Heading Back Downtown
Ten years ago when I separated from the exwife I moved to a part of the city which I enjoyed. It is an area known as the Beach. I loved the area because it was very safe, kids still played on the side walks and in the parks. At the time I was running a lot and there are a series of paved paths which are great for running, blading and biking. This area was once the cottage country for Toronto but now is rather like a small town within the city. The area is full of sidewalk cafes, coffee shops, pubs and just a very friendly area. It is also the named after the beautiful sandy beach area on the shore of Lake Ontario. The water may not be the cleanest but the beach is very beautiful.
In addition to that it had great access to the core of the city through the transit system. I could hop on a streetcar and go downtown to a concert or go to a gallery or play. I often took my son on our bikes and we road back and forth to St. Lawrence Market or up the bike paths to Sunny Brook Park. As he grew a little stronger we bladed quite a bit as well. I had a group of friends with whom I bladed and ran and really enjoyed the whole lifestyle.
I was working in Mississauga which is on the west side of the city but my drive back and forth to work wasn't too bad. Then about five years ago I took a new job with a company up in Vaughan, just north of Toronto. The drive to and from work was long even in the good weather but in winter it became and hour and a half each way. At the same time my attitude about the Beach area began to change. Many of the folks I had known had married and moved away, so I had lost most of the partners I had for blading and biking. Even the people in the pubs had seemed to change and much of the original friendliness was gone. My knee had gotten worst and worst to the point the doctor had told me to quit running. Along with the changes I just steadily got fed up with the drive and decided I should move up to an area near my work in Vaughan. I had a problem though because there were very few apartment buildings so I asked almost everyone I met if they knew of an apartment for rent. Finally about six months ago a fellow I knew said that he and his wife had just bought another house and they had discussed building an apartment in the basement. He asked if I was interested but I declined.
As time went on I still didn't find a place so I went back to this guy and asked if they had rented their basement yet. He said no but if I was interested they would consider it again. He invited me over to have a look. The house was in a very quiet neighbourhood and it appeared to be only about ten years old. The basement was fairly large and very clean and modern. He said that they would build a new kitchen and an entry way plus give me a fairly large storage area and a private bathroom. I agreed and left it to him to make the changes. I went back to my landlord and gave my two months notice.
It took a couple of months before the work was done but they had it finished just in time for my move. The apartment is very new and clean but after having lived there for four months now I am having second thoughts. I can't get used to living in darkness. I have tons of ceiling pot lights but the problem is that the two small windows open into window wells which are below ground. They are built properly but they don't have the direct access to sunlight.
When I wake up in the morning I never know whether it is night or day. That is really getting to me but that is only part of the problem.
The real issue is the area in which I am living. It is an Italian residential area. The homes are very nice the streets are neat and clean but the whole area is nothing but houses and malls. I have found one pub but even that is very friendly. There is nothing for a single person to do up here. I am not a person who enjoys sitting and watching television. I prefer to be out and doing things. I do have a nice gym to go to but there are no real paved paths to bike or blade on. The paths they do have go from gravel to concrete sidewalks on to the street and so on. Just in case you may not be familiar with blading, even one little stone or sidewalk crack can be a problem. So I have lost the chance to blade or really to bike and those things have become important since I am not supposed to be running anymore.
There are a couple of those big movies complexes but no real theatre and no live music. I miss going to the symphony or dropping in at a pub with a live band. I miss the little shops where customers are still people. I'm sure that many of you may not appreciate it but I like the little older wooden buildings and houses that have character. I love the shops with the vegtables and flowers piled out in front and spilling into the street.
So here I am faced with living in an area I don't want to be in and feeling guilty about walking out on a friend who converted his basement into an apartment for me. I have told my son that we have to stick it out for at least a year and in the meantime we can look around and find another area to move to. I really would like the next move to be the last move.
This year my son was only with me for a couple of days before Christmas and I had to take him home about noon of Christmas Day. I had dinner with a buddy and his daughter on Christmas and since then I have been back up here in Vaughan. WITH NOTHING TO DO!
I came in to work on Monday and Tuesday really only as a way to fill the time. Now I am faced with filling the time until we actually get back to our regular routine on January 2nd. I went over to the one little pub and they told me that they wern't even going to open on New Year's Eve. I don't really want to go down into the city and face driving all the way back up here afterward. On top of which if I go down there I will end up having more than a few drinks and I don't want to be drinking and driving.
