One year in small town Alberta
Jun 27th 2013, 8:50 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: Alberta
Posts: 73
One year in small town Alberta
It feels very strange to think that we have only been here a year but last year this time we were on the plane and I was stressing out about whether all the paperwork was in order. In one sense nothing has changed because we put in our AINP application a couple of weeks ago and I'm still stressing about whether all the paperwork is in order!
We are both loving it here. It's marked an improvement in lifestyle for us - working hours are better for the OH, he is way more enthused about his job here than he ever was in England and we feel quite settled. I can't work as a lawyer as you have to be a PR to be admitted to the AB bar so am making the most of the downtime being a temporary housewife/handling the administrative side of OH's work.
We've made a whole host of friends and our social life here is a lot busier than it was in the UK (partly because we're not both exhausted from just working all the time). We've worked hard at it though and we've been fortunate in that the town we've moved to is very friendly. Living in a small town <6000 people has been mostly positive. There is a very active (and often inaccurate) grapevine which can be annoying at times but there is a sense of community that we felt was lacking where we previously lived.
We've survived a very snowy winter - winter tyres, good coats and hats and lots of skiing. Another recent canniversary post talked about the sunshine and how it makes a difference and that is so true.
We miss friends and family (and having our groceries delivered) but skype and whatsapp mean that it isn't too bad. My sister has already visited as have OH's folks - owning an affordable house big enough to host people certainly helps.
All in all, we're definitely glad we took the plunge.
We are both loving it here. It's marked an improvement in lifestyle for us - working hours are better for the OH, he is way more enthused about his job here than he ever was in England and we feel quite settled. I can't work as a lawyer as you have to be a PR to be admitted to the AB bar so am making the most of the downtime being a temporary housewife/handling the administrative side of OH's work.
We've made a whole host of friends and our social life here is a lot busier than it was in the UK (partly because we're not both exhausted from just working all the time). We've worked hard at it though and we've been fortunate in that the town we've moved to is very friendly. Living in a small town <6000 people has been mostly positive. There is a very active (and often inaccurate) grapevine which can be annoying at times but there is a sense of community that we felt was lacking where we previously lived.
We've survived a very snowy winter - winter tyres, good coats and hats and lots of skiing. Another recent canniversary post talked about the sunshine and how it makes a difference and that is so true.
We miss friends and family (and having our groceries delivered) but skype and whatsapp mean that it isn't too bad. My sister has already visited as have OH's folks - owning an affordable house big enough to host people certainly helps.
All in all, we're definitely glad we took the plunge.
Jun 27th 2013, 10:57 pm
#2
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 10,612
Re: One year in small town Alberta
Congratulations on your first year
Jun 28th 2013, 2:52 am
#3
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: One year in small town Alberta
Congratulations on your first year - glad to hear you are enjoying life!
With regards to getting groceries delivered, there are places that do - though I don't know if they will to the area you are living.
If you want to check, you can look at the webpages on this google link.
With regards to getting groceries delivered, there are places that do - though I don't know if they will to the area you are living.
If you want to check, you can look at the webpages on this google link.
Jun 28th 2013, 6:31 pm
#4
Pondering a career change
Joined: May 2012
Location: Sunshine Coast, BC
Posts: 2,595
Re: One year in small town Alberta
Congrats on your first year
Jun 29th 2013, 10:59 pm
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Kelowna, BC
Posts: 903
Re: One year in small town Alberta
Nice to read that you're settling well. Congrats on your first year & cheers to many more!
Jul 1st 2013, 2:09 am
#6
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Stauffer, AB
Posts: 842
Re: One year in small town Alberta
congratulations and good to hear you have settled
Jul 2nd 2013, 4:35 am
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 232
Re: One year in small town Alberta
Congratulations on your first year, sounds like it's all going well
Jul 2nd 2013, 7:47 am
#8
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Kent, England. Moving to Vancouver is my goal.
Posts: 4
Re: One year in small town Alberta
Lovely story! Best of luck for the future and hopefully the success continues
Jul 2nd 2013, 1:53 pm
#9
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 992
Re: One year in small town Alberta
Sounds wonderful, congratulations.
