Wishing for warm sunny days....wishes CAN come true!

It has turned cold quickly here in PEI...almost feels like the universe is reminding of yet another reason why Saba is such a great option....you see, I really dislike the cold and the snow.....I hate being cold and dressing in layers, I dislike cold north winds that make your eyes and nose run, I really don't like slippery (sorry PEI'ers, not slippy) icy, snow covered roads.....so this cold weather is reminding me that I am not a winter person and ....well.....I don't have to be for the next 20 months!!! Yeah, yippee! I have always wanted to live in a warm climate and I used to swear that the stork went way too far north when dropping me off, so now is my opportunity to give it a try....

I am still in regular communication with my Saba penpals (I guess email/facebook pals is more accurate) I just finished reviewing a 13 page list of items for sale that my new Saba friend has sent (things she is selling...it is hard to take stuff off the island when you leave!) There are things that I had never heard of or thought of...such as little dehumidifier things for the drawers and closets...apparently the humidity can cause mold and mildew very quickly so you have to make sure that you are doing something to alleviate this. The climate is particularly hard on leather ( so no Naot sandals, they will remain in storage in PEI) and also on metal/chrome objects (although can't think right off of how that will be an issue for us?)

Monty is getting excited to go. He keeps talking about the warm weather, the scuba diving, and the telescope for star gazing....He and Joe are making lots of neat plans for fun things to do....I am relieved as initially Monty was very stressed about the whole thing, so I am glad that he is coming around....Christian isn't so sure, he says that he will miss Amy (his Nana's dog)....and of course Nana and family members....I think that they will both love that I will be home more with them and we will be able to spend some real quality time together. I have dreams of games nights and rain forest walks and projects on the local wildlife (mostly lizards, birds and wild goats). I also have visions of me having time to cook wholesome, healthy meals (instead of the rushed convenience crap that we often resort to with our busy life) Maybe I am being a bit ambitious! but for now this is my dream and we will see how it all turns out......

We already have visitors coming (Joe's parents) in February! We are so excited and so are the kids. And my mom is planning to come in late March.....Also a couple of my university friends are interested in coming down in March or April.....I hope lots of people take the opportunity to come visit, we'd love to see everyone and share our little unique space while we are there (and it will help us with the loneliness that we may feel being so far away from home)

Anyway it is getting late and I better sign off....I enjoy writing about this as it helps me realize that it is getting closer.....what an adventure we are about to have.....crazy, crazy, crazy.....
Have a great night! :)

3 months to go......

In 3 months time, we will be heading to Saba...it is really hard to believe....and soooo much work to get there...we finally have plane tickets booked (well almost, just need the jump from St maarten to Saba booked) and thanks to Tigger, our beloved pooch, we have to pay $1000 extra to fly on an airline that will actually take dogs over the "holiday" season....(some Canadian airlines aren't so accommodating!) So we have been trying to book a van or some vehicle to get us to Halifax for our flight, but we haven't had much luck so far.....so getting to Saba isn't an easy, one step process......but in 3 months we will be there.......

We have a house rented! a cute 3 bedroom cottagy type place.....I will post pics once we get settled so that all of you can have a peek! And we finally found a car....let me tell you that was quite a challenge.....for one, many of the cars don't have seat belts!! Yes you read that right....apparently seat belts are not a priority for Saba (but they are for me and my paramedic, some-day-to-be-doctor husband!) so we had to make sure we asked that question for each car we checked out.....I also decided that I wanted an automatic...I am perfectly capable of driving a standard (and have one now) however the road in Saba is very steep and twisty so I am thinking that there would be a whole lot of stalling going on if I were to drive up hill!I hate to admit it but I suck when I drive on the slightest incline and end up squeeling the tires (shhhh don't tell Joe) So to save the stress (and the tires and the people behind me who apparently won't be wearing seatbelts!) I decided automatic it is....Joe could care less.....so our new (almost ) car is going to be a 2002 silver suzuki vitara....a little jeep like thing....the kids think it is pretty cool.....so, all in all we are slowly getting there with the planning....I know that it will all fall into place, just in time to board the plane! and in 4 months time I will be tanned (and maybe skinny from all the "hiking" and "mountain climbing" ??) and living in Paradise (well paradise without seatbelts!!) It is getting closer and I am ready to get this show on the road.....talk to you again soon...good night!

Incorrect website.....so here's the right one!

ok....so Joe tells me that I gave you an incorrect website for the medical school ....it is actually
www.saba.edu Sorry about that! Happy searching.....oh and if you are interested in seeing some photos of Saba, here is an interesting website www.iwhealon.com This is a woman and her family who are currently living there.....we may rent the house that she is living in (she and her family leave in December) So go have a peek....check out our (potential) view!! Don't ya wish it was you??

We have been busy looking up Saba and finding out all that we need to know before we move down there....it sounds like a very interesting place! It is very small (5 square miles!) and there isn't much in terms of shopping there.....tons of hiking and scuba diving apparently. So the cool thing is that Monty and Joe will become certified and they will go scuba diving together (when Joe has time?) Monty is very excited about scuba diving and so is Joe....apparently Saba is one of the top scuba destinations in the world...they even have shark dives! I am pretty sure they won't be trying that! I like them both in one piece as opposed to multiple ones! Monty and Joe have been talking about all the creatures that they might see together, octopus, rays, topical fish galore, coral reefs, sea sponges etc etc.....Christian is too young yet to scuba so I will stay on the safety of the shore with him! (good thing I have Christian or someone might expect me to scuba!) Maybe he and I will try snorkelling.....anything can happen on this new adventure! Only 5 months until we head out!

Dawn

First Time for everything

So...this is my first try at a blog....I've never felt compelled to write one before this, but with our being about to embark on the "adventure of a lifetime" I felt that this would be a way to share this with you......So the big adventure is that Joe has been accepted to medical school!!! Can you believe it??? After leaving his career and taking the big brave step of returning to university to complete an undergrad honors degree in biology his (and mine, let's not forget mine!) hard work have paid off.....Now where the "excellent adventure" part kicks in is next....are you ready??

WE ARE MOVING TO THE CARIBBEAN....YES YOU READ IT RIGHT....I SAID THE CARIBBEAN!!! We are moving to a tiny tiny wee island in the middle of the Caribbean....the island is called Saba and before this I had never heard of it....but I am learning lots quickly and connecting with people living there and studying there and I have to say that I am pumped! Oh and here's the sad news (ha ha....) There are NO social work jobs on Saba...not one teensy weensy one and so I....Dawn....will not have to WORK.....I know you are thinking holy cow.....living in the caribbean and not working???? At least that is what I am thinking and I am so excited.....I have been dreaming every night, and sometimes during the day (sorry work) about this whole thing.....it feels a little crazy, but I just know it is meant to be......Joe, of course is very excited as well....Christian can't wait and Monty is a little hesitant but he is warming up to the idea.....so before you go any further go google SABA or here are a few websites
www.sabaedu.com (the med school site) and www.sabatourism.com (self explanatory)....I am expecting all of you to come visit us while we spend 20 months (Jan '09-Aug '10) in paradise, ok? Toodles for now......Dawn