7.12.2020

in which i reflect on the joys of summer in north vancouver island, especially during the pandemic

In 2015, Allan and I moved into an apartment, for the first time since leaving New York City in late 2005.

We had rented a series of houses for 10 years. Now the market had changed and it was clear there were no houses for rent in our price range that would offer long-term stability and a decent commute.

There is no way we would consider buying a house in the Toronto area, and we had no interest in buying a condo. This meant we were forced to move back to rental apartment life. We found a great apartment, as rentals go -- three bedrooms, two bathrooms -- at an affordable rent. And we adjusted.

I'm very aware of my own privilege, so I consciously found the positives and tried not to complain about the negatives. But truth be told, it was a difficult adjustment, and definitely a diminished sense of well-being and happiness. I sorely missed having private outdoor space -- a lack that had me scheming to find a way to leave NYC many years before we actually did. Having a backyard was the reason I made peace with suburban life. Living in an apartment in suburbia just made no sense.

The other negatives were doing laundry (a minor nightmare), frequent elevator breakdowns (and their impact on dog-walking), and above all, not having control over the temperature of our living space.

Both Allan and I hate hot, humid, summer weather. In NYC, we would spend the summer trapped in our apartment with the air-conditioner blasting 24/7. (I am not exaggerating.) Now we found ourselves in the same situation, but so much worse -- because we couldn't control it. Giant Corporate Landlord made tenants suffer the heat for at least a month before turning on the air-conditioning, then never turned it up high enough, then cut it off months before it cooled down outside. For months, we were always too warm and never really comfortable. (Again, I'm aware of all my privilege as I write this.)

As it turned out, this disappointing regression to apartment life was the push I needed to make the next Big Life Change. After our first trip to Vancouver and to visit our west-coast family, in the taxi home from the airport, surrounded by ugly, grey concrete and smog-choked air, I said, "Why do we even live here anymore?"  Much like "Why don't we move to Canada?" in 2003, I look back on these words as a door we consciously opened.

Fast-forward to the bizarre world of 2020. We have been incredibly fortunate, more fortunate than I can express, to ride out the pandemic in (1) BC, where Dr. Bonnie Henry has been a true leader and model, (2) a remote, sparsely populated area where infection rates are very low, and (3) a comfortable home with a great deck and a big backyard.

And now it is summer. At least that's what the calendar says. In Mississauga, temperatures in the 30s, sometimes with a "feels-like" (as the Weather Network calls it) of more than 40. (American readers: 40 C = 104 F.) To us, anything over 20 (68) is hot, and anything over 25 (high 70s) is very uncomfortable. 30 (86) is unbearable.

Here in Port Hardy, we have yet to see a day over 20 (68). This summer is unusually cool, but even during 2019's more typical summer weather, we never missed having an air-conditioner. A few times we used a fan in the bedroom, and it was easily cool enough to sleep.

I'm imagining living in that Mississauga apartment with inadequate cooling and over-crowded elevators, with the pandemic raging. I'm so sorry that so many people are suffering... and I'm so grateful to be where I am.

Mississauga, July 2020


Port Hardy, July 2020

Photo from July 10, 2020. Seriously.

7 comments:

allan said...

Giant Corporate Landlord made tenants suffer the heat for at least a month before turning on the air-conditioning, then never turned it up high enough, then cut it off months before it cooled down outside.

aka The Morguard Corporation. Morguard did many things to inconvenience its tenants or make them extremely uncomfortable. If the reason wasn't to maximize its profits, there was never a logical reason.

One example: Tenants rented underground parking spaces, but if you were running a lot of errands or were going back out in a few hours, parking outside in the 70-space lot made sense. The lot was rarely, if ever, completely full. Then Morguard banned tenants from parking in the lot as part of an effort to prevent non-residents and non-guests from using it. But they also claimed it was make sure there were 25 spaces available for weekend guests. Which made zero sense. That meant there were always at least 45 empty spaces on weekends and always 65+ empty spaces during the week. There were numerous very simple ways to prevent "outsiders" from using the lot without making life difficult for rent-paying tenants.

But Morguard is the kind of company who employs (and promotes) a building manager who continually made up nonsensical excuses to avoid doing anything to address tenant issues. When I pointed out that some tenants had their big dogs off leash in the elevators and hallways (not allowed), she yelled "I DON'T CARE!" and refused to even put up a sign reminding people of this rule.

Needless to say, I was glad to get out of that fucking building.

From Laura's calendars:
July 8 (C): Mississauga: 34.6, Post Hardy: 14.2
In (F): Mississauga: 94, Post Hardy: 57

The Disaffected Lib said...

It's been an unusually cool and damp summer, Laura. To me that translates into a minimal wildfire season with little to no smoke issues. Sure I would like it a few degrees warmer, mid-20s would be nice but when I talk with relatives in Ontario, our cool and damp is vastly better than the sweltering heat and humidity.

laura k said...

Yes, but

This summer is unusually cool, but even during 2019's more typical summer weather, we never missed having an air-conditioner. A few times we used a fan in the bedroom, and it was easily cool enough to sleep.

I agree!

laura k said...

Disaffected Lib, I didn't realize you were on the Island! Parksville is beautiful.

laura k said...

James! I think I accidentally deleted a comment from you. Jumpy screen. If you did leave a comment, please re-post!

Amy said...

So glad you've found your happy place. And thanks for posting in Fahrenheit so I didn't have to take out my calculator!

James Redekop said...

I was just saying, Lori & I are also enjoying being in BC weather rather than Toronto weather. My siblings are starting to make noises about moving out west. :)

Not to mention getting to do things like walking on the tidal flats at Spanish Banks, or seeing eagles and bears around the neighbourhood...