Water has always been my element. It feels like my second nature is a fish; give me access to a pool, and I’ll be in it every single day, without fail. But where I live now, swimming in the local lake is out of the question. Pollution has left the water unsafe, and even though the city has worked to clean it up, the lake still carries a distinct odor, and most people wouldn’t dream of eating the fish from it.
I could head to the beautiful Muskoka lakes or other provinces within Canada, but the cost and the cold often make those options less appealing. Even so, I know there are parts of Canada I should explore before I take the plunge and leave for good. I’m planning to do a run-through of some of the most popular spots, but my heart is already set on leaving. I’ve fantasized about island life for too long, and I believe I’ll end up in one of those places within the next year or two. In that time, I’ll start checking out Canada more, but the main focus is on finding a way to work remotely so I can achieve this goal.
But it’s not just about finding a place by the water and staying there forever. While I want my home base to be somewhere that isn’t Canada, where the cost of living is more reasonable and I can actually afford a house, I also dream of traveling to other places. I want to visit locations with deep historical significance, to walk down streets that have stood the test of time and witness the beauty of environments I’ve only seen in pictures. The setups, the historic look, the atmosphere of these places, it all calls to me. I don’t want to just move to one spot and never leave. I want the freedom to travel from my home base and explore all these amazing places the world has to offer.
This dream of island life, paired with the desire to explore the world, drives me forward every day. Yes, the pollution and cold of my current environment are stark contrasts to the warm, clear waters I dream of. But just as water flows and finds its way, I’m determined to find my way to the life I’ve always imagined, one where I can wake up by the water, travel to historical places, and live a life that isn’t weighed down by the high costs of living in Canada.
