Last year, I eagerly planned a break following my full-time law practice which ended on Dec 31. When Jan 2, 2023 dawned though, the staycation stretching out in front of me seemed like an eternity and I was scared I couldn’t fill it. I’m at the other side of it now, and can report it was the best thing I could have planned.

So what have I done? Here are the highlights with lots of photographic evidence to follow. 

1. Writing - From first hatching the plan for a break from work, I said I would spend it writing. In fact, I believe I said I was going to complete a book manuscript I worked on in 2020-2021 and haven’t touched since. As I moved into 2023 though, I realized I didn’t - and still don’t - have the mind-set to touch that book. Instead, I have written blogs and other short pieces, approaching it all with the discipline of many writers - that is, I haven’t had much discipline at all! I have grabbed the laptop when I felt the time was right but haven’t pushed it. Other than the weekly blogs that is - for them, I’ve developed a routine of working Tuesday afternoons to get the following Sunday’s piece ready, a habit I commit to my webmaster I will maintain! 

2. Learning - In January, I completed a four week course called “Write, Edit, Publish,” to develop my writing skill with a view to getting some publications. Among other helpful tips, the instructor set the objective to have my writing in the hands of 20 publishers at all times. Not 20 different pieces thankfully — you can submit the same thing to multiple places - but this was a major step for me. Finding places to accept non-fiction pieces of the type and length I write takes time and so I’ve spent a lot of the past few weeks researching and submitting where I can. It has borne fruit! Gemini Magazine published a piece of mine this week. Click here to read it.  (Most exciting $20 (USD!!) I've earned!) Another piece of mine will come out in Ariel Chart in the next few weeks - I’ll be sure to share the link here when it’s live. Then I rounded out my staycation with a three day virtual retreat led by Alison Wearing, the memoirist/writing coach whose course, Memoir Writing Ink, kick-started my writing in 2020. One day, I’ll jet somewhere for one of her in-person events but until then, this was the elixir I needed. 

3. Overseeing Chandlerville - Being at home most of the past nine weeks has given me a front-row seat to the construction of my laneway suite, Chandlerville. Read the story starting with part 1 here.  Chatting with the contractor’s workers every day has made me feel involved in the process, despite not lifting a hammer! I spent January selecting vanity, faucets, lighting, fans, and the like and now I am eagerly anticipating my mid-April move-in. Chandlerville part 5 is coming to this blog soon!

4. Preparing my house for tenants -  January was also occupied with putting the final touches on my house so I could advertise it for rent for May 1. I’m proud of the transformation I’ve achieved in a year with the help of my handyman, Todd whose email address says it all: toddcandothat(at)gmail.com, and the terrific design consultants at Jade and Indigo. I’m looking for a tenant who wants a nicely furnished house in an established community in Toronto for a medium term rental (6 months to 2 years). Ideally, I’d like to tap the overseas market. If you know someone who might be interested, please send them to the link on sabbaticalhomes.com here.

5. Walking - Some have called my walking obsessive, but since the beginning of January, I’ve averaged 10.9 kms per day, in total, about the distance to Montreal. (that’s about 16,000 steps/day.) Most walks have taken me around Weston on streets I’ve walked countless times since the beginning of the pandemic, a practice that’s introduced me to many neighbours. Some days I’ve ventured to other parts of the GTA, alone or with friends. I couldn’t be prouder and have never felt fitter. I know I won’t be able to keep this up for the balance of the year, but I am confident I will keep my average at 8 km/day. 

6. Engaging with the community - When I moved to Weston in 2011, I was caught up in the excitement of living with Jack and so didn’t get involved much in the community. Then COVID kept my circle small. But I am, by nature, a social person and like the idea of being part of the broader community - you can take the girl outta Huron County, but the small-town spirit will remain in her forever. While you’d think social media would be the opposite of community engagement, it’s been key for me to make in-person connections. On Jan 1, I posted a message on the local FB page inviting neighbours to join me on a walk the next night. I had no idea what might happen and yes, I was a bit anxious about who might show up. It’s been great! Our group of between 4 and 8 has walked each Monday since. We’ve all met people we’d never otherwise know. I’m amazed at how grateful people are for doing such a small and frankly entirely selfish thing - I wanted company and put the word out. Weston feels more like home than ever and I will continue to find ways to create more community for myself; if others benefit, that’s good too!

7. Overnighting - My post-COVID re-entry to travel is still in its infancy. I did, however, venture beyond Toronto a few times overnight: to friends’ houses in Picton and Peterborough and by train to Montreal in February. It was great to break the bonds that were first imposed by the pandemic restrictions and then maintained by my own anxiety and inertia.  My next outing will be a co-op housing conference in Ottawa in June. And then, who knows - perhaps I will book a flight somewhere? Hang on - that’s just crazy talk:-) 

8. Visiting - After long periods of alone-time, I’ve revived my social skills with in-person lunches, dinners, walks, coffees, and glasses of wine with friends. Having the flexibility of a semi-retired person has made this so much easier!  I know I’ve missed some people on my list of must-reconnects. Hopefully I can continue to do this in the months to come. 

9. Reading - Voracious reading started when I was a kid on the farm. TV-less and miles from town, I immersed myself in the fictional worlds of LM Montgomery, CS Lewis, Arthur Ransome, Mazo de la Roche, and others who drew me in and kept me there. As I bought a TV, got a drivers licence, and developed other ways to distract myself, my reading became less central to my life, something I did for school or work, not for pleasure. These past nine weeks though I have made an effort to revive that part of me. I haven’t put much of a dent in the stack by my bed but I’ve gotten through a handful, the best of which I blogged about in February. Like many of my new-found or renewed habits, I hope I can sustain this one. 

10. Resting - the hardest part for me to get the hang of has been the actual resting. Taking breaks is not really my strong suit and even if I were on a vacation, I would have it packed with doing, rather than being. Whether it’s the nature of our society or just mine, feeling at loose ends sometimes makes me a little unhinged. It’s not a new feeling - certainly not a product of widowhood - and indeed I’ve gotten more comfortable with it in the last few years because of COVID. Since January 1, I’ve slept longer and more deeply than I have in a long while though, and this is something I hope to be able to sustain as I resume work next week.  For that is indeed what I’m doing. 

As you know, I will assume the role of Deputy Executive Director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto on a three-day a week basis starting tomorrow, March 6. Can’t wait. But sad to see the end of this much-needed and well-used break.

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