the boxes from Papas which we had stored over the winter. We felt an urgency to “get it all done”.. But our neighbour and friend  stopped by to say hello and she reminded us that “it doesnt have to done today, you have the rest of your lives”…. Just hearing those words from her reminded us, that this isn’t some quick weekend visit to Papas. It doesn’t have to be done immediately. There is no pressure here.

We have the rest of our lives.