It’s Thanksgiving weekend and this is the holiday that my Mom had always asked for the family to get together, leaving Christmas ‘available’ for in-laws or home time with families. We always tried to make it work but this year will be very different. I’m thankful to be close to my sister and brother-in-law who form our ‘family bubble’ but we won’t be with Eric and Kirk and other family members. 2020 has been an ‘odd’ year to say the least but there is so much that we are thankful for. We have been only slightly inconvenienced by Covid-19 and have had so many amazing new experiences in our new home here in Ladysmith. So this post is dedicated to the many things for which we are thankful in this bizarre year.

In true Stewart fashion, I started by creating an ‘Alphabet of Thankfulness”. Instead of just listing alphabetically I decided to put it into prose. This way I can explain each one and you may not immediately see letters for which I did not have an entry.

Stewart 2020 Alphabet of Thankfulness

First and foremost I am thankful for, and say thank-you to, my family.

Bill is ever steadfast in his love and support and together we have made this new adventure work.

Eric and Kirk, even though far away in Ottawa and the UK, make the time each week to chat on WhatsApp. While not the same as being together, it helps reduce the distance! Thank-you to you both. We love you!

The support that Nicky and Derek provided in our move to Ladysmith made such a difference in this big move. Then being able to bike, hike, eat, watch football and enjoy each other’s company has made us feel welcome and not at all lonely in a new home.

Family is a good thing!

We are very thankful that we found such a special home on Farrell Rd and could make it ours. We love the location and still pinch ourselves that we are lucky enough to live here and enjoy the views everyday. The changing weather, activity on the water, sunsets, sunrises, clouds, birds always provide something to admire, either from inside with our big picture windows or on our expansive deck. I have so many pictures of beautiful coloured skies. They are all different and unique in their own way.

Of course we are thankful for the many activities we have been able to enjoy and the weather that made it possible. Warm and sunny days with no humidity brought blue skies that added to the beauty of anywhere we went and anything we did.

There is so much to see and explore; it feels like we are on permanent vacation! Our Moustache e-bikes were such a worthwhile investment. We have biked hills, trails, islands and distances that we never thought possible. They have provided freedom to explore and enjoy.

Hikes have taken us through beautiful forests with so many shades of green with towering trees and ferns, along cliffs with expansive sea views and up mountains.

Paddling our kayaks in new marine environments has been fun and educational. Joining the Nanaimo Paddling Club has allowed us to see areas we would not have easily found on our own and to paddle with exceptional people, who provided fellowship and guidance for which we have been very thankful.

In this Covid year, I’m thankful for Zoom! It has kept me connected with my Ottawa book club friends, providing great monthly discussions. Had Covid not happened, I would have had to say goodbye permanently by now.

Also in this Covid year we are very thankful we squeezed in a spectacular kayak trip to Belize just before lock down. We loved the teal waters, snorkelling, over-water cabanas, the people . . . . . I could go on and on but those memories are still vivid and satisfy our travel bug for now.

deserves a round of thanks! I have been able to mix rewarding work, on a part-time basis, with all our adventures. This has delayed full retirement but at the same time has added funds to our coffers to pay for our adventures and keep funds in our retirement investments. I’m very thankful I still have a place, on my terms, in this great company.

It’s been a journey of a couple years to get here. Once we decided we would not go to Utah, many successive decisions, some difficult, brought us to this new home but we made these decisions together and we are ever thankful we did. It has eXceeded our eXpectations with so many unexpected surprises and discoveries. It’s been amazing and awesome (had to fit a few more “A’s” in) and the year is not done yet!

Life is Good. Life is Very Good!

And for that we are very thankful.