It’s official. We’re moving in a few months up north to Prince Rupert.
I’m sad and excited at the same time. I’m going to miss friends and the community I’ve grown to love but I’m eager to get ahead financially and be closer to our 79 acre well off the grid property.
I wonder what it will be like. I’ve never been to Prince Rupert. Heck, I didn’t even know it was located on an island! I wonder if I’ll meet anyone with similar interests and values. I wonder if there is a community of home learners. I wonder if the dark winters are going to be really hard on me.
I’m so looking forward to buying another house. We haven’t been able to afford owning a home here on Vancouver Island. I love the character homes and affordable prices I see on mls.ca and our realtor seems to understand what we’re looking for. We’re going to be heading up soon for a house hunting trip.
I’ll have so much more to say on this move as things begin to happen. I just wanted to put those words out there. We’re moving.
I have a feeling that you will find a gem of a house up there…
I look forward to hearing about how your househunting trip will go… have you decided yet when will you be doing that?
Well it will be hard to see you as often as we’re used to, but I’m sure you will have a so much fun. I haven’t been to QCI since the summer I lived there but once we’re closer I’m sure Kevin will want to go check it out and I will want to do all the things a broken clavicle prevented me from doing last time! You’ll be right on the way.
I only took the Port Hardy – Prince Rupert ferry once but it was such gorgeous weather and the boat feels more like a cruise ship than a ferry. I’m sure you’ll enjoy that part if you go up that way too. And I seem to remember there being some pretty good history in PR too but I only spent a few hours there so I don’t know for sure.
I’m looking forward to hearing about your house hunting trip and am excited at the prospects of you owning a house again.
Oh Annie, and here I was thinking that one nice thing about us possibly moving was we’d be closer to where you guys are. I can understand how you’re feeling, because I have the same feelings just thinking about moving 45 minutes away, though I bet you’re feeling them even stronger than I am going so far. Good luck with the house hunting.
Hello,
Our family had to travel north to find affordable property to start living off the grid as well.
If you need any help with your move let us know.
Les and Jane
How exciting! I’ve never heard of Prince Rupert but I just checked out the website and it looks lovely. I understand your mixed feelings.
We’re hoping to move out of the city soon, but as much as we want to we’ve been stalling it. Will have to take your bold move as inspiration.
Sarah x
PS My bread was better but still brick like. A few more baking sessions and we should be able to begin a self build with home made materials LOL ;)
*sniff*
wow, girl! prince rupert- that’s up there! how did you decide to go there considering you’ve never been? what will your man do for work? that’s what always stopped us from moving to rural New Mexico, among other places- what would we do there for income? anyhow, very exciting! and it looks gorgeous. what are your plans for off the grid? (what we wanted to do also in NM)
Paxye- we’ve have more to talk about with the relocation people. Once we have more information from them, we can plan a trip. I’m guessing as soon as next week. I’d like to buy know where we are going to be living asap.
Sarah- what the heck is up with your bread?? Do you live at a higher elevation? Not enough or too much kneading/rising?? That’s so crazy that it’s not working for you.
Krista- I’m so going to miss you but I’m at least glad we met!
Sarah- It’s actually dh’s job that’s relocating us! That’s the best part- move to a small rural community and still have job security. And if it’s really small than we save a lot of money to boot. I can’t wait to enjoy all that there is to be had in rainy Prince Rupert.
Have you read the 100 Mile Diet? The property that the authors own and visit in the book is very near our own property. It’s on the Kispiox River (between Terrace and Smithers). It’s very well established being in the family for the last 35 ish years. We’ll be living only 2.5 hours away so I can’t wait to spend off days there. It’s wonderfully peaceful out there. I should find pictures and post about it.
So glad for you, Annie, that this will enable you to afford a house.
Sailing the Inside Passage has been on my wish list for a long time. I’ll pop up to Prince Rupert to have a cup of tea with you — with prior warning, of course. :-)
How exciting! That whole part of the coast sounds fascinating, and exceedingly beautiful as well. Congratulations.
Are you signing up for a three-year term, or can you stay longer if you like?
I hope you love it.
Well, I’m happy for you of course but *sniff* really sad for me…we will miss you guys. Even more important to try to get together now over the next few months while we can.