Well I guess I will be listening to some music and reading or I might start to dabble with the water colours. I am planning on trying to teach myself to paint watercolours this year but I didn't plan on doing that on New Year's Eve. Anyone want to come over for a drink?
In addition to that it had great access to the core of the city through the transit system. I could hop on a streetcar and go downtown to a concert or go to a gallery or play. I often took my son on our bikes and we road back and forth to St. Lawrence Market or up the bike paths to Sunny Brook Park. As he grew a little stronger we bladed quite a bit as well. I had a group of friends with whom I bladed and ran and really enjoyed the whole lifestyle.
I was working in Mississauga which is on the west side of the city but my drive back and forth to work wasn't too bad. Then about five years ago I took a new job with a company up in Vaughan, just north of Toronto. The drive to and from work was long even in the good weather but in winter it became and hour and a half each way. At the same time my attitude about the Beach area began to change. Many of the folks I had known had married and moved away, so I had lost most of the partners I had for blading and biking. Even the people in the pubs had seemed to change and much of the original friendliness was gone. My knee had gotten worst and worst to the point the doctor had told me to quit running. Along with the changes I just steadily got fed up with the drive and decided I should move up to an area near my work in Vaughan. I had a problem though because there were very few apartment buildings so I asked almost everyone I met if they knew of an apartment for rent. Finally about six months ago a fellow I knew said that he and his wife had just bought another house and they had discussed building an apartment in the basement. He asked if I was interested but I declined.
As time went on I still didn't find a place so I went back to this guy and asked if they had rented their basement yet. He said no but if I was interested they would consider it again. He invited me over to have a look. The house was in a very quiet neighbourhood and it appeared to be only about ten years old. The basement was fairly large and very clean and modern. He said that they would build a new kitchen and an entry way plus give me a fairly large storage area and a private bathroom. I agreed and left it to him to make the changes. I went back to my landlord and gave my two months notice.
It took a couple of months before the work was done but they had it finished just in time for my move. The apartment is very new and clean but after having lived there for four months now I am having second thoughts. I can't get used to living in darkness. I have tons of ceiling pot lights but the problem is that the two small windows open into window wells which are below ground. They are built properly but they don't have the direct access to sunlight.
When I wake up in the morning I never know whether it is night or day. That is really getting to me but that is only part of the problem.
The real issue is the area in which I am living. It is an Italian residential area. The homes are very nice the streets are neat and clean but the whole area is nothing but houses and malls. I have found one pub but even that is very friendly. There is nothing for a single person to do up here. I am not a person who enjoys sitting and watching television. I prefer to be out and doing things. I do have a nice gym to go to but there are no real paved paths to bike or blade on. The paths they do have go from gravel to concrete sidewalks on to the street and so on. Just in case you may not be familiar with blading, even one little stone or sidewalk crack can be a problem. So I have lost the chance to blade or really to bike and those things have become important since I am not supposed to be running anymore.
There are a couple of those big movies complexes but no real theatre and no live music. I miss going to the symphony or dropping in at a pub with a live band. I miss the little shops where customers are still people. I'm sure that many of you may not appreciate it but I like the little older wooden buildings and houses that have character. I love the shops with the vegtables and flowers piled out in front and spilling into the street.
So here I am faced with living in an area I don't want to be in and feeling guilty about walking out on a friend who converted his basement into an apartment for me. I have told my son that we have to stick it out for at least a year and in the meantime we can look around and find another area to move to. I really would like the next move to be the last move.
This year my son was only with me for a couple of days before Christmas and I had to take him home about noon of Christmas Day. I had dinner with a buddy and his daughter on Christmas and since then I have been back up here in Vaughan. WITH NOTHING TO DO!
I came in to work on Monday and Tuesday really only as a way to fill the time. Now I am faced with filling the time until we actually get back to our regular routine on January 2nd. I went over to the one little pub and they told me that they wern't even going to open on New Year's Eve. I don't really want to go down into the city and face driving all the way back up here afterward. On top of which if I go down there I will end up having more than a few drinks and I don't want to be drinking and driving.
Well I guess I will be listening to some music and reading or I might start to dabble with the water colours. I am planning on trying to teach myself to paint watercolours this year but I didn't plan on doing that on New Year's Eve. Anyone want to come over for a drink?
posted by Whine 'n' Cheese | 2:00 p.m.
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