The 10th of March Hubby and I will have moved into this house 7 years ago. Who would have thought that much time would go so quickly. When we first moved here things were pretty rough. The house was built prior to our moving here by a Norwegian sailor/cowboy. He had built it for his wife and himself to move in to as part of their Canadian adventure. She came and took one look and decided to move home... he didn't want to go and so divorce seemed the best option. The house went up for sale as part of the divorce settlement. Enter Hubby and moi.
Let me tell you that purchasing this house was no small task and especially from a Norwegian sailor/cowboy with grand ideas of the wild west. He didn't have a clue really about the laws of Canada and felt that he could sell us the house and use the same lawyer that we had.... He wanted to come visit the lawyer the same day we did and thought it all could be done in one afternoon. We eventually got it all worked out but it was a painful process.
We have never regretted living in this house and we have never regretted our lifestyle here which believe me has been a little uncooth at times. The needs of a Norwegian sailor/cowboy and his wife are quite different than a family of four with two dogs and two cats. For example, when we fist moved into this house there was carpet on the kitchen floor and only one bedroom. Hubby and I, in our wisdom, moved the kids into the closet in our bedroom and managed to squash the possessions of four people into 600 square feet. We eventually closed off the cathedral ceiling in our living room, and built a large upstairs room for the girls. Over the years a number of changes have been made to the house the least of which was not the extensive renovations to the kitchen (where we took up the carpet) or the addition of a front door and porch. We have added a 600 square foot deck. It's a cozy home and though it has a very lived in look most of the time, I for one love it here.
I'm sitting here listening to the CBC show, Daybreak North, which is broadcasting from the local cafe in our little town. They are interviewing the Boones from Bears Flats just up the highway from here and they are talking about Site C. Site C is like saying the "F" word in our neck of the woods. Site C is a proposed hydro electric dam that will ruin a river valley which is one of the most beautiful valleys anywhere, and we happen to live in it. People will be displaced and the town will will be cut off from the nearest centre so suffice it to say that it is a touchy subject for sure in this locale. My family will not actually be affected directly but the new lake will certainly be our neighbour. What people don't realize is that reservoir lakes are dead. They cause horrible amounts of sluffing (sloughing) and the wind turns all the sluffed banks into dust whirlwinds. It is a horrible sight to see when that much dust lays a coating of inches over everything.... it looks like an atomic bomb has gone off. And of course no animals can survive such conditions. I hope Site C doesn't go ahead. Our property will lose most of its value.... not a nice thing I assure you.
The Boones are not alone in their fight against Site C. Many people like us have bought homes in this valley because it is so beautiful. They want to see life in their chosen homeland stay beautiful and I can understand that.
So it is with this in mind that Hubby and I embark on renovations to our home... not lightly let me tell you. We are sitting on a time bomb really. If we invest another 40 - 50 thousand dollars into our home we do not want to see it lose value but rather gain. We do not invest the money for the reason of gaining or losing but because we need the space, but gaining in value is certainly expected when investing that kind of money. The reservoir will basically lick at the edges of our property and the property of our neighbours. We have the risk of being buried under those inches of blowing sand and dust. Our land will become basically valueless.
It is interesting to hear the people talk on the radio about Site C. Some people are for Site C and some are adamantly against it. I realize that it may bring with it economic growth but then I look out at my animals and wonder what will happen to me and my family.
Hubby and I canoed the river about two years ago. We canoed the area that will be affected if Site C goes ahead. We want to do it again this year and we hope to take the girls with us this time.... at least part of the way. I want them to see what beauty will be destroyed if Site C goes ahead. I want them to know what life was like before Armageddon.
It is interesting to listen to people talking so coolly about something that can be so significant in their lives and ours. But listen I do... I just pray that when all is said and done, the good Lord above is watching over us and will touch us and this valley with only good things.
Anyway renovations are certainly in our future.... whether Site C is, remains to be seen.
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