Greenwood, BC

All is well up here in Canada thus far.
The universe chose Greenwood BC as our new home. The signs were muddled, at first, but quickly became clear. After leaving Nelson, there were 3 possible housing prospects. One was a high priced (way out of our league) home with the additional expense of having to pay someone several hundred dollars each winter to plow from house to highway... unfurnished as well... Then there was a sweet furnished half duplex, but only available until May, when we'd be forced to move at the height of tourist season. Plus I had a hinkey feeling... Then there was a totally trashed 5th wheel, to be moved onto a remote plot of land.... with no possibility of Internet or phone... Things were becoming frustrating...

We were exhausted by this point, and decided to pull into the first motel we saw. It was in Greenwood. In the morning Bob got to chatting with the motel owner, and he mentioned a few places that might be for rent... The first one, a house down the street, wasn't available for viewing until later in the afternoon... so we asked around. We got wind that the man who owns a hardware store, and "the Udder store" might have something for us, as may the folks who own the pizza joint. After walking around, and asking around, both places said they wouldn't have anything until the first, if then. That's quite a few nights at motel rates, so we figured we'd have to pass.

Then this sweet older lady name Bea started chatting with me, and the next thing I know, Bob and I are being dragged down the street to look at her place, as the apartment next to hers is open. When we get there we realize that sweet Bea is a bit confuzzled, as this is a home for senior citizens. She insists that its not "just" for seniors, but for low income folks as well, and convinces us to find the man in charge. He works at the city hall. When we got there, the man was out to lunch, but another worker told us it was his wife, the secretary at the elementary school, who was actually in charge of the apartments. So we went there, and she said she'd phone with an application later that day, if we wanted to check it out.

By now, it was getting pretty late, and feeling fairly hopeless... so Bob and I decided to drive onward. Just as we were leaving town there was a sign for a apartment to rent. So we stopped. There was no apartment still up for rent, but the man we met (Art) runs a B&B as well as a guest house. Well, let me tell you, Art can talk, and talk... eventually he offered to let Bob and I stay in the guest house for a fraction of the cost of a motel, so we could hang around and see if any of the apartments opened up. What the heck? We took him up on it.

Bob went to get some groceries for a few days at The Udder Store, and mentioned that we had a temporary place, so "please let us know if anything becomes available"... The man said that we should come see him in the morning, as he might be able to work something out... ? Minutes later we got a call from the folks who own the pizza place. They had a little 2 bedroom place, available suddenly... right now!

As bob and I went to see it, and get the particulars, the oddest thing happened. This is what let us know that we were meant to be here... A family of deer (a mom and 2 youngsters) were standing in the field / hill behind the apartments. One of them looked right at us, licked its back end, and seemed to say, "It took you long enough!"

Bob and I rented a little 2 bedroom apartment in Greenwood. It's a pretty small place... we even HAD to get a post office box, cuz most places here don't have mail boxes... (the PO box is free if you can't get "delivered" mail... grins)

When you enter the apartment on the left is a kinda big bathroom with a nice soak-y type tub. On the right is a bedroom and closet, where bob and I will sleep once we get a bed. Then It has a little kitchen with a fridge, oven/stove, sink and some wooden cabinets. Just off the Kitchen is a little living room. It's really one biggish room, but the kitchen area has white linoleum, and the living area has a grayish carpet. Past the living room is a closet and a bedroom... we'll be using it as the altar room and guest room probably. The apartment is over the town's only pizza joint! Bob and I are out door smokers only now... there is a nice wood lined and covered stair way up to the apartments (from a side street) that we use for smoking, IF we're not on the main street at the tables outside the pizza shop, gabbing with the owners or other town folk.

The most awesome thing about this town is that they have "town deer"... several deer (I think white tailed deer??? ) just wander around town! Very fun to watch. Of course, Gladness wants to catch one for a pet... lol... they are very skittish if you try to get too close, so no worries on that.

So far Bob and I have unloaded the car, folded clothes, set up 2 computers and Bob's kitchen. We've also gotten a couch and chair, and have a possible line on some other furniture (hopefully a bed and a TV!!!) Bob is also hoping for a kitchen table, and possibly a desk for the puters. Our land lords / pizza people think that some of the other renters may be moving, in which case we get 'dibs' on the furniture they leave... some of the apartments are partially furnished? i think? We've also got a phone and an Internet connection, with the option of cable TV if we get a TV to watch it on. so that way we are pretty set.

More later...