Hi Annie
It sounds amazing. I am sure you will love it. I have learned it’s in Northern BC just south of the southern tip of Alaska, at latitude 54° 17′ N. We are at 57° 48′ in N Scotland, so our daylight will be similar – we love the light summer nights! How fantastic. Those islands look incredible – I would absolutely love to live around there. You are so, so lucky, and to have a large amount of land off-grid. We can’t buy any here it is so expensive and totally unavailable! Our alpacas have to squat on someone else’s estate, not ideal. Go for it!!!! (Maybe we’ll join you!)
Judy- I’d love to have you if you came up!
Gabriolan- We’re going to be in Prince Rupert for four years and then from there I don’t know. We’ve thought maybe one more short stints somewhere or go directly to where we want to buy property and build our own home. Where will that be? We’re still mulling if over… but we’ve had plans for a self sustainable home for a long time. My dh’s is a journeyman carpenter with experience with alternative building. I’m really excited about what the future has to offer!
Deirdre- we’re for sure going to come down and see you before we go. That’s a must.
Lucy- I thought we’d be about the same latitude! That’s so cool. How do you deal with the dark winters? That’s what I’m worried about. I’ve been that far north at different times of the year and can’t imagine a whole winter. It’s something I worry about. You’ll have to consider visiting sometime. There’s no shortage of room on our property which is right on an amazing river.
Hmmm, I hate the dark winters at this stage in my life because I am so tied to the house, and I really don’t like not being able to go out and do things like classes and seeing people. I have never been at all bothered about it before being in my current situation. But I do love snuggling up in front of a fire and reading or just relaxing when it’s dark outside. It feels very festive at Christmas and New Year too. I also remember that many cultural traditions have survived because people have had to do things to pass the long dark hours, and that to me is very cool! Things like music, step-dancing, ballads, storytelling, ceilidhs etc…. and domestic crafts like knitting, sewing, woodcarving and so on.
Exciting stuff! I’m off to explore it, online that is.
Thanks so much for this Lucy. I love this comment because it’s exactly what I needed to hear. It is a down time and it should be embraced for what it is. I love all these things you suggest and even find them hard to fit in at times. Maybe I’ve been missing this all along. It’s my Scottish blood telling me I need a real winter? Ha.
Peggy- you should plan a trip to Alaska sometime in the future and come and visit us on the way!
I suppose it’s one of the things I like about Scotland – the seasons are well defined by the light issue. We do different things in winter. I cook lots and always put on about half a stone then shed it in the summer. We make our own mincemeat for pies, Christmas cake, pudding etc. I love breaking out the preserves from the summer and making soups with the frozen tomatoes. Oh dear, i sound totally food obsessed now!
Nothing wrong with food obsessed. Okay, I might say that because I am food obsessed myself!
ps. You’re making me hungry
If I were single, I’d think about moving to the BC’s north coast area myself. It looks so tempting!
Annie, I’m excited that you’ll have a new adventure in a fantastic place, but I’ll miss knowing that you’re near Gabriola – you’re such an interesting blogger! If you have time and the inclination, I’d love to meet you for coffee or something before you go. I’m often on Gabriola (because, um, I live here) and am in Nanaimo once a week or so. If you’re interested in going for a walk or having tea with an absolute stranger (though a friendly one!) who reads your blog, drop me a note.
I hope your plans for the move are all going smoothly.
Gabriolan, I’m going to be on Gabriola tomorrow. I’ve been invited to a concrete bucket brigade party…. hey… wait a minute… why do I get the feeling I’m just going over there to work? Nah, just kidding. I’m happy and excited to take part and help. My friend’s house is getting the central wall poured and they need the extra hands.
I’d be happy to have coffee or a walk sometime! I’m over on Gabriola quite a bit and being a stay at home mom, I’m usually free or have a flexible schedule. I’ll email you when I have a moment.
I was just browsing through your blog after seeing you mentioned in ‘this inspired life’. I see you’re moving to Rupert! I lived there for 3 years, until my son turned two. I think the folks are really lovely. I did feel isolated but mostly because my husband worked a lot, and being away from family with my first born. The one thing that I would try to do different is to make room, financially, to have a boat or kayaks and spend a lot more time on the water… whenever I did, it really made it so amazing. If you like to eat out, Cow Bay Cafe (it’s not a coffee shop, it’s a dinner place) is sooo so good! But call ahead, you’ll need a reservation. Cowpuccino’s is a great coffee shop though! Really great atmosphere!
Good luck house hunting!
(sorry about the double comment, I just couldn’t live with the typos, cheers